Ill. Governor Arrested by Feds, Media Ignored Connection To Obama
Posted on December 9, 2008
Update: Hot Air has lots of coverage
Marc Ambinder speculates that candidate number 5 is Jesse Jackson Jr.
The Smoking Gun speculates it was Emil Jones.
-By Warner Todd Huston
Media ignored Guv’s party today, but also links to Rezko corruption and Barack Obama and his chief strategist David Axelrod during presidential campaign.
As folks in Illinois were waking up or just getting to work, news hit like an avalanche that Governor Rod Blagojevich had been taken into custody by federal authorities this morning. The news was flying hot and heavy, and still is, over what the feds are alleging that Blago (as we call him in Chicago) did. There are reports of wiretaps, solicitations for bribes, mail and wire fraud… the list is long and shocking.
But one thing seems to be missing from many of these news reports. You guessed it, the fact that Blago is a Democrat seems to have slipped under the radar. But also his connections to Obama and his associates has continually gone unnoticed.
Now, as usual, we cannot really smack around the home papers or TV reports. After all, people in Chicago and Illinois already know that their governor is a Democrat. But it is the news wires and outlets outside Illinois that should be questioned.
News outlets like CNN, AFP, MSNBC’s First Read Blog, The AP, have mysteriously forgotten that Blago was a Democrat.
So, what did Blago do to get snapped up by the feds?
As of now, it concerns Blago’s choice for a replacement for Obama’s Senate seat. Apparently Blago had some pay back in mind from whomever he was to appoint. The feds are alleging that he wanted…
- a substantial salary for himself at either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;
- a spot for his wife on paid corporate boards, where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;
- promises of campaign funds — including cash up front;
- a Cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
… and that is all they are saying now. There is probably more to come.
We know it’s worse than that. In Chicago we have been informed that Blago has been under the cloud of an indictment for at least a year. The feds had what they were calling “Public Official A” in their sites for quite a while and no one in the state doubted that the “A” was spelled “Rod Blagojevich.”
Blagojevich has been linked to some very shady business deals with convicted back room wheeler-dealer and corruption merchant Antoin “Tony” Rezko. Just recently we’d also found out that federal officials had admitted that they had incriminating taped phone calls with Blago, too. (Check out Obama’s link to Rezko, too.)
Blagojevich is also a close associate of Barack Obama and Obama’s chief strategist David Axelrod.
Few national media outlets, though, ever mentioned the thicket of corruption that Blago had been wallowing in, nor that he was linked to Obama, Rezko, or Axelrod. All throughout the election as everyone in Illinois knew how corrupt he was, not a word of it seemed to be brought out in the national media during Obama’s campaign. It was as if the media thought Obama had never even met Blago.
Yes, the media is doing a bang up job!
Here are some of the highlights… or lowlights as the case may be, of Blago’s suspected corruption.
“This Year’s Federal Trial Of Blagojevich Fundraiser Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko Included Allegations Of Similar Things Going On Around Blagojevich’s Administration. Testimony Alleged That Blagojevich Associates Sought A Political Donation From A Contractor In Exchange For A Promise Of State Business. Blagojevich Himself Hasn’t Been Accused Of Wrongdoing.” (Kevin McDermott, “Much Riding On Ethics Bill On Governor’s Desk,” The [Bloomington, IL] Pantagraph, 8/8/08)
Gov. Blagojevich: “Tony Rezko Is A Friend Who Helped Me. He Helped Sen. [Barack] Obama. He Helped [Illinois Attorney General] Lisa Madigan. … He Helped All Kinds Of Political Figures.” (Chris Fusco and Mitch Dudek, “Gov Boils Over At Corruption Talk,” Chicago Sun-Times, 7/4/08)
“Rezko, Whose Prodigious Fundraising Helped To Bankroll The Campaigns Of Sen. Barack Obama And Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Was Convicted Of 18 Counts Of Fraud And Other Offenses Involving The Use Of Influence In State Government To Squeeze Companies Seeking To Do Business With The State For Kickbacks.” (Mike Robinson, “Rezko Lawyers Want Wife To Keep Money,” The Associated Press, 7/17/08)
“That Year, [Obama] Gained His First High-Level Experience In A Statewide Campaign When He Advised The Victorious Gubernatorial Candidate Rod Blagojevich, Another Politician With A Funny Name And A Message Of Reform.” (Ryan Lizza, “Making It,” The New Yorker, 7/21/08)
“Obama, Who Endorsed Blagojevich For A Second Term Nearly 18 Months Ago, Said He’s Ready To Help Illinois Democrats In The Upcoming Elections.” (John Patterson, “Senator Says He’s Still Willing To Help Blagojevich Despite Hiring Concerns,” Chicago Daily Herald, 7/27/06)
There is an intricate and deep web of corruption that surrounds Illinois politics. We already have our last Governor, George Ryan (Republican), in jail at this time. He was jailed for bribery and for selling Illinois drivers licenses for campaign cash. From this illegal action, many truck drivers got licenses they did not qualify for. Ryan and Blago are part of what many Chicagoans call “the Combine.” The Combine is the close and corrupt intermingling of both major parties. In Illinois is is widely considered true that the state’s Democrats and Republicans are absolutely indistinguishable. Both fill each other’s pockets with the public’s cash on a regular basis. But, because of the corruption of Chicago, the Democrats have institutionalized it to the enth degree.
Now the rest of the nation is getting a small taste of Illinois politics. It’s business as usual, sadly.
