Jesse Jackson Jr. and Blago: Politicians as Usual

For the record, Jesse Jackson, Jr. did not offer a million dollars for Obama's Senate seat. If the Blagojevich phone calls are indicative of Jackson's position, he (or an emissary) offered to help raise a million dollars for Blagojevich's campaign. How is this worse than any of the rich donors who give and raise money for a Presidential candidate and are rewarded with cabinet or ambassador positions?

Do we really think Hillary Clinton was Barack Obama's first choice for Secretary of State? There was obviously a deal between them in which she would campaign for him and urge her donors to give money to him in return for the position. Did she do so out of the kindness of her own heart? I doubt it. My guess would be that Hillary and Barack had a meeting after the primaries, either directly or through surrogates

The practice of rewarding people who raise cash for campaigns with high-level positions is as American as apple pie. Of the 661 people who raised more than $100,000 for George Bush in 2004, two became cabinet secretaries, 27 became ambassadors and 48 became transition team members. That means 23 percent of all big donors were given government positions. 104 companies that employed 127 elite donors for Bush ($100K or more) in 2000 were given $88 billion in funds in 2002.

Campaign donations in return for political favors are a part of the American political system. Bill Clinton pardoned Mark Rich after his wife donated large amounts to his campaign. The whole way campaigns are run in the U.S. is based on people being rewarded for fundraising in one way or another.

If politicians can trade pardons, cabinet positions, government contracts, and political access for campaign fundraising, why not temporary Senate seats? What happened between Jackson and Blagojevich is indicative of backroom dealings that go on between politicians all the time. Blagojevich just happened to get caught on tape. How many politicians are rewarded with lobbyist positions after their political careers are over? Aren't they in fact getting paid retroactively for their services?

The Blagojevich scandal is representative of the American political system in which money is more important than qualifications or merit. If we are going to crucify Jesse Jackson, Jr., we should also crucify the outdated campaign finance system and the way business is done in politics.

Comments

[PATina]

I agree. I've been saying since this scandal broke out that there is a thin line between politics and corruption. The whole game of politics is played by bartering favors (you vote for my bill... I'll co-sponsor one of your bills). It's very easy to cross the line. I do think Blago took it to another level by asking for specific paying jobs for him and his wife. That's more than just a "campaign contribution'.

[berrycooda]

Here we go again.....

Wait til the fat lady sings.....it ain't over yet...

Odd timing for this whole fiasco....Sounds like everybody wants a special election for a new Senator
for some reason.
Wonder who they didn't want....for this to come up so quick and ready to go ahead with
impeachment proceedings to keep the Gov. from picking somebody.

Chicago...Chicago... that "hustling" town.....Chicago...Chicago...the town that won't shut down....

[XME]

"Do we really think Hillary Clinton was Barack Obama's first choice for Secretary of State? There was obviously a deal between them in which she would campaign for him and urge her donors to give money to him in return for the position."

I have disagree, and resent the use of the word "we"...speak for yourself. Personally, I don't care for the Clinton's, however, I don't believe for one second that Obama would appoint her out of some arranged deal. She campaigned for him for one reason: she knew it would only hurt HER if she did not. He appointed her because he felt it would be one more big gesture in attempting to unify the party, and because he felt that job was appropriate for her (as opposed to his VP, which I don't think he would have given her for all the support or money in the world).

To suggest there was some closed door deal is an insult not only to Hillary Clinton, but especially to Barack Obama.

[roch20]

"Do we really think Hillary Clinton was Barack Obama's first choice for Secretary of State? There was obviously a deal between them in which she would campaign for him and urge her donors to give money to him in return for the position. Did she do so out of the kindness of her own heart? I doubt it. My guess would be that Hillary and Barack had a meeting after the primaries, either directly or through surrogates."

AMEN!!!!

[PATina]

Hey... he is a Chicago politician... I'm sure he knows the game and can play it very well... hahahahahahaha

But I still think he was smart for taking Hillary out of the Senate and putting her in his cabinet... and may have even done so w/o some deal being put into place. I guess we will never know... hahahahaha

[timm0]

Yeah.... we could also "crucify" apologists who blindly support people playing the game.

Apparently, you haven't figured out that NOBODY (non-politicians, at least) LIKES the game of favors for political advancement. The difference between the things you suspect (!) go on and the dirt around Jesse Jackson, Jr. is a very public exposure of taped conversations that, when taken in tandem with a very recent fund-raiser, make for a potent set of "coincidences."

And yes, public exposure of the games IS an important factor. Everyone who shook hands with that toad blago is going to get inspected, and anyone with a single hair out of place is going to get lit up. You make it sound like Jackson is the only person who's getting shot at. Well, maybe he's the highest profile one right now... but he will have PLENTY of company.

[claylandg]

You kow something the Clintons have nothing to do with this mess and for you to drag there name into it just shows your true color.This is about the governor of ill and jessie jackson Jr. i guess we will see how deep it is but for you to drag clintons name into everything just shows me alot

[WeWon]

Thanks ... its just more of the CDS