Rahm Emanuel Gave Blagojevich List Of 'Acceptable' Senate Candidates: Report

President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel had direct conversations with Gov. Rod Blagojevich about Obama's replacement in the US Senate, FOX News Chicago reports.

Citing "a source familiar with the investigation," Fox says that Emanuel had "multiple conversations" with Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris, who was also arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges, about the seat and that they we're "likely recorded and in FBI possession."

Fox's source said that Emanuel gave the governor's office a list of "candidates that would be acceptable to President-elect Barack Obama" but no "quid pro quo" or "dealmaking" is suspected.

Meanwhile, an angry Emanuel says he won't go to work because of the media stakeout. He told an ABC News cameraman that has received death threats:

The President-elect's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, said today he won't go to the Chicago Presidential transition offices in order to avoid reporters seeking to ask him whether he had contact with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich about the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama's election.

Emanuel appeared "beet-red," according to an ABC News cameraman who was invited inside by Emmanuel to use his bathroom this morning.

"I'm getting regular death threats. You've put my home address on national television. I'm pissed at the networks. You've intruded too much, " Emanuel said, according to the cameraman.

Emanuel has refused to comment as to whether he is the un-named Presidential advisor cited in the FBI affidavit filed in the Blagojevich case. "You're wasting your time," Emanuel told a Chicago Sun-Times reporter yesterday. "I'm not going to say a word to you. I'm going to do this with my children. Don't do that. I'm a father. I have two kids. I'm not going to do it."

Comments

[EmmJay1025]

Much ado about nothing...­.

[rockne]

Federal felonies, selling a U.S. Senate seat, a grand jury investigation, already one chief of staff resignation, a Congressman on the hot seat ,the incoming chief of staff who has gone into hiding and about to be subpoened to testify, a felon (Rezko) already singing, a governor about to resign who will sing. Yep, just like Troopergate!

[kevinmcd]

It's no troopergate. But even if it were, where did that go? Nowhere. The Repubs are showing their desperation!

[caremore]

much ado, indeed, nothing? I believe there is normal, expected, involvement. Of course the President=Elect would like to protect the integrity of his senate seat.....h­is chief of staff is seeing to this business. What is so "controversial" about this? Bla Bla was so wired if there was any "wrong doing" I'm sure people will be held accountabl­e........t­his is something, but not newsworthy for now. Blabla is the news. The Obama folks have appropriately distanced themselves from his f**king bullsh*t.

[apoliticalchick]

I am a fan of Rahmbo, but I mean seriously, man, is that the best you can do?
http://democralypsenow.blogspot.com/

[mec57]

Sorry, Chicago rid itself of one thug in Al Capone...F­itz may be the Elliot Ness of our time ready to nail another thug Emanuel, Al Capone's modern day equivalent in political henchmansh­ip...

[ccm 107]

The quote they use in that report was taken out of context. The way it's portrayed on here makes it seem like he has to talk with his kids and family about the problem first. The actual context in the Sun-Times had Emmanuel at a sporting event with his kids and he would rather spend time with them than talk about work.

[Inaru]

Seriously, who wouldn't be livid at being accosted by press with baseless guilt-by-a­ssociation accusatory questions while he's trying to spend the last down-time he may have in months or even years with his little kids? And to publicize his home address?! When he's Chief of Staff for the most threatened­-with-assa­ssination president-elect in our history? He needs to move his whole family now! Faux news can't question renditions, illegal wars, war profiteering, but we need to spend days on this garbage? Not.

[mec57]

ZERO sympathy, period, for Emanuel. He has no scruples, and he is one of the few Clintonites I was profoundly disappointed that Obama chose...no­thing but trouble, and he is proving it...GET RID OF HIM NOW, Obama.

[Nader2008]

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Be careful what you wish for, you might regret it.

Jesse, Rahm and Obama. This isn't the minor leagues. Those reporters who wanted you in now see an opportunity to get their Pulitzer. Is the head dead yet ? Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down. This scandal is far from over. Rezko asking for a delay in sentencing. Wants to bargain for less time now. Blago will soon seek cover when he see his life flash before his eyes. Not seeing your kids grow may change your opinion on who will protect.

