Rahm Only Called Blagojevich Once: Obama Report

ABC News' George Stephanopolous reports on Barack Obama's internal probe of his staff's ties to corrupt Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. According to his sources, the report (set to be released next week) will show that Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel only spoke with the governor once.

Sources tell me that the Obama team's review of contacts with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will show that Rahm Emanuel had only one phone conversation with Blagojevich.

The contact, described as a "pro-forma" courtesy call, came as Emanuel was named Chief of Staff for Obama. Most of the discussion concerned Emanuel's Congressional seat (which had previously been held by Blagojevich), with only a "passing reference" to the Senate vacancy, according to these sources. No deal for the Senate vacancy was discussed.

...

The sources add that the report will show Emanuel also had four phone calls with Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris. During those conversations, the Senate seat was discussed. The pros and cons of various candidates were reviewed, and the sources say that Emanuel repeatedly reminded Harris that Blagojevich should focus on the message the pick would send about the governor and his administration.

Sources also confirm that Emanuel made the case for picking Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett during at least one of the conversations. In the course of that conversation, Harris asked if in return for picking Jarrett, "all we get is appreciation, right?" "Right," Emanuel responded.

Politico adds that sources say the report is "absolving incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel of any impropriety in his contacts with the disgraced Illinois governor's office."

Comments

[Tugar]

GUYS, THERE'S NO STORY HERE...

No one, including Rahm E. committed any "wrongful or criminal" acts by just talking with someone. PE Obama's staff members must speak with a number of people everyday. But no one offered Gov. Blago anything as far as I can tell, which prompted the Gov.himself to say: "All they're offering me is "their appreciation, so _____ them."

Now quit chewing on this thing like its going to produce "The Story of the Year," and go on to enjoy the Christmas Season and may we all have a blessed, safe and Happy New Year, 2009.

[Teritt]

I don't believe anything from ABC News' George Stephanopolous... he's just a spokesman for the news affiliate of the Magic Kingdom. That's why the republicans always choose ABC before NBC or CBS. They're grooming them to take over the Fox spot.

[gjefferson]

The presumption of innocence only means you don't go right to jail.

[Spinzone]

Barak is so smart, he is the Chuck Norris of smartness. His wisdom is like the three wise men bundled into one. In a brain vs braun battle, his smartness could even klobber Ditka. His direction and wisdom is saintly. A number of people have analyzed photographs of him and noted an aural circle around his head. All wisdom and power is energy and vibration - Obama is energy and vibration. He doth walk the path of the wise, his kingdom has begun, he has taken us from the path of selfishness and war, he will lead us to the land of milk and free mortgages. His birth is not recorded, as it is divine. From humble beginnings, he has the knowing of the poor, he has risen to the mountaintop and stands in the light he has created. He is loved by many and feared by none. His works will exhault all man and woman kind.

[PATina]

Please say you are joking.

[AndThenOneDay]

He doesn't like Obama or the buzz about Obama, but at least he's got a sense of humor and, in this instance, isn't putting out the usual one-liners you can read here all day.

[QuestionEveryone]

Now what would you expect from an Obama report..other than full exoneratio­n..please. Let's see what the feds come up with. How dumb do they think we are?

[sunny555]

It's not a question of the feds being dumb. It's more a question of how they will spin something, or what they will leave out.

[PallinAround]

So we can safely assume that you also believe that the Alaska State Personnel Board's "exoneration" of Gov. Palin in the Troopergate investigation is not credible since Gov. Palin appointed the members of that board and they work for her? And that, by extension, the Branchflower Report, initiated by a bi-partisan legislative panel (with a Republican majority) and launched prior to Palin ever becoming known on the national stage, AND the report that found her to have abused her power and acted unethically and in violation of the public trust, has delivered the findings that we can safely believe?

[pupbayer]

I think I'll wait for someone else to tell me what went on, thanks anyway. I have a feeling their idea of transparency in government and my idea of transparency in government are two different things.