» Filed Under Barack Obama, Democrats, Elections, Liberal Media/Bias, News
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15 Responses to “Ill. Governor Arrested by Feds, Media Ignored Connection To Obama”
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…and George Ryan was REPUBLICAN…SO WHAT??it is not about party affiliation – it IS however, about CORRUPTION. Blago has been CORRUPT since he was sworn into office. By the way, is it part of the job description that a candidate for the Illinois Governor’s job must be willing to steal, lie and cheat at all costs to be considered viable?? Blago — what a SLIME — he gets what he deserves…..
There is no connection to Obama…we live in Illinois.
Blago hates Obama…read the transcripts. “#$% Obama!” Blago is a racist.
Get the facts before smearing the only honorable person in Illinois politics and , by the way, your next President.
Facts? What good are facts to this blog?
It was not “#$% Obama!” It was “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. “#$%” them”
That isn’t hate, its Illinois politics. Whoever was speaking of candidate 1 did say that the President Elect should be able to get Blago’s wife a nice position, etc. That he would be the President and could do about anything. So, Obama is neither conviced or cleared, but someone must thing he had power and would be somewhat willing to do something.
Obama will be the next President, that is all the more reason for people to examine his association with Blago, and the other corrupt politicians of Illinois.
If you believe Obama could be as pure as you seem to believe he is, be a Senator from Illinois (Chicago) and be pure shows nothing beyond your lack of knowledge on the subject of Illinois politicians. Nor is it Democrat or Republican parties, the corruption in this state is very bipartisan, as long as you play the game.
Obama would not have gotten far in this state, nor be US Senator, nor President Elect without Blago, Jones, and the other corrupt politicians backing him. Obama would have had to be aware at minimum, at least to some point, about the corruption, and most likely involved. Indeed some of Obama’s actions are typical Illinois politician.
Nixon got arrested two months after every one else HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
I do not know who Obama pays off however, I believe he is up to his eyeballs in the corruption in IL. I had relly hoped he would turn things around and be a good leader. Too much smoke involved in this scandal and Obama is sooooo involved. America does not need another bad president. If the FBI does their job which I doubt they will not rest until Obama and all involved are apprehened and made to be accountable.
After reading the indictment, I find it hard to conclude that Obama had any involvement actually. At worst, I would guess that he had some notion that Blago was a rotten apple and maybe kept too quiet in never making any earlier public statements distancing himself from the Governor; and I say that primarily because it seems most had a crystalizing view of this corruption.
However, the thing that struck me in all of the quotations from the taped conversations was the absolute disconnect from any sense of a reality in which the collective media (both liberal and conservative), FBI, and mounting public scrutiny operate and have the power to call foul. Whether one supports Obama or not, whether one believes he is honest or not, I think most will admit that he is politically intelligent; and the types of blatant and publically scrutable buyoffs that the Governor and his advisors were discussing are clearly anything but politically intelligent. It’s that absolute lack of subtlety that convinces me none of this could actually have connected with Obama himself.
go FBI do your job and put our next president in Jail where he belongs! if you hang out with crooks its because you are one of them,no honest person hangs out with scum only scum do. obama is scum and needs to be put away .If you thought the Clintons trashed up the white house ,you haven’t seen anything yet. If he gets into the oval office we are going to need the worlds greatest cleaning service for that job. the FBI will do that job !
Kyle B….that is a pretty incitefull and intelligent viewpoint. I am not an Obama supporter but I will say you points are reasonable leaps of logic as to why Obama would not have been directly involved.
But Cynthia B, I get the impression that you were annoyed that this article points out Blag’s party affiliation multiple times. The point of this that I think your missing is that this is not a direct assault on the Democratic party but pointing out that the media consistantly fails to identify party affiliation when Democrats are brought up on criminal charges. For example, Sen Craig was identified until the ends of the earth as a Republican during his scandal by MSM outlets….without fail. “Republican Senator Craig” would be the opening line to a news report. However, whith Gov Blag, Eliot Spitzer, Tim Mahoney…etc the MSM religously and overtly fails to identify them as democrats when they submit the report.
We don’t want Obama enter White House or Congressman in D.C. . Why -what is matter with U.S. Supreme Court-Judges, U.S. Congress even U.S. President ignored our voice about crimes Obama have all his life ?. Scaring of him because he is part “TerroisT”. You governments know better than that or history must be followed since 1776 !. Are our laws now becoming communist style ?. Then remove OBAMA now before Dec 12, 2008 !!!. If Obama success enter White House, that house will be “BLACK HOUSE” looks ugliest in history .
Is there a prosecutor in this country who has the stones and is willing to subpoena Obama and find out what he knows about this corruption and when did he first know about it and have him testify about it under oath?
Why is any one surprised ?!?!?!? I sure there more to come as we find out about the real Obama as no one ever asked him a hard question about anything!!!!! One thing is for sure, We found out the media is not doing their job and thats why this corruption story will take years to find out the truth.
Senator obama cannot pass the background check to be a law enforcement officer in any state in the union, other than Ill. You have to be a u.s. citizen to wear the badge, Obama cannot produce a birth certificate proving that he is a u.s. citizen. The media and the people with the money that are behind Obama did a hell of a job fooling the american people. Is this a great country are what.
WHY ARE ANY OF YOU SUPRISED! CAREFULL WHO YOU HANG WITH,YOU MIGHT END UP LIKE THEM!!!
MEDIA ELECTED ,NOW WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED ,POLITIC’S AS NORMAL ,CHANGE???TO THE SAME , OR WORSE!!! WE ARE JUST SEEING THE FIRST OF A PUSH FOR SOME TYPE OF UNION OF REALLY BAD PEOPLE LEADING US. JACKSON JR IS THE NEXT SCARY ONE COMMING.COLOR DOES NOT MATTER TO ALOT OF US BUT DIRTINESS DOES , AND THEY STINK!!! BAD!!!!
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