Obama's Chief of Staff on Blagojevich Tape?

[festeringZit]

Is Emanuel the adviser on gov tape?

MUM | Obama's chief of staff refuses to answer the question

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<!-- Article Publish Date -->
December 11, 2008


<!-- Article By Line --> BY FRAN SPIELMAN AND ABDON M. PALLASCH Staff Reporters
<!-- Article's First Paragraph --> <!-- BlogBurst ContentStart --> President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, refused to take questions from reporters this morning about whether he was the Obama “advisor” named in the criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The complaint states Blagojevich wanted a promise of a high-level appointment or some other reward for Blagojevich in exchange for Blagojevich naming Obama’s friend Valerie Jarrett to replace him in the U.S. Senate.
<!-- BlogBurst ContentEnd --> <!-- start sidebar --> <!-- BlogBurst ContentStart --> Emanuel was uncharacteristically absent from Obama’s news conference this morning. He was spotted two hours later in the lobby of Chicago’s City Hall. He was there to listen to his two children performing in a concert with their school, Anshe Emet.
A Sun-Times reporter pressed him to comment about whether he was the emissary named in the criminal complaint.
“You’re wasting your time,” Emanuel said. “I’m not going to say a word to you. I’m going to do this with my children. Dont do that. I’m a father. I have two kids. I’m not going to do it.”
Asked, “Can’t you do both?” Emanuel replied, “I’m not as capable as you. I’m going to be a father. I’m allowed to be a father,” and he pushed the reporter’s digital recorder away.
Blagojevch was caught on tape saying that he wanted the Obama advisor in question to know what Blagojevich wanted in exchange for the Jarrett appointment.
Blagojevich said, “He asks me for the fifth CD thing, I want it to be in his head.” Emanuel represents the 5th Congressional District in Illinois.

 

[BetIt]

Ed Rendell gives some pretty savvy advice. I basically agree with every word of it. If you remember from the campaign, they weren't the greatest when reacting and generally took a few days to get off their heels.

Press advice from Ed Rendell

Carrie reports:

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell today criticized Barack Obama for not being more upfront about the Illinois corruption scandal.

Now, he said, the story will continue to dominate the media’s attention.

“They have never been in an executive position before,” Rendell said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “The rule of thumb is whatever you did, say it and get it over with and make it a one-day story as opposed to a three-day story. Politicians are always misjudging the intelligence of the American people.”

Known for his blunt critiques of fellow Democrats, Rendell did not hold back during the interview.

The public, said Rendell, understands Obama and his aides would have an interest in who fills the Senate seat, and some contact with the governor's office — and that Obama should have said as much at the outset.

"Did Rahm Emanuel who took Rod Blagojevich's seat in Congress have contact with Rod Blagojevich? Of course he did," Rendell said. "They may have thought he was the craziest S.O.B. in the world. But you still have to have contact with him."

The criminal complaint essentially exonerates Obama and his staff, Rendell said, because it quotes Blagojevich as saying the president-elect would offer him nothing but appreciation for appointing Obama confidant Valerie Jarrett to the position.

“Blagojevich curses them out,” Rendell said. “It is easy [for Obama to] just say, ‘Hey folks here it is, of course we had contact.'

"But they made the mistake of making it a four or five or six day story.”

 

[Willie99]

I agree betit. On a different note, it appears Emanuel better adjust quickly to being Chief of Staff. He is no longer in Congress, and blowing off reporters won't be quite so easy. Right, wrong or indifferent, they're not going away and has Rendell suggested, avoidance will only make matters worse.

Perception becomes reality, and life in the White House is scrutinized 10,000x more than anywhere else.

 

[3peet]

I wouldn't be surprised if Emanuel spoke with Blagojevich. He is/was as Ill, US House Rep isnt he? The point is was there deal's made? We dunno that yet. And as far as blowing off a reporter at the 1st attempt? So what? He'll speak to the press when he does.

 

[GasMan]

I wouldn't be surprised if Emanuel spoke with Blagojevich. He is/was as Ill, US House Rep isnt he? The point is was there deal's made? We dunno that yet. And as far as blowing off a reporter at the 1st attempt? So what? He'll speak to the press when he does.

Nothing to see here folks...move along.

hno:

 

[Mistermj]

Nothing to see here folks...move along.

hno:

They went ballistic when they thought Palin wasn't meeting with the press enough.

Hypocrites...all of them.

 

[fletchisrhsm]

They went ballistic when they thought Palin wasn't meeting with the press enough.

Hypocrites...all of them.

Agreed.

 

[Mistermj]

Obama is in a heap of shit already. Even MSNBC is calling his ass out.

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[3peet]

They went ballistic when they thought Palin wasn't meeting with the press enough.

Hypocrites...all of them.

Quit your cryin MJ. Big difference between someone whom we don't know did anything vs someone who doesn't know anything.:lolBIG: