Emanuel Heads To Africa As Blagojevich Report Drops

With the Obama transition team set to release an internal report regarding the extent of its interactions with embattled governor Rod Blagojevich, one of the key figures in the mix is heading out of the country.

Incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel left on Tuesday for a "long planned family vacation in Africa," a transition official confirmed to the Huffington Post.

The internal review by the Obama team is expected to clear Emanuel of any impropriety regarding the Blagojevich scandal, and Emanuel's departure suggests he feels comfortable enough to be out of the country (and not doing damage control) on the day the report drops. Obama, meanwhile, is vacationing in Hawaii -- another indication that the president-elect's team is not exactly sweating out the matter.

Already reports have surfaced that Emanuel talked only a handful of times to the Illinois governor and his chief of staff, mostly about who would replace Emanuel in the House of Representatives. Never, these reports suggest, did the two have a conservation that could implicate Obama in the pay-to-play scheme that Blagojevich was allegedly pursuing to choose Obama's Senate replacement.

The Obama transition's internal report is set to be released Tuesday at 4:30 pm.

Emanuel's choice of destination is also noteworthy. Transition officials did not specify where in Africa he went, though another source said the family would be going on a safari. Nevertheless, it's an interesting choice for a holiday vacation. Certainly it is not beyond the realm of reason to see this trip having minor geopolitical ripples given Obama's renowned status on the continent.

Comments

[stimaque]

Which freaking country in Africa is he headed to? or is he criss-crossing the 53 countries in the second largest continent? At least it didn't say he was going to Kenya. Poor piece of journalism.

[huffnpuff147]

Limbaugh, Hannity and all the other right wing lunatics are being paid over $60 million a year; they will earn their pay even if they have to manufacture the BS for the next eight years - anything but follow the money we've lost over the last eight years.

[GrouchoMarxist]

Yep...anyt­hing to distract attention from their massive failures of the past 8 years.

[indypete]

Manufactur BS?

Well, at least the US will be back in manufacturing again!

[MyNameIsJames]

Ha Ha Ha - You have a point! Its a bright spot in the economy.

Seriously, I am excited about the plan to rebuild the whole gdamn country. A new power grid hooked into sustainable energy production. This is ACTUALLY going to happen. Pinch me-- I think I am dreaming.

[silvercreeklady]

Is he headed to Africa to pay off the Obama family for their silence?

[indypete]

He's gonna get the original birth certificate and burn it.

[hortonhearsawho2]

black is beautiful.

[postman606]

Nothing like watching morons play the ballgame in the wrong park.

[L3ftofC3nter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - An internal review prepared for
President-elect Barack Obama says his incoming chief of staff had
multiple conversations with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office,
but no one close to Obama suspected that the governor might be
trying to sell Obama's Senate seat as prosecutors allege.
The report was released Tuesday as an Obama transition official
confirmed that Obama and two of his top aides, Rahm Emanuel and
Valerie Jarrett, have been interviewed in connection with the
federal investigation into Blagojevich.
Incoming White House attorney Greg Craig, who conducted the
internal review at Obama's request, found that the president-elect
had no contact with Blagojevich or any of his staff about the
Senate seat he vacated to take over the presidency.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[bigbenny]

Now you've done it. The tro//s will have a field day with this. It seems a shame that Obama's report and Fitzgerald's report say essentially the same thing. There must be something to read into this.

[GrouchoMarxist]

It's faith-based politics..­.they believe that something has to be there, so no amount of fact will change their minds.

On the plus side, it gives them something harmless to waste their time on so they're not out causing real mischief.

[partyofone]

Emanuel is in this deep. He is making Obama look bad. Time for him to go.

[bygollymissmolly]

You know, I forgot that Rahm came from Illinois too. So that would give him more reason to talk to Blago.

I can't keep from wondering why Fitzgerald's word that Obama and Emanuel weren't involved wasn't enough for the press and the right wingers. If this doesn't show that they are going to be on a vendetta against Obama, I don't know what does. On the other hand, it's the Republicans who will lose in the end. The US public is on to them and is sick and tired of them lying, obfuscating and cherry picking.

[Chixsngr]

It's all they got...

[partyofone]

The problem is not that Emanuel talked to the Governor and his staff, is that Obama initially said he did not, and even now, more seem to be coming. Was Emanuel truthful to Obama? If not, he should be gone fast.

[L3ftofC3nter]

Ok so as someone who just returned from Africa, I can assure you that one does not just pick up and go to Africa.