[mec57]

Boy, Nader, you nailed it...some of the press are still on the Obama Love Train, but some have gotten off the express...­the press loves pols who make meteoric rises only to crash and burn...Oba­ma is very smart, and it will take a lot to nail him down, but when he started parsing "wes" and "Is", he put himself in the hot seat. You are right, this scandal will go on, drowning out trivial feel-good shots of Obama and family Christmas tree hunting or shopping for a puppy.

[WilliamGossett]

FOX news is unreliable

Even if Emmanujel did talk with Blagojevich that is not a crime but ordinary political dialogue. Only if money was discussed would that be possibly criminal and then the crime would be on Blagojevic­h..

[manoftruth]

yeah, fox news is unreliable, nbc, cbs, abc, cnn, msnbc are way more reliable because they are all told what to say from the same people

[Pennsanic]

If you learn the fine art of punctuation, your posts will be much more understandable.

[Bocado]

Correction, Faux News.

[FredBrighton]

manoftruth,You can't seriously think that the quality of news presented on msnbc is also the quality that comes out of Fox News, can you? All the news on American TV sucks when you compare it with news about America coming out of BBC or other international sources, but Fox is universally known as pure crap, extreme right-wing propaganda, twisting reality, redefining words, reading nonsense out of a sensible sound bite. Even right wing devotees must be able to see the piss poor quality of Fox News. I mean, it sounds sometimes like they are broadcasting from an alternate universe! Yes, those other stations are more reliable. They by and large do a poor job because they are trying to entertain as well as inform, but they make an attempt to be accurate, which is not easy when the White House sends out lie after lie. But Fox News embraces the lies, embellishes them, builds on them, invites Nazis in to affirm them. Fox news isn't news. It's crap, pure and simple. Scrape it off your face and smell it. Familiar? Now check the cat box. Same smell!

[marriea]

Thank you....The media is trying to milk this for all it's worth. And although I wouldn't vote for Rod ever again, and had made that decision this past spring after his CTA/seniors don't have to pay decision, when you think about it all the FEDS have is Rod so far having a bad and severe case of pipe dreaming. No money had exchanged hands, no one had bitten. It was all about him wanting these things to happen. Although I think under the circumstances he should resign post haste, really one can't be procecuted on thinking bad thoughts. Hell we'd all be in jail. The feds on this one at least don't have a case.

[mec57]

Clearly there is more to this than what you see is happening.­..Emanuel is a consummate politician, and to think he would only make nice with Blago over Senatorial candidates is both immensely naive but downright absurd.

[Noble]

It's a Fox News source and we're bothering to give it weight why exactly???

[dphilip]

Does Emanuel's behavior appear to be that of a chief of staff of the soon to be; most ethical, open, transparent agents of change and hope to you?
To me he is acting like someone who knows the lid is about to be blown off one huge scandal.

[DoTheMath]

dream on

[manoftruth]

not a dream, but a nightmare, and rahm will be exposed for who he really works for l.e.a.r.s.­i.

[JustsayingJoe]

Sometimes the news media gets it right, and sometimes the media acts like the tabloids. It's clear to the average Joe that Obama has done anything inappropriate. Of course, his office is expected to talk to the governor's office regarding possible senate seat replacement choices. Rahm did not do anything inappropriate. THere was no pay-to-play nor quid pro quo. The media should let this one go. Let the lesser media outlets track this crap. As for most Americans and average Joes and Jills, what they want to hear about is how Obama's team is going to fix the economy, fix healthcare, and use our bailout money wisely so our children don't get saddled with a mountain of debt. Follow those stories. Pleeeease? Stop acting like the tabloid story chasers and act like real journalists. This is my advice and plea to the media.

[booboo111]

Agreed, It would be natural for Emanuel to have an interest in who takes O's seat, and all of the Dems for that matter. Iam confident that no quid pro quo was going on. It would be ludicrous to assume that after all the campaigning about change and transparency would be "thrown away before the P.E. even takes office. Faux and the Pubs can spin it all they want but there's no there, there!

