Reporting from Chicago -- Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Barack Obama's choice as White House chief of staff, talked with Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's administration about who would replace Obama in the U.S. Senate and cited a list of people who would be acceptable, sources said.

 

The information uncovered by the Chicago Tribune does not suggest that Emanuel tried to cut a deal involving Obama's Senate seat, which he resigned last month. But it does help fill gaps surrounding a question that Obama has not answered: Did anyone on his staff have contact with Blagojevich about the Democratic governor's choice for the Senate seat?

 

Blagojevich and John Harris, the governor's former chief of staff, face federal charges in an alleged shakedown involving the vacant seat, which Illinois law grants the governor sole authority to fill. Harris resigned Friday, but Blagojevich has defied calls from Obama and others for him to do the same.

 

The Illinois attorney general petitioned the state Supreme Court on Friday to remove Blagojevich, saying he could not conduct state business.

 

On Thursday, Obama said he had never spoken to Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy and was "confident that no representatives" of his had engaged in any deal-making over it with the governor or his team. Obama also pledged that in the "next few days" he would explain what contacts his staff may have had with the governor's office about the seat.

 

Emanuel, an Illinois congressman who has long been close to both Blagojevich and Obama, has refused to answer questions about any involvement he may have had with the Blagojevich camp over the Senate pick. A spokeswoman for Emanuel also declined to comment Friday.

 

One source confirmed that communications between Emanuel and the Blagojevich administration had been captured on court-approved wiretaps.

 

Another source said that contact between the Obama camp and the governor's administration regarding the Senate seat had begun Nov. 1 -- the Saturday before the election -- when Emanuel called Harris' cellphone. The conversation took place around the time that news reports had surfaced about Emanuel possibly becoming chief of staff if Obama won the White House.

 

Emanuel delivered a list of candidates who would be "acceptable" to Obama, the source said. On the list were Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth, state Comptroller Dan Hynes and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, the source said. All are Democrats.

 

Sometime after the election, Emanuel called Harris again to add the name of Democratic state Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, the source said.

 

Blagojevich and Harris are charged with plotting to trade Obama's vacated seat for lucrative jobs or campaign cash for the governor. Among other things, a government affidavit filed with the charges alleges that Blagojevich had kicked around the idea of using the Senate seat to leverage an appointment to an ambassadorship or Cabinet post in the Obama administration.

 

At one point, the governor said that if he could not make a profitable enough deal, he would appoint himself to replace Obama, according to a 76-page affidavit from the U.S. attorney's office.

 

In one recording, Blagojevich reportedly voiced frustration at his inability to have his offers considered. Alluding to Obama's presumed favorite for the Senate seat, the governor said: "For nothing? [Expletive] him."

 

Federal authorities have not suggested that Obama or his team knew about Blagojevich's alleged schemes. In fact, U.S. Atty. Patrick J. Fitzgerald went out of his way Tuesday to indicate that Obama was not accused of having had anything to do with it.

 

"I should make clear, the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever," Fitzgerald said at a news conference. "We make no allegations that he's aware of anything, and that's as simply as I can put it. . . . There's no reference in the complaint to any conversations involving the president-elect or indicating that the president-elect was aware of it. And that's all I can say."

 

And on Friday, the Associated Press reported that Emanuel was not a target of the investigation. The AP attributed the information to two anonymous sources, including one person close to Emanuel.

 

Schakowsky told the Tribune that she had spoken to Emanuel on Thursday and that he seemed unfazed by the controversy. She also spoke of a conversation she had with Emanuel shortly after he was named chief of staff. She said she called Emanuel "to get some intelligence" on whether Obama might approve of her selection as senator.

 

"He indicated that the president-elect would be fine with certain people and I was one of them," Schakowsky said, adding that he did not share the identities of others on the list.

 

Schakowsky said it was natural for Obama to take an interest in the selection process for his Senate seat. "It makes perfect sense for the president-elect or his people to have some interaction about filling the seat he was vacating," she said.

