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Rahm’s Fallout: Unanswered Questions in Cone of Silence
December 18, 2008 5:34 PM
ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: Another day, another (possible) revelation about incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel -- apparently (and not surprisingly) the main conduit between the Obama transition team and Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s allegedly crooked political operation.
This, from Thursday’s Chicago Sun-Times: “Emanuel had direct discussions about the seat with Gov. Blagojevich, who is . . . accused of trying to auction it to the highest bidder.
“Emanuel talked with the governor in the days following the Nov. 4 election and pressed early on for the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to the post, sources with knowledge of the conversations told the Sun-Times. There was no indication from sources that Emanuel brokered a deal, however.
“A source with the Obama camp strongly denied Emanuel spoke with the governor directly about the seat, saying Emanuel only spoke with Blagojevich once recently to say he was taking the chief of staff post.
“But sources with knowledge of the investigation said Blagojevich told his aides about the calls with Emanuel and sometimes gave them directions afterward. Sources said that early on, Emanuel pushed for the appointment of Jarrett to the governor and his staff and asked that it be done by a certain date.”
This comes on top of a report from earlier this week from a Sun-Times columnist, who writes (without much sourcing) that Emanuel was captured on tape having 21 separate conversations with Blagojevich’s team.
A Democratic aide tells ABC that the report of 21 conversations is “completely inaccurate” and “crazy.” The aide says Emanuel only had one direct conversation with Blagojevich in recent weeks -- a courtesy call to say he’d be leaving the House to serve Obama -- and that the subject of the Senate seat didn’t come up.
Both points will, presumably, be borne out by the report on staff contacts prepared by the Obama team. But that’s not coming out until next week -- and therein lies the political problem for Emanuel.
To back up for a moment: None of this is shocking, or even surprising, on its face.
Emanuel is a plugged-in veteran political operative, who took over Blagojevich’s old US House seat in Chicago. OF COURSE he’d be in touch with the governor’s office, and probably the governor himself, about who would succeed his new boss in representing their home state in the Senate.
But this remains a distraction on a few levels -- not even including the likelihood that the famously foul-mouthed Emanuel could probably match Blagojevich in bleeps-per-minute on tape.
First, if a list of candidates was discussed, how does that square with the Obama team’s public posture of non-involvement in the Senate seat? Did any conversations include hints of pay-to-play?
Second, if Jarrett’s name was discussed, how does that fit with the timeline of Jarrett’s sudden announcement Nov. 12 that she wasn’t interested in the Senate seat? (Obama would name her to a senior adviser position in the White House three days later.)
Here’s what senior Obama adviser David Axelrod said on the subjects last week, at a forum at Harvard:
“There's a vacancy the governor apparently -- if you believe the complaint from the government -- had some ideas about what to do with it. We were not involved in that discussion or any discussion of that nature,” Axelrod said.
On Jarrett: “There were people who called her and encouraged her to think about it, and I think she thought about it, but ultimately Obama was very clear that he wanted her to be in the White House, there was never any doubt about that.”
Let’s postulate (as still seems likely) that nothing Emanuel said to Blagojevich or anyone else is in the least bit questionable. Let’s assume that, when Obama releases his report on contacts between his office and Blagojevich, everyone is proven squeaky clean.
Even then, is Emanuel still in something of a weakened state as he becomes chief of staff?
His refusal to comment may be coming from sound legal advice, and a request from the US attorney’s office, but it doesn’t fit the profile of a man who’s totally confident that he is in the clear.
As one small example of the political fallout, The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder connects some dots between the scrutiny on Emanuel and a Politico story that ran this week. John Bresnahan reported that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “set parameters” for the kind of contacts Emanuel can have with his soon-to-be-former House colleagues.
This is the kind of story that doesn’t get out unless someone wants it out -- and wants to send a message.
Writes Ambinder: “Clearly, the origin of the story -- even if it was laundered through neutral parties before reaching the Politico -- comes from Pelosi allies.
“Why share that anecdote now?
“Because, in the wake of the Blagojevich revelations, Rahm's public standing is as weak right now as it's ever going to get. He's been portrayed as knee-deep in the Blagojevich corruption case, although there's no indication he did anything wrong or even suspicious. Cameras are chasing him all across Chicagoland, and he is hiding from them; and given the investigation, he is in the un-Rahm-ian position of not being able to comment. Right now -- and only right now -- no one's afraid of Mr. Emanuel. He can't fight back.”
One other story, the timing of which is hard to believe is coincidental, published Wednesday in The Hill. The headline in the print edition (for some reason, it doesn’t appear as a headline online) is based on a quote from Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., who is taking over Emanuel’s post as caucus chairman: “Radically Different From Rahm.”
While this is going on, Emanuel has granted at least a few interviews. He’s quoted in a different Politico piece Thursday, talking about a private meeting he had with previous chiefs of staff. The word “Blagojevich” doesn’t appear in the article.
December 18, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (20)
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Makes you wonder if Fitzgerald isn't trying to pick Emanuel's brain with this delay to pump up his faltering case against Blago...
Posted by: matt | Dec 18, 2008 6:07:24 PM
"A source with the Obama camp strongly denied Emanuel spoke with the governor directly about the seat, saying Emanuel only spoke with Blagojevich once recently to say he was taking the chief of staff post."
