Disappointments in My President
I’m starting a series of posts listing and discussing some of the important disappointments I’ve had with President Obama and his administration. I want to preface this by saying that he’s not necessarily a bad guy, and not everything he has done is bad. But I think it is important to have this list as a refresher when he eventually runs for re-election.
The first disappointment I will bring up actually took place after the election, but before Obama took office. I’m sure everyone knows about the Blagojevich scandal, but very few ever made the logical connections that show that Obama must have known about it before the story broke. One of my first posts on this blog was about Roland Burris, but in that post, I took the opportunity to explain my theory and frustration with the original Blago scandal. Since then, I’ve come across a blog post by Professor Jim Lindgren where he hashed out all of the details in chronological order, and it paints the same picture.
Let’s start with David Axelrod, interviewed on Fox News, saying, “I know [Obama] has talked to the Governor, and you know, he’s – there are a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced, and he’s – I think he has a fondess for a lot of them.”
Of course Axelrod backed out of that one in a hurry, once the scandal broke. Obama said that he never talked to Blago, and Axelrod said he was mistaken when he said that Obama did. But let me ask, how likely is it that someone who vacates a Senate seat to assume the office of the President would take no interest in who succeeds them in that post? It would be very prudent, I think, to talk to the Governor about possibilities, at least. But no, Obama insists:
But wait, there’s more! Not only does Mr. Obama’s story not make sense, it was refuted by some court documents that mysteriously unsealed themselves online for a brief time on April 22, 2010. ABC has a beautiful excerpt available online, and I’ll copy it here. These documents had parts blacked out to keep this information from becoming public, but some sort of “glitch” cleared it up just long enough for the truth to get out. Below are some very detailed summaries of evidence in the Blagojevich case, which indicate that Obama and his staff were in contact with Blago and his staff (I find section 17 particularly interesting). The bold parts are the newly (and accidentally) released bits:
9. Yet, despite President Obama stating that no representatives of his had any part of any deals, labor union president told the FBI and the United States Attorneys that he spoke to labor union official on November 3, 2008 who received a phone message from Obama that evening. After labor union official listened to the message labor union official told labor union president “I’m the one”. Labor union president took that to mean that labor union official was to be the one to deliver the message on behalf of Obama that Senate Candidate B was his pick. (Labor union president 302, February 2, 2009, p. 7).
10. Labor union official told the FBI and the United States Attorneys “Obama expressed his belief that [Senate Candidate B] would be a good Senator for the people of Illinois and would be a candidate who could win re-election. [Labor union official] advised Obama that [labor union official] would reach out to Governor Blagojevich and advocate for [Senate Candidate B].. . . [Labor union official] called [labor union president] and told [labor union president] that Obama was aware that [labor union official] would be reaching out to Blagojevich.” (Labor union official 302, February 3, 2009 p. 3).
11. According to Senate Candidate B, on November, 4 2008, Senate Candidate B spoke with labor union official about the Senate seat. Labor union official said he spoke to Obama. Labor union official said he was going to meet with Blagojevich and said “he was going to push Blagojevich hard on this. According to Senate Candidate B, labor union official’s language could have been stronger than the language that she was reporting to the government.” (Senate Candidate B 302, December 19, 2008).
12. On November 5, 2008, Blagojevich told John Harris that labor union official “talked to Barack Obama, wants to come and see me.” Blagojevich then told Harris that labor union official “was very explicit with me, “I talked to Barack about the Senate seat. Can I come and see ya? Can I do it tomorrow?’ I said, sure.” (Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 261).
13. A supporter of Presidential Candidate Obama suggested that she talk to the wife of Governor Blagojevich about Senate Candidate B for Senator. (Valerie Jarrett 302, December 19, 2008). Supporter of Presidential Candidate Obama is mentioned in a phone call on November 3, 2008, having offered “fundraising” in exchange for Senate Candidate B for senator (Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 149).
