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-Lurid Crime Tales-

Report: No 'quid pro quo' on Obama seat

2008-12-24

Whew, that's a relief!

WASHINGTON - A report issued by Barack Obama's transition concluded that the president-elect had no contact with Gov. Rod Blagojevich or his office and no one acting on Obama's behalf tried to offer any "quid pro quo" arrangement to benefit the governor in exchange for filling the vacant Senate seat with a candidate of Obama's choosing.

The report was put together by attorney Greg Craig following Blagojevich's arrest for engaging in a scheme to sell the vacant U.S. Senate seat, as well as other state appointments and services.

Craig said Obama, his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, and his adviser, Valerie Jarrett, all submitted to interviews with U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald last week. Craig said neither Jarrett nor David Axelrod, another senior adviser, had any contact with Blagojevich or his office. The report did say that Dr. Eric Whitaker, a close friend of Obama's, was approached "by a member of the Governor's circle" for information.

Giant squid pro quo

Obama has portrayed himself as taking a hands-off approach to the governor's decision about who to appoint to his Senate seat. In fact, the report noted that he was very much interested in who would succeed him in the Senate. Once Jarrett said she was not interested in becoming a senator, Obama asked Emanuel to tell the governor that he would support Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Dan Hynes and Tammy Duckworth.

Vice President-elect Joe Biden said earlier Tuesday that the report would show "no inappropriate contact" between Barack Obama's presidential transition team and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Joe's a psychic or something ...

Posted by:Steve White

#7 Isn't there a Kennedy somewhere they can give this seat to?

Posted by: CrazyFool 2008-12-24 18:02

#6 This matches the Blagojevich teams report that showed no improper contacts or behavior...

The only report that matters is the US Atty's report... er indictments

Posted by: Titus Angererong1098 2008-12-24 17:14

#5 It seems to me that the Obama team self examination was more about getting everyone's story straight before Fitzpatrick starts asking questions.

Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2008-12-24 10:32

#4 A Much Better Title was by an LA TIMES blogger (bless him for this) that said, "Obama team probe of Obama team finds no Obama team impropriety"

Indeed an LAT blogger, such skepticism would be unseemly from a professional journalist.

Posted by: regular joe 2008-12-24 10:11

#3 Barbershops have ever been known has a place to seek solice, healthcare and the odd wager.

A good bleeding works wonders....

Posted by: .5MT 2008-12-24 09:38

#2 A Much Better Title was by an LA TIMES blogger (bless him for this) that said,

"Obama team probe of Obama team finds no Obama team impropriety"

Posted by: mhw 2008-12-24 09:12

#1 Everything I ever needed to know I learned at the barbershop!

Whitaker gained national attention as founder and director of Project Brotherhood: A Black Men's Clinic. In 1998, he developed a new clinical model for African American males that combined health care and disease prevention with vocational and spiritual guidance, all in the setting of a barbershop. Using the lure of free haircuts to bring in African American men--who despite high rates of preventable disease and premature death tend not to seek regular medical care--this widely recognized south side clinic brings primary care services, health advice, wellness programs, and emotional and spiritual support to thousands of black men.

Posted by: Besoeker 2008-12-24 07:22

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