Obama Blagojevich Report: "A Lot About Nothing"

Two Democratic officials tell CNN that the "long-awaited report about aides to President-elect Barack Obama alleged contact with the office of embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will largely exonerate Obama's transition team."

"You're going to see this is a lot about nothing," one official predicted.

The report's release, expected Tuesday, comes as Obama is vacationing in Hawaii. Obama said last week he wants to answer questions about conversations his aides had over filling his Senate seat because nothing inappropriate took place. But he kept the details private at U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's request.

"We have a report," Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said Monday. "It's been ready for release for a week. We've held off at the request of the U.S. Attorney's office and that continues to be the case, though we expect to be able to release the report shortly."

On Sunday, ABC's George Stephanopolous reported that, according to his sources, the internal probe would exonerate Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. According to the report, Emanuel had only one "pro-forma" courtesy call with the embattled Illinois governor. Emanuel is also on tape telling Blagojevich's chief of staff that Obama would not offer any favors to induce the governor to choose Obama's favored candidate.

Three sources also tell the New York Times the review found that Obama's advisers "were not involved in any inappropriate talks about the Senate seat."

Comments

[tjc76]

I'm from Chicago, this is news. Politicians do not go through Chicago untainted. It's all games here, on both sides of the aisle. We will learn more as time goes on. More people will start talking, which always happen. It's amazing how much the corrupt politicians cooperate and bring people down with them when their back is against the wall. I do not believe Mr. Obama was directly involved but his staff definitely knows and understood what was going on with Blago. They just chose to ignore it, which is the Chicago way. Mayor Daley has perfected this practice for the last 20 years.

[nunzia]

Whaddya know! The "long awaited" (a few days) report says the same thing the US Atty said a few days ago: ------- No tainted Obama link to Blagojevich.

The msm ditherers filled some of their 24/7 with this so-called "story", blathered it up until
they made it a "story", then began to say "the American people are waiting to know" -- but
those people "waiting to know" are the morons who are so sucked into that programming that they cannot see that the ditherers made up a story.

[JonG345]

WHO CARES.

nobody.

this is not national news, and i don't care at all anymore; at least i will not care until something definiteive comes out. i'm writing to news orgs to let them know i change the channel every time this story comes up

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[Emlyn]

Blago is "small potatoes" after what we have been thru these last eight years. I am not condoning what he did. He should leave office and I expect that he will eventually. Howver, Blago is a Democrat and if he had been a Republican - I can just see it now - nohting would have been said.

[JoeTheBlogger]

This "non-news" won't go away because the media understands one thing: stories involve O sell! as long as there is an "angle," there will be speculation. Even stories like "O did not do anything wrong" will sell better than "cheney admits to torture." That's the fact of life: people pays attention to O and no one cares about Bush. Perhaps this can be good news for O if he learns how to exploit it.

I predict, though, things will turn sour after awhile. O is the "no drama" guy, so it is tough to keep the non-stories going forever. there won't be enough scandals to feed the press.

[lucite]

It does not matter if this issue was alot about nothing. Obama is in for a very "nail him to the cross" uncoming four years. The GOP and all the haters in this country will leave no stone unturned, I can predict a new scandal every 4 months for the next four years. I have learned to ignore media hype, I don't want Obama and his administration to fail. If they fail it is not about failing at a basketball game. It is an entire country that will fail and be affected. Why so many cheerleaders in this country eager to watch Obama fall on his face? I don't get it. I have a good positive outlook on this countries future and Obama is a big part of America's success. My family, friends as well as myself stand behind the new president and his adminstration.

[serindipity803]

Blago is a creation of the press -- so they all have something to 'anaylze' and milk to death. Governor Blago is guilty of corruption/fraud et al -- but unless you try to drag the new President into it -- it isn't much of a story, we have so many corrupt politicians -- all of whom will bite the dust as the Obama camp takes over -- THAT is the CHANGE we can believe in.

[soulsistah02]

For years, Blagojevich's right and left hands were working in concert to secure high-dollar gubernatorial campaign contributions, board assignments for his wife, and hopefully a cabinet appointment. Every politician and political insider in Illinois knew this and refused to deal with him -- including Rahm Emanuel, Jesse Jackson, Jr., and President-elect Barack Obama.

[handsomeinnc]

The Republicans are stuck in the past. All they know is smear and insults. They don't realize, a lot of people have moved on.
The American people are now smarter and make better decisions.
I hope it is time for CNN and MSNBC to move on.

[brownforall]

The GOP is running their 2010 election NOW and the MEDIA knows it!

I was listening to MSNBC news couple days ago and Norah Odonnell KEPT REPEATING THE EMAILS
FROM THE RNC???????????

The election is over is time for you trolls to punch out!
You trolls just cant get over Palin lol losing to Obama Ha hA ha ha ha ha ha ha!
That little small chance of Palin being nominated your fellow Republicans is gonna tear her to pieces!
Even if she gets your Partys Nomination she will lose again to Obama!

[b-rad81]

sarah palin

[67yrolfe]

This story is totally "all about nothing" but the blood hounds in the neocon MSM will find something to keep it going " you can bet the house on that, if you"ve still got a house.

[MoneyamI]

WAIT!!! Am I the only one that thinks he looks like Sean Ashton? RUDY! http://www.revver.com/video/1391607 is that you?

[MIVOTE]

This is such a non story -- even the blogs don't make a whole lot of sense...have a great holiday!

[Jamchinadian]

This has been such a storm in a teacup. Fitzgerald already "exonerated" the Obama team. Blago himself, by calling Obama a m#$%er@#&*er "exonerated Obama. It's only idiots at CNN and the wrong wing types who were tilting at windmills!