17. President-elect Obama also spoke to Governor Blagojevich on December 1, 2008 in Philadelphia. On Harris Cell Phone Call # 139, John Harris and Governor’s legal counsel discuss a conversation Blagojevich had with President-elect Obama. The government claims a conspiracy existed from October 22, 2008 continuing through December 9, 2008.6 That conversation is relevant to the defense of the government’s theory of an ongoing conspiracy. Only Rod Blagojevich and President Obama can testify to the contents of that conversation. The defense is allowed to present evidence that corroborates the defendant’s testimony.7
18. President-elect Obama also suggested Senate Candidate A to Governor Blagojevich. John Harris told the FBI and the United States Attorneys that he spoke to President’s Chief of Staff on November 12, 2008. Harris took notes of the conversation and wrote that President’s Chief had previously worked as Blagojevich’s press secretary. Obama agreed of Staff told Harris that Senate Candidate A was acceptable to Obama as a senate pick. (Harris handwritten notes, OOG1004463) President’s Chief of Staff told the FBI that “he could not say where but somewhere it was communicated to him that” Senate Candidate A was a suggested candidate viewed as one of the four “right” candidates “by the Obama transition team.” (Rahm Emanuel 302, p. 5, December 20, 2008). Harris told Blagojevich Obama’s suggestion on November 12, 2008 (Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 539).
19. President-elect Obama was also involved in other senate candidate choices. On December 8, 2008, John Harris’ secretary’s call log noted President’s Chief of Staff called at 10:47 am and wrote “needs to talk to you asap” (Harris 302, February 20, 2009). President’s Chief of Staff told the FBI that he had a conversation discussing the Senate seat with Obama on December 7, 2008 in Obama’s car. President’s Chief of Staff told the FBI “Obama expressed concern about Senate Candidate D being appointed as Senator. [President's Chief of Staff] suggested they might need an expanded list to possibly include names of African Americans that came out of the business world. [President's Chief of Staff] thought he suggested Senate Candidate E who was the head of the Urban League and with President’s Chief of Staff’s suggestion.” (President’s Chief of Staff, 302, 12-20-08). 20.
22. However, the defense has a good faith belief that Mr. Rezko, President Obama’s former friend, fund-raiser, and neighbor told the FBI and the United States Attorneys a different story about President Obama. In a recent in camera proceeding, the government tendered a three paragraph letter indicating that Rezko “has stated in interviews with the government that he engaged in election law violations by personally contributing a large sum of cash to the campaign of a public official who is not Rod Blagojevich. & Further, the public official denies being aware of cash contributions to his campaign by Rezko or others and denies having conversations with Rezko related to cash contributions. & Rezko has also stated in interviews with the government that he believed he transmitted a quid pro quo offer from a lobbyist to the public official, whereby the lobbyist would hold a fundraiser for the official in exchange for favorable official action, but that the public official rejected the offer. The public official denies any such conversation. In addition, Rezko has stated to the government that he and the public official had certain conversations about gaming legislation and administration, which the public official denies having had.”10
23. President Obama is the only one who can testify as to the veracity of Mr. Rezko’s allegations above.
10 The defense has a good faith belief that this public official is Barack Obama. See, “Obama on Rezko deal: It was a mistake”, Dave McKinney, Chris Fusco, and Mark Brown, Chicago Sun Times, November 5, 2006. Senator Barack Obama was asked: “Did Rezko or his companies ever solicit your support on any matter involving state or federal government? Did Al Johnson, who was trying to get a casino license along with Tony Rezko, or Rezko himself ever discuss casino matters with you?” Senator Obama answered: “No, I have never been asked to do anything to advance his business interest. In 1999, when I was a State Senator, I opposed legislation to bring a casino to Rosemont and allow casino gambling at docked riverboats which news reports said Al Johnson and Tony Rezko were interested in being part of. I never discussed a casino license with either of them. I was a vocal opponent of the legislation.” Obama’s involvement with Tony Rezko and this legislation coincides with the three paragraph summary the government has provided to the defense referenced above.
Given all of this information, I find it amazing that Judge James Zagel didn’t subpoena Obama for the case against Blago. But that’s a side note. Everything in this issue points at least to someone in the Obama camp knowing what Blago wanted to do (even if you only go back to my original argument that Blago couldn’t know Obama’s answer unless Obama gave an answer). And if someone in Obama’s camp knew what Blago wanted to do, I think it’s astronomically unlikely that they would answer for Obama without asking him. So, agree with it or not, I’m pretty sure that Obama knew about Blago, and the fact that he didn’t turn the guy in (and that he lied about his involvement later) is shameful. That’s my first disappointment with our president. It’s not the last.