[sunny555]

Great post. You are exactly right. I'd like to read the report for myself, so I can be my OWN judge of what is "inappropriate," rather than have any administration tell me what is and isn't.

[TheFoolkiller]

What??? Is this suppose to be some kind of scandal ? Well with all we know and do not know about the
Bush Mafia whom did everything but bring on another ICE Age (only because he ran out of time) this
is BullSh@#.

[ebanks84]

AMEN.

DID Y'ALL HEAR THAT :)

[pupbayer]

Perhaps if there had been more scrutiny from day 1 of the Bush administration things would be different today. No one should mind a close eye on the next administration and an expectation of "transparency" as Obama is fond of saying. They should welcome it...unless they are hiding something.

[sunny555]

It seems a favorite response to this issue is to point out all the problems with the Bush administration and why weren't these things investigated. True, but it's really besides the point.

I would like to know more about THIS issue, now.

We can't seem to get away from corruption, no matter which the party. No wonder many of us have become so cynical.

[Brillig]

I think you are all searching for something, anything to justify not voting for Obama. You will fail.

[Lotus19]

Corruption in Chicago politics is pretty well-known. If you'd like to hear more about this issue I'm sure the Chicago papers are covering it extensively. To turn this into a national scandal (which Bush's issues clearly are) involving the PE is nothing but a grand scheme to taint him. But for the fact that this matter invovled Obama's seat it has nothing to do with him.

This does nothing for the country at a time of great economic calamity to try and distract him and his team from the gargantuan task before them.

When Gingrich has to take his own party to task for not doing their part to dig us out of this mess, things can't get any worse with their dirty politics.

[dc2nm]

I personally don't believe there will be a lot to learn. Coming from Chicago, both Barrack and Rahm know how shady Blago was...and wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. They're too smart for that.

[THE JEDI 69]

Wow the rethugs are in a hurt locker....watch they will say Fitzgerald didn't hammer Obama because a deal was struck so he could keep his job......it's coming but Obama is teflon.....who knew he was part JOHN GODDI

[47songs]

First, before I question this, I feel I must say that I'm a 100% Obama supporter. I have no doubt he had nothing to do with the whole "seat for sale" mess. But this part of the report, because of the probability of the right to zero in on this, concerns me:

In the course of that conversation, Harris asked if in return for picking Jarrett, "all we get is appreciation, right?" "Right," Emanuel responded.

If someone were to ask me if "all we get is appreciation" a red flag would pop up. It suggests that they are seeking more than just appreciation. Wasn't Emanuel suspicious of that response? Just a little? Or at least enough to reply with more than just, "Right?"

[UnknownSoldier]

Who cares about the right, we have to mock and ridicule them. Taking, you can't take them seriously anymore.

Remember to them climate change does not exist and if it does people aren't causing it. These same people believed the earth was flat.

[47songs]

With a frightening 47% of the vote in the election, Unknownsoldier, I'm afraid we do need to take them seriously. Just mocking and ridiculing them brings us down to their 'incapable of intellectual debate' level. Ignoring them seems like a mature thing to do, but that's no fun. Maybe we should just follow Obama's lead and try to find common ground with them.

[Brillig]

So what should he have done? Gone on and on and got himself involved in a LOONG discussion so there would be room for his accusers to claim he was offering Blago something?

Right" was all he needed to say.

And for your information, all signs point to him or someone else fingering Blago to the FEDS.

[toddag]

I think there are other things that Blago could have asked for that would not have been illegal, such as fundraising appearances by Obama. While Blago's question of "all I get is appreciation, right?" implies wrongdoing on his part, it is not evidence of it.

Sounds to me like Emanual's response cut off discussions of any benefits for Blago, legal or illegal.

[watchandwait]

(1) Because Obama, Emanuel et al. hail from Chicago, it is wrong to assume any time someone in Chicago politics does something wrong, all Chicago politicians are complicit. It's comparable to assuming that all members in an Italian family are members of the mafia - that's wrong too, but people do it anyway.