 

Emanuel is working full time on Obama's transition but has yet to resign his House seat. Illinois law has a different process for filling vacant House seats than Senate seats: When Emanuel resigns, his replacement will be selected in a special election.

 

One alleged scheme outlined in the charges against Blagojevich involves the special election for Emanuel's seat. The federal affidavit says Blagojevich and others were recorded talking about an unidentified "president-elect advisor" concerned about the election for Emanuel's congressional seat who might help the governor land a job at a nonprofit organization.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/na...0,7115912.story

 

It's been four days and Obama's camp still hasn't produced a list of contacts that may have spoken to Blagojevich. So much for urgency. And its not like he has a laundry list of people to go through as president-elect. Either they did or they didn't. Furthermore, on December 9, Obama said he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, directly contradicting what David Axelrod said on November 23 that he knew Obama had talked to Blagojevich about his seat.

 

So this is the change we needed so desperately huh? I'll pass.

:|

 

Don't act like you ever had an open mind about Obama.

:|

 

Don't act like you ever had an open mind about Obama.

Way to turn perfectly valid proof that Obama is a liar into a personal attack.

:|

 

Don't act like you ever had an open mind about Obama.

Way to turn perfectly valid proof that Obama is a liar into a personal attack.

 

Please show how it proves he lied? You're jumping to conclusions because that's what you want to see. Get a life and realize things aren't always black and white.

black and white.

Why do you have to bring race into it?

black and white.

Why do you have to bring race into it?

 

I did no such thing. I was referring to "black and white" as in "there are shades of gray" and "very few things are obvious." I see where you're mind is, though.

black and white.

Why do you have to bring race into it?

 

I did no such thing. I was referring to "black and white" as in "there are shades of gray" and "very few things are obvious." I see where you're mind is, though.

 

I was just joshing you. I agree with you here.

black and white.

Why do you have to bring race into it?

 

I did no such thing. I was referring to "black and white" as in "there are shades of gray" and "very few things are obvious." I see where you're mind is, though.

Sarcasm detection failure.

black and white.

Why do you have to bring race into it?

 

I did no such thing. I was referring to "black and white" as in "there are shades of gray" and "very few things are obvious." I see where you're mind is, though.

Sarcasm detection failure.

 

:lol yeah no kidding

it will get worse before it gets better for obama...

:|

 

Don't act like you ever had an open mind about Obama.

Way to turn perfectly valid proof that Obama is a liar into a personal attack.

 

Please show how it proves he lied? You're jumping to conclusions because that's what you want to see. Get a life and realize things aren't always black and white.

Reporting from Chicago -- Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Barack Obama's choice as White House chief of staff, talked with Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's administration about who would replace Obama in the U.S. Senate and cited a list of people who would be acceptable, sources said.

 

The information uncovered by the Chicago Tribune does not suggest that Emanuel tried to cut a deal involving Obama's Senate seat, which he resigned last month. But it does help fill gaps surrounding a question that Obama has not answered: Did anyone on his staff have contact with Blagojevich about the Democratic governor's choice for the Senate seat?

 

Blagojevich and John Harris, the governor's former chief of staff, face federal charges in an alleged shakedown involving the vacant seat, which Illinois law grants the governor sole authority to fill. Harris resigned Friday, but Blagojevich has defied calls from Obama and others for him to do the same.

 

The Illinois attorney general petitioned the state Supreme Court on Friday to remove Blagojevich, saying he could not conduct state business.

 

On Thursday, Obama said he had never spoken to Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy and was "confident that no representatives" of his had engaged in any deal-making over it with the governor or his team. Obama also pledged that in the "next few days" he would explain what contacts his staff may have had with the governor's office about the seat.

 

Emanuel, an Illinois congressman who has long been close to both Blagojevich and Obama, has refused to answer questions about any involvement he may have had with the Blagojevich camp over the Senate pick. A spokeswoman for Emanuel also declined to comment Friday.

 

One source confirmed that communications between Emanuel and the Blagojevich administration had been captured on court-approved wiretaps.

