Blago given list of Obama favorites, Emanuel relayed who president-elect wanted for Senate

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | June 25, 2010 | BY NATASHA KORECKI AND SARAH OSTMAN

[Oldeconomybuyer]

After Barack Obama friend Valerie Jarrett publicly pulled out of contention for the U.S. Senate seat appointment, Rahm Emanuel called Rod Blagojevich's top aide.

Emanuel, now Obama's chief of staff, wanted Blagojevich to know the list of Senate candidates "acceptable" to Obama, according to testimony Thursday in Blagojevich's corruption trial.

They were: Tammy Duckworth; Illinois state comptroller Dan Hynes; U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, according to Blagojevich's former chief of staff John Harris.

Harris told the ex-governor of the discussion in a secretly recorded phone call Nov. 12.

On the call, Blagojevich calls the list "B.S."

The list Emanuel offered clashed with what union leaders Tom Balanoff and Andy Stern had previously told Blagojevich -- that they would not support Jackson as a candidate. Obama had personally called Balanoff on Nov. 3 to give him the green light in talking with Blagojevich about the Senate seat and pushing Jarrett, sources have told the Chicago Sun-Times.

"The president-elect would be very pleased if you appointed Valerie and he would be, uh, thankful and appreciative" for an appointment, Harris said Wyma told him in a phone call.

[RightOnline]

...and the voters there actually believe that they choose who gets elected. Aren’t they cute?

[W-Girl]

Nothing in the Hogo Obama MSM yet ...this must be not be important !!

[LoveUSA]

Now we know reason #3,847 why Rahm is resigning later this year.

[CMailBag]

My money says that the Feds have Obama on those tapes and THAT is the reason that Fitz blew up the case before he had Blogo fully hooked.

[hal ogen]

I agree. nobama is corrupt beyond belief.

[ncfool]

Let’s pray to God he does and this time Allah won’t help Obummer.

[Mouton]

Bingo

[Renderofveils]

On the call, Blagojevich calls the list "B.S."

Clever bit of writing, there. Separating it out from the context is a nice touch, so that anyone skimming the article comes away with the impression that Blago disagrees with his aide's story, not the choices handed down.

[originalbuckeye]

My thoughts, too. Except I think the Feds WARNED Zero and did have him on tape involved in the sale of the Senate seat. But decided that he had already been elected and the Feds didn't want to go against the ‘will of the People’ so they have covered up his involvement. I also suspect there is NO PAPER OR AUDIO TRAIL. It has been destroyed to protect Zero, all in the guise of protecting the institution of the Presidency.

[Ann Archy]

Bammy is SO the PUPPET of the UNIONS that he was going to make one of two of the union leaders as a SENATOR??? OMG!

[Reagan69]

My gut is telling me that this trial is going to take Barry down.

It’s going to be Obama’s Watergate. I predict resignation sometime in 2011 over this mess.

Hope I’m right.

[Ann Archy]

NEVER!! He will NEVER GO!! The cities would be on FIRE....RIOTING...DEATH...CHAOS....UNION UPRISING!! We will be lucky to defeat him in 2012.

[Ann Archy]

Fitzy SAVED Bammy’s ASS by stopping the wire taps prematurely!!

[chainsaw]

NEVER!! He will NEVER GO!! The cities would be on FIRE....RIOTING...DEATH...CHAOS....UNION UPRISING!! We will be lucky to defeat him in 2012.

That is where we are headed anyway.

[Pigsley]

I am with you on this. I’ve had a gut feeling that this is what is finally going to catch Barry. I also feel that Blago is going to get off and actually turn his life around. I read about the guy, his childhood...I think he’s actually a good fellow that made a wrong turn in life. Call me a sucker, but I do like redemption stories. And the thought of Blago redeeming himself and bringing that Marxist arsehole down at the same time....Ahhhh...that would be sweet.