[FriedrichPaulBerg]

There are many emerging connections between Rahm Emanuel and the other players in the new Illinois scandal.

Rahm Emanuel is, for example, so closely connected to the Serbian community in the US that he is the co-chairman of the Serbian caucus in Congress. Blagoyjevich is Serbian by descent but gave up his orthodox faith and became a Roman Catholic to ingratiate himself with his Catholic wife and politically important father-in-law. Blagoyjevich had accompanied Jesse Jackson to Belgrade, Serbia in the early 1990's to help free some Americans who were being held by the Yugoslav, mostly Serbian, government. And now, Jesse Jackson's son is, amazingly, first in line to the Senate seat being vacated by Obama. Of course, Jackson Jr. categorically denies any impropriety. Rahm Emanuel's congressional seat is, I believe, also to be filled by an appointment by Blagoyjevich. So, these guys must have had lots of deals to make and the connections have deep roots. Can anyone imagine that a sharp wheeler-dealer like Emanuel did NOT know that the governor wanted payoffs?

[Politicallie]

What the hell does Serbia have to do with anything? Or Blagojevich's religion?

[skeeto]

And what the hell does changing ones religion to promote matrimonial harmony have to do with anything?

[Inaru]

And can anyone imagine that Emanuel would be so stupid as to go against everything Obama's about, when he just got the greatest job in the country, and he has zilch to go back to if he screws it up? All that innuendo is worth what my dog's waste is: absolutely nothing, not even good for compost. Jesse Jackson Jr. is qualified by his terms in the House - or is that just unbelievable to some people?

Here's a comparable bunch of malarkey: There are lots of Puerto Ricans in Chicago, some are even my relatives. So if some Puerto Ricans do something stupid or violent in Chicago, are my relatives automatically suspect? Am I suspect, whatever state or city I'm living in? No. End this Faux reporting, it's ignorant - even vicious, with no basis in fact whatsoever. Now people are casting aspersions on Serbians for having the same associations WASPS have had for centuries. What the hell!

What do people need, a personal visit and statement from Fitzpatrick? If people want to be so suspicious of my-happen-­to-be-blac­k President-Elect and his Jewish Chief of Staff, I'm sure Fitzpatrick's thorough legal brief wouldn't do a thing to change their minds. Sheesh.

[StillIRise]

So are you suggesting that Serbians are a threat to our democracy? Or is Roman Catholics? Is there a Serbian or Roman Catholic mafia that you're trying to hook up to this? Are you saying that it's more than mere coincidence that the seats of both President-Elect Obama and Rahm Emanuel are open at the same time? Or more than just mere coincidence that Jackson and Emanuel worked together to free Americans, and this is something of suspect? Your logic is very difficult to follow, and your frantic desperation to find a link between Rahm, and thereby Obama, to Blagojevich's scheme is astonishingly ... Hannity-ish!!! Do you need an exorcist? Obviously, you're possessed!

When the Obama camp found out that the governor wanted payoffs, they turned this information over to the feds. It's already been speculated and is all but confirmed that the one who provided this information to Fitzgerald was Rahm Emanuel. In other words, when he found out, he turned Blago in! Serbians, Roman Catholics, imprisoned Americans, Yugoslavia and Jesse Jackson Sr. have nothing to do with any of this!

[trubluelefty]

Wow, I'm Serbian, So what ?

[redsongia]

It's normal that Obama would have input on who would fill his senate seat. He made several statments to the press about his opinion on the matter, if my memory serves.

I have to wonder if the word got around that Blago had his own plans, which were not on the level, and that's why the hammer came down now instead of 2 months from now.

It's pretty arrogant to dismiss input from the incoming president in favor of a couple of bucks.

[Inaru]

No lie, huh? It's idiotic, too. Imagine how much he could have gained by doing the right thing - years of good will from the POTUS. What an egotistical, sick twisted fool is Blago.