 

Another source said that contact between the Obama camp and the governor's administration regarding the Senate seat had begun Nov. 1 -- the Saturday before the election -- when Emanuel called Harris' cellphone. The conversation took place around the time that news reports had surfaced about Emanuel possibly becoming chief of staff if Obama won the White House.

 

Emanuel delivered a list of candidates who would be "acceptable" to Obama, the source said. On the list were Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth, state Comptroller Dan Hynes and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, the source said. All are Democrats.

 

Sometime after the election, Emanuel called Harris again to add the name of Democratic state Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, the source said.

 

Blagojevich and Harris are charged with plotting to trade Obama's vacated seat for lucrative jobs or campaign cash for the governor. Among other things, a government affidavit filed with the charges alleges that Blagojevich had kicked around the idea of using the Senate seat to leverage an appointment to an ambassadorship or Cabinet post in the Obama administration.

 

At one point, the governor said that if he could not make a profitable enough deal, he would appoint himself to replace Obama, according to a 76-page affidavit from the U.S. attorney's office.

 

In one recording, Blagojevich reportedly voiced frustration at his inability to have his offers considered. Alluding to Obama's presumed favorite for the Senate seat, the governor said: "For nothing? [Expletive] him."

 

Federal authorities have not suggested that Obama or his team knew about Blagojevich's alleged schemes. In fact, U.S. Atty. Patrick J. Fitzgerald went out of his way Tuesday to indicate that Obama was not accused of having had anything to do with it.

 

"I should make clear, the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever," Fitzgerald said at a news conference. "We make no allegations that he's aware of anything, and that's as simply as I can put it. . . . There's no reference in the complaint to any conversations involving the president-elect or indicating that the president-elect was aware of it. And that's all I can say."

 

And on Friday, the Associated Press reported that Emanuel was not a target of the investigation. The AP attributed the information to two anonymous sources, including one person close to Emanuel.

 

Schakowsky told the Tribune that she had spoken to Emanuel on Thursday and that he seemed unfazed by the controversy. She also spoke of a conversation she had with Emanuel shortly after he was named chief of staff. She said she called Emanuel "to get some intelligence" on whether Obama might approve of her selection as senator.

 

"He indicated that the president-elect would be fine with certain people and I was one of them," Schakowsky said, adding that he did not share the identities of others on the list.

 

Schakowsky said it was natural for Obama to take an interest in the selection process for his Senate seat. "It makes perfect sense for the president-elect or his people to have some interaction about filling the seat he was vacating," she said.

 

Emanuel is working full time on Obama's transition but has yet to resign his House seat. Illinois law has a different process for filling vacant House seats than Senate seats: When Emanuel resigns, his replacement will be selected in a special election.

 

One alleged scheme outlined in the charges against Blagojevich involves the special election for Emanuel's seat. The federal affidavit says Blagojevich and others were recorded talking about an unidentified "president-elect advisor" concerned about the election for Emanuel's congressional seat who might help the governor land a job at a nonprofit organization.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/na...0,7115912.story

 

It's been four days and Obama's camp still hasn't produced a list of contacts that may have spoken to Blagojevich. So much for urgency. And its not like he has a laundry list of people to go through as president-elect. Either they did or they didn't. Furthermore, on December 9, Obama said he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, directly contradicting what David Axelrod said on November 23 that he knew Obama had talked to Blagojevich about his seat.

 

So this is the change we needed so desperately huh? I'll pass.

Saying you have no idea whats going on there when your senior adviser said otherwise a few weeks earlier. That's what we call a lie.

How do you know Axelrod didn't just make a mistake when he said that? Have you ever misspoken? I have.

 

I know it won't matter with you - you're an Obama hater. But, I would wait to see how everything shakes out before you jump to conclusions. You may be right. Who knows. We'll find out soon enough.

As prinmemito said, Benched never had an open mind about Obama in the first place and is looking for anything he can get his hands on to make him look bad. You're coming to quick conclusions about Obama's administration nearly 6 weeks before he even takes office. Give it a break.

How do you know Axelrod didn't just make a mistake when he said that? Have you ever misspoken? I have.

 

 

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

 

Shoe's on the other foot now!