(2) Many Democrats Obama is/will be working with were not his supporters (or in some cases, friends/allies) until he was the de facto presidential nominee. So, the MSM, Republicans, and other "Obama-haters" will once again be wrong for readily associating Obama with the negatives of these politicians if these people have engaged in corrupt activity prior to joining forces with the Obama team (and Obama himself).

(3) Public officials should have replacement ideas while running for office (or awaiting appointment to another position). Obama (and HRC, for that matter) started running for office in 2007. So, when each was feeling confident of victory at some point, they should have had someone in mind. (Also, with HRC's name being bandied about even after the convention was over, she should have kept the thought of a Senate replacement at hand back in August.) I think it would have made both situations re: Senate replacements run a little more smoothly, and Blago would have had to just deal with "getting appreciation" for the potential appointment months ago (instead of this becoming an issue in the past few weeks).

Just my opinion...

[thirtyninesteps]

If I remember correctly, Bush's internal review cleared Rove and Libby in the Valerie Plame case. Just sayin'.

[LadyMing]

Yes but no one is saying that Rahm or Obama did anything wrong....except for the Media.

[roshni]

Nice try, but Fitzgerald has said that Obama and his team are not the targets of this investigation.
Next theory?????

[lynettema]

The facts just get in the way. Where is the drama if the media doesn't parrot the right wing rhetoric?

[lagumbo]

The cable media cycle has really been hit with a blow. They have run this cycle for the last two weeks , that OBAMA is tied to this scandle, and for them to find it aint so, oh wow, what will they have to spin now. Sean Hannity will be so disappointed, poor thing. But Hannity's next spin will be that OBAMA is renting a 9 million dollar house for his vacation in HAWAII. Just watch how the racist, hate mongers of the media will run this.But you know what is so satisfying, OBAMA doesn't give a damn what they say, he just keep trucking along.What a brilliant blackman.

[kburlz]

I bet I can predict the talking points tomorrow. Blago asked "all we get is appreciation, right?" And Rahm responded, "right," which means Rahm knew what he was talking about, that he was trying to sell the seat, and didn't report it. Which means him and the Obama team are complicit with corruption, or some BS like that.

[arrtimus]

Bingo

[Bitsko]

You sure read a lot into those innocuous comments. Here's some advice: don't try out for the bar exam.

[Bitsko]

I just got your point and agree with it, so please ignore another comment I made a minute ago that might appear.

[roshni]

Actually we'll probably hear that someone in Obama's team, if not Rahm himself, turned Blago in.

[lynettema]

Or they are working with Fitzgerald's investigation.

[47songs]

Oops! I need to read at least a few of the posts before I post! Sorry, kburlz. But, basically, you and I saw the same thing!

[SpaceCadet]

As long as the media can keep putting the words "Obama" and "Blagojevich" in the same sentence, they can keep their pseudo-scandal on life support.

[sugarfree]

I am so glade, Obama gave the Media a report on Rahm because David Schuster,Chris Matthew,
Tamara, and Nora these people were "HYPE" up on this story hour after hour.
Than i change to CNN and got the same and asking the same question from a different
guest.
These people can beat a dead hourse to death.

[ebanks84]

And wake him back up and beat him again! They are like ANIMATED talking heads, all saying the same things. What a drag!

[Bitsko]

"All we know is that there is still no contact with the colony and that a zenomorph may be involved."

"Excuse me sir, a what?"

"A zenomorph."

"Its a bughunt!"

--Aliens

[BlackWidowPilot]

Xenomorph. As in "other form."

We've had DC overrun with the bloody things for the past eight years from Hell:

http://www.armchairsubversive.org

Yeeeach.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[break]

I wonder if all the reporters and pundits (both on the left and on the right) will now have a stroke? I mean, they were DYING to find something murky in this Obama-Blado-Rahm weirdness they had created out thin air.