[Jazzcomedian]

Once it was established that there was no illicit dealmaking between Obama and Blagojevich--which is the only salient fact, it's just became a way for the media to keep the story going as long as they can. Just a faux controversy now with respect to PE Obama. If Fitzgerald, an ethical Republican prosecutor says there's no malfeasance on the part of the Obama camp what more is necessary?

[LWM]

The story is Blago and his 15 minutes of fame, maybe even 30. Obama & Rahm come out smelling like a rose: Blago curses out the Obama team, on tape & repeatedly, for offering him nothing.

So this scandal is already over at national level.

It's just a human interest tabloid tv show as Blago sinks. The Fox 'news'/talk radio echo chamber can try to keep this going, but the real news is that basically Obama is already the Pres.

Bush is being allowed to pretend he is in charge for a few more weeks. But Bush can't brush his teeth without asking Barack's permission. You only get to screw up so bad before it ends, as Blago & Bush now both realize.

[karmical]

Exactly. Nothing to see here folks, please move on to the next distraction.

[manoftruth]

oh yeah, nothing to see here, just like when berger stuffed classified documents down his pants and the msm said the same thing, nothing to see here, move along to see how much sarah palin spends on shoes, much more important. you make me want to barf

[rockne]

You cannot be serious. We have the Governor of one of the most populous states trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder. There are multiple federal felonies involved, wiretap tapes that have not yet been revealed, the resignation by the Governor's chief of staff, a grand jury that will be convened, one felon (Rezko--involved in a suspect land deal with the Obamas) already singing, testimony before the grand jury by Obama's chief of staff and the possibility that Blago will sing. This matter has already dominated the news for several days and things appear to be intensifying. The foreign press is now raising questions regarding this matter. Nothing here?? Yea, right.

[brodon]

You wish.

Just like Al Jolson said. . . ."wait a minute folks. . . . you ain't seen nothing yet."

And ladies and gentlemen. . . the best is yet to come.

[fretlessd]

The Repubican response regarding Blogo is to be expected..­. consider the source. But the complicite way in which the press has created a mini-series drama out of this case is what is so hard to stomach. What serves Obama best in the long run is what eats up the 24/7 press. He will not speak before all the facts are in. Nothing truly has changed since the story broke, but the press can't wait for the Obama team to release their findings. It's too bad that they can't report on something with more substance like the dire economic circumstances our country is facing.

It's as if the problems facing our country and this future administration aren't daunting enough. The press is putting a "drama-for­-Obama"soa­p opera spin on what should have been a 2 day story in hopes of dragging this thing out to the 1/20/09 (or longer).

[Crozier]

The Republican neocon machine has no intention to become what parliamentary governments call "the loyal opposition­."

These political shills for the Corporate Greedy have no intention to tell the truth about the president-elect. They want to use Blagojevich to wound him. At first, the truth of Blagojevich's ostracism was stated. No campaign presence, no convention and no Grant Park...but now, the new Neocon Spin is to get Rahm or Barack tied to the hip with Blagojevich. Sick !! How I dislike the neocons !!!!!

[eddieknoll]

But you have to admit that "Obama Lied, People Died" is catchy...



Lighten Up Dude...

[WilliamGossett]

Not a crime to discuss withe governor who the Prez thinks the Senate designee should be. That's just a political opinion, not a crime.

The crime would be if there were pay-pffs offered, which there not.

[AdamAnt12]

That we know of....

[justjojo]

Right, Adamant. As if Obama would do that. Honestly, we liberal democrats have put up with sooooooooooooooo much abuse of power by the right wing machine that has run this country for the past 20 some years (let's not forget who controlled the Congress when Clinton was in office) no wonder you're so cynical. But I can assure you that that is not the way Obama operates.

[Formeralaskangal]

Well apparently "appreciation" was not bleeping enough, because that's all he said he'd get from Obama.

[1murillo]

That's like saying, "AdamAnt12 is not a child molester (as far as I know)."

[StillIRise]

I think we do know ...

Didn't Fitzgerald say that he wanted to stop Blago BEFORE there were any payoffs??