How do you know Axelrod didn't just make a mistake when he said that? Have you ever misspoken? I have.

 

 

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

 

Shoe's on the other foot now!

 

I don't get it...

How do you know Axelrod didn't just make a mistake when he said that? Have you ever misspoken? I have.

 

 

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

 

Shoe's on the other foot now!

 

I don't get it...

 

Unsubstantiated speculation about what somebody might have done, viewed through the most negative filter possible. There is no room for misstatements, no benefit of the doubt.

"Furthermore, on December 9, Obama said he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, directly contradicting what David Axelrod said on November 23 that he knew Obama had talked to Blagojevich about his seat."

 

I don't think what Obama said directly contradicts Axelrod's statement. When Obama said that he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, he was probably referencing the scandal as a whole. All Axelrod said is that Obama had talked to Blagojevich about filling his seat, he didn't say that Obama knew about the scandal or who the Governor was leaning towards choosing.

 

Obama was never quoted as saying he had hadn't spoke to Blagojevich. So you can not conclude that Axelrod's statement has revealed Obama to be a liar.

"Furthermore, on December 9, Obama said he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, directly contradicting what David Axelrod said on November 23 that he knew Obama had talked to Blagojevich about his seat."

 

I don't think what Obama said directly contradicts Axelrod's statement. When Obama said that he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, he was probably referencing the scandal as a whole. All Axelrod said is that Obama had talked to Blagojevich about filling his seat, he didn't say that Obama knew about the scandal or who the Governor was leaning towards choosing.

 

Obama was never quoted as saying he had hadn't spoke to Blagojevich. So you can not conclude that Axelrod's statement has revealed Obama to be a liar.

I thought obama said he never talked to Blagojevich about the seat and there is audio of him talking.

 

Obama did say he was releasing more info on this during christmas week. Another good time for him to place info :whistle Just like when he let the Rezko information leak during the Wright stuff...

"Furthermore, on December 9, Obama said he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, directly contradicting what David Axelrod said on November 23 that he knew Obama had talked to Blagojevich about his seat."

 

I don't think what Obama said directly contradicts Axelrod's statement. When Obama said that he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, he was probably referencing the scandal as a whole. All Axelrod said is that Obama had talked to Blagojevich about filling his seat, he didn't say that Obama knew about the scandal or who the Governor was leaning towards choosing.

 

Obama was never quoted as saying he had hadn't spoke to Blagojevich. So you can not conclude that Axelrod's statement has revealed Obama to be a liar.

I thought obama said he never talked to Blagojevich about the seat and there is audio of him talking.

 

Obama did say he was releasing more info on this during christmas week. Another good time for him to place info :whistle Just like when he let the Rezko information leak during the Wright stuff...

 

I don't recall there being any audio of Obama talking to Blagojevich about the seat. Please provide a credible link.

 

Also, Obama will release the details of the staff contacts next week at the request of the prosecutor. If the prosecutor didn't make that request I am sure we'll hear about it.

"Furthermore, on December 9, Obama said he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, directly contradicting what David Axelrod said on November 23 that he knew Obama had talked to Blagojevich about his seat."

 

I don't think what Obama said directly contradicts Axelrod's statement. When Obama said that he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, he was probably referencing the scandal as a whole. All Axelrod said is that Obama had talked to Blagojevich about filling his seat, he didn't say that Obama knew about the scandal or who the Governor was leaning towards choosing.

 

Obama was never quoted as saying he had hadn't spoke to Blagojevich. So you can not conclude that Axelrod's statement has revealed Obama to be a liar.

I thought obama said he never talked to Blagojevich about the seat and there is audio of him talking.

 

Obama did say he was releasing more info on this during christmas week. Another good time for him to place info :whistle Just like when he let the Rezko information leak during the Wright stuff...

 

I don't recall there being any audio of Obama talking to Blagojevich about the seat. Please provide a credible link.

 

Also, Obama will release the details of the staff contacts next week at the request of the prosecutor. If the prosecutor didn't make that request I am sure we'll hear about it.