[GrouchoMarxist]

Apparently, they had been planning the trip for a long time. But facts aren't enough to assuage the wingnuts, apparently.

[indypete]

Facts? We don' need no steenkin' facts!

[zippywpinhead]

facts are wingnut kryptonite- they avoid them at all costs...

[L3ftofC3nter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Report: Top Obama aide talked with governor,
key aide about Senate seat; no deal discussed.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[GrouchoMarxist]

No deal discussed.­..end of story.

[donaldw6]

Well, that was thrilling! Now back to other news.

[indypete]

Wanna bet?! Run down the thread.... They ain't givin' up their delusions as easily as that!

[robertjames]

....and what has JJJ been up to lately? All quiet on the western front.....­.....

[mitsie]

Perhaps someone could do some research and see exacty how long he had reservations. Of course, it is the holidays so he does have a right to do what he wants.

BTW, MSNBC better learn to stop implying he or OBama did anything wrong, even though the report is coming out, that Fitzgerald said they did nothing wrong, that the FBI listened to the conversations and didn't arrest anyone else, that Fitzgerald listened to the tapes. etc etc etc. Come on MSNBC, there are more significant problems that need attention right now.

[bygollymissmolly]

I really am puzzled by MSNBC doing what they are doing. I had always looked towards them as being the more fair and balanced of the cable networks. They are proving me wrong.

Thank god for Olberman and Maddow, the only two talking heads who don't sit there night after night lying and rumor mongering.

[NationalTreasure]

that old Clinton administration trick - when the s%^t is going to hit the fan leave town

[bygollymissmolly]

So, would you care to enlighten us what $hit is going to hit the fan? Is Fitzgerald all of a sudden going to change his story?

[mscreant]

GEESH! I'll assume y'all take vacations from time to time.....t­hey are about to work nearly four years straight, I want them ALL rested and ready to go next month. Oh yeah....an­d....they are NOT in power yet.....ju­st a bunch of unemployed lay-abouts for the moment! LOL

[Rightone11]

Sure they ar about to work for FOUR years straight. Come on, take off the foil hat~

[bigbenny]

After the record Bush has set, more time on vacation than any other POTUS in history, do you think Obama is going to try and outdo him? Dude you need to change your tin hat, it's not working anymore.

ROTFLMAO

[indypete]

You can't make the assumption that all presidents are lazy bar stewards like your guy.

[kshawNCvoter]

BOOOOOOOOOO this media manufactured scandal. have a great vaca Rahm and family.

[bby328]

Just Great - first, the next president leaves the country, now this!

[vjoseph]

HAHAHAHAHA, you guys are coming out of the woodwork!!!

[bigbenny]

Check out his profile, he's being facetious.

[indypete]

Errrm.... Hawaii's a ......

Oh, never mind.

[LadyMing]

Please do not try to trick them with Geography. :)

[bby328]

Three cheers for Big Ben.

[bigbenny]

Thanks.

[ThunderclapNewman]

The president-elect has not left the country.

[indypete]

He got you too!

[indypete]

Ya got me!

Well done.... Played me at my own game!

(I'm fanning you for that!)

[robertjames]

Of course he's on vacation. It's not like he has any other important event to prepare for.......­...

[vjoseph]

LOLOLOL, another comedian. I didn't pay for all this talent!

[indypete]

Sure is worth the price of admission today! By the way, VJ, did you ever get that editorial cartoon you were asking me about? The good news bad news one?

[LadyMing]

No Bush IS still President. Obama can rest up before taking office....­he will need some rest after the headache's Bush has created.

[minty68]

It's Christmas! Half the country is traveling to spend time with relatives.

[indypete]

I may be wrong but isn't the fellow who is actually supposed to be doing the job known colloquially as "POTUS" also taking a Christmas break? Last time I checked, Obama and his team were unemployed pols waiting for their next gig to start.

[Jacqueline3]

Why are Americans so sTUPID? First they ask for transparency. Obama tells what he is doing and still this is not enough. You guys don't want transparancy, you want to be lied to. Geez, what is wrong with people? Where was the uproar when Bush killed over 5,000 innocent Americans and countless Iraqi citizens? There sure are a lot of DUMMIES in this country.

[indypete]

Sometimes I wonder how I've gone 19 years on the wagon!

[drsmc41]

I agree, and don't understand it at all. You would think that there would be an uproar about 5,000 soldiers killed and injured, as well as the Iraqi civilians who have been killed and injured. Pathetic.