 

I am not saying that Obama did or didn't speak to Blagojevich. Just that his statement that he did not know what was going on in Illinois does not contradict anything said by Axelrod.

"Furthermore, on December 9, Obama said he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, directly contradicting what David Axelrod said on November 23 that he knew Obama had talked to Blagojevich about his seat."

 

I don't think what Obama said directly contradicts Axelrod's statement. When Obama said that he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, he was probably referencing the scandal as a whole. All Axelrod said is that Obama had talked to Blagojevich about filling his seat, he didn't say that Obama knew about the scandal or who the Governor was leaning towards choosing.

 

Obama was never quoted as saying he had hadn't spoke to Blagojevich. So you can not conclude that Axelrod's statement has revealed Obama to be a liar.

I thought obama said he never talked to Blagojevich about the seat and there is audio of him talking.

 

Obama did say he was releasing more info on this during christmas week. Another good time for him to place info :whistle Just like when he let the Rezko information leak during the Wright stuff...

 

I don't recall there being any audio of Obama talking to Blagojevich about the seat. Please provide a credible link.

 

Also, Obama will release the details of the staff contacts next week at the request of the prosecutor. If the prosecutor didn't make that request I am sure we'll hear about it.

 

No Obama said he did not talk to Blagojevich at all and there was audio he did. Thats what I thought was the "new news" I haven't followed the story really. Its not a big deal to me. I would be surprised if he didn't talk to him. Why wouldn't he talk and look for a center more aligned with him? Not saying he did anything illegal just saying he probably talked about the senate seat. I actually doubt he did anything illegal.

"Furthermore, on December 9, Obama said he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, directly contradicting what David Axelrod said on November 23 that he knew Obama had talked to Blagojevich about his seat."

 

I don't think what Obama said directly contradicts Axelrod's statement. When Obama said that he had no idea what was going on in Illinois, he was probably referencing the scandal as a whole. All Axelrod said is that Obama had talked to Blagojevich about filling his seat, he didn't say that Obama knew about the scandal or who the Governor was leaning towards choosing.

 

Obama was never quoted as saying he had hadn't spoke to Blagojevich. So you can not conclude that Axelrod's statement has revealed Obama to be a liar.

I thought obama said he never talked to Blagojevich about the seat and there is audio of him talking.

 

Obama did say he was releasing more info on this during christmas week. Another good time for him to place info :whistle Just like when he let the Rezko information leak during the Wright stuff...

 

I don't recall there being any audio of Obama talking to Blagojevich about the seat. Please provide a credible link.

 

Also, Obama will release the details of the staff contacts next week at the request of the prosecutor. If the prosecutor didn't make that request I am sure we'll hear about it.

 

I am not saying that Obama did or didn't speak to Blagojevich. Just that his statement that he did not know what was going on in Illinois does not contradict anything said by Axelrod.

 

I was agreeing.

So in the face of U.S. and British intelligence of WMD in Iraq, Bush lied to America. Because he knew the WMD weren't there despite the reports.

 

However, Obama did not lie in this circumstance, he merely misspoke.

 

 

I love partisanship. IMO, neither situation is a lie. Because to prove someone has been lying, we have to know that the person knew the truth and then presented alternate facts. Since I am not a mind reader, judging these matters is above my pay grade.

Of course he spoke to the Governor about his new Boss' seat, and probably about his own. There is nothing improper about that at all. I would be more concerned about the fact that they chaired the man's campaign, Rahm got his seat, and they were all in Rezko's pocket. This stuff is nothing.

So in the face of U.S. and British intelligence of WMD in Iraq, Bush lied to America. Because he knew the WMD weren't there despite the reports.

 

However, Obama did not lie in this circumstance, he merely misspoke.

 

 

I love partisanship. IMO, neither situation is a lie. Because to prove someone has been lying, we have to know that the person knew the truth and then presented alternate facts. Since I am not a mind reader, judging these matters is above my pay grade.

it is the liberal media painting a picture. Just like Clinton misspoke. When we lied, he lied to himself, not about the situation....