Sorry, Emanuel. You will soon be tossed under the bus, but at least you'll have lots of company. The Messiah used you like so many other tools he has done the same to. BHO used Wright to get an early source of backers, he used Rezko until the scandal was revealed, he used Ayers when he needed local backers, he even used his typical white Grandma. Sad.
Where are they all now? Thrown overboard like so much excess baggage, of course.
Posted by: Don | Dec 18, 2008 6:23:41 PM
Rahm Emanuel immediately comes across as a creep. If he had been openly exposed as an associate of Barack Obama during the primaries, there is a good chance Obama would not be president. We have been fooled.
Posted by: JoeForSure | Dec 18, 2008 6:29:34 PM
Rahm Emanuel now knows how Joe Biden feels! :)
Don't get ahead of PEBO or he will throw you under the bus!
Posted by: aware2u | Dec 18, 2008 6:51:16 PM
Quick - somebody call Libby. He SURE got tossed under a bus, huh?
Posted by: Susan-1 | Dec 18, 2008 9:03:51 PM
Poor father Emanuel, he will be hung out to dry by his Godfather Barry O...strange how the media just keeps shifting gears to keep Americans wondering which rabbit is coming out of the hat next...and to keep everyone at each other's throat...meanwhile back at the ranch everyone involved in all these scandals are silent...no answers on citizenship...no answers on Blago...I sure there will be alot more of the " I am above the Law " NO ANSWERS...what happened to all this promised transparency ? YES WE CAN - _CHANGE ! Hope all the bus drivers can work overtime...Lots of folks will be going under. Whoever gets in the way better look out.
Posted by: lotzahair | Dec 18, 2008 10:33:17 PM
If you want a really good laugh, listen to orly taitz on you tube about the media in America...too funny...she says different haircuts, suits and networks...same garbage.
Posted by: lotzahair | Dec 18, 2008 10:39:43 PM
typical news hype without evidence. wait until the report comes out and stop following Rahm around just to get news... reporters are like vultures except Rahm AINT DEAD. Don't count him out. I have a lot of respect for Rahm, and had high hopes when he was tapped. why even try to blast holes in him when he hasn't done anything to warrant it? oh yeah, because it's the news. its entertainment.
Posted by: Chris | Dec 19, 2008 1:45:42 AM
Hey you guys read Mr. Fitzgerald ask that they give him time to complete his investgation before they give their info to the press LEAVE REHM alone he is a good man I wish you all would have did this much picking and pulling on the present adminstration before we went to this worthless war!!!!
Posted by: janet | Dec 19, 2008 1:56:26 AM
All dirty Chicago politics; and Obama is in the middle of this dirt.
Is this the " Change" Obama promised?
Posted by: Jim | Dec 19, 2008 5:12:51 AM
emanuel is dirty. obama is beginning to look like it too. emanuel, to save obama, should resign. obama's not even sworn in and already he is beginning to swirl in the dust of corruption.
Posted by: Lawrence | Dec 19, 2008 5:22:06 AM
Emanuel is tough and will kick a** and take names. that he and the governor have no love lost is no secret. that they spoke is hardly surprising. many people can shake hands and smile and that doesn't make friends---look at Palin and Biden.
Posted by: Paul Wall | Dec 19, 2008 7:36:02 AM
So I see that the Chicago tribune is reporting that Emanuel spoke to Blogo,21 times. Saw this one Fox News, Drudgereport, but not on CNN or Network news site. Sounds fishy.
Posted by: Walt | Dec 19, 2008 7:50:00 AM
PaulWall - Is this the same kick a$$ and take no names tough guy Obama's been bragging about? The same one who's affraid to leave his house because of "death threats". The same kind of death threats all hated politicians get? This guys in knee deep and you liberal losers know it. The only thing Obama is going to change in the next four years is age. LMAO!
Posted by: greg | Dec 19, 2008 8:42:16 AM
Okay, so since he won't answer questions he is guilty of something?
The media will twist things to try and force people to respond to questions whether they want to or not. Here by not responding they imply he is hiding something or did something wrong. Why would POTUS-elect say everything is fine if his number one aide did something improper?
Give the guy a break and wait until they are able to give you the information according to their agreement with the Prosecutor.
Chasing him around the streets, the media looks like a pack of jackals. I am a proponent of freedom of the press but this is ridiculous.
Posted by: Pete | Dec 19, 2008 8:58:41 AM
I believe that the Obama team has been co-operating with Federal prosecutors since Ms. Jarrett concluded that Gov. Foul Mouth tried to get her to pay to play. Emanuel served as a point man to encourage Gov. Foul Mouth to incriminate himself on tape. Emanuel will come out of this a hero and that's why he can't talk now.
Posted by: Tangito | Dec 19, 2008 9:26:24 AM
"A source with the Obama camp strongly denied Emanuel spoke with the governor directly about the seat"
A source on the Sun Times disagrees:
"Emanuel talked with the governor in the days following the Nov. 4 election and pressed early on for the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to the post, sources with knowledge of the conversations told the Sun-Times. "
If Emanuel would like to says his 'strong denial' directly instead of hiding his defense behind an anonymous aid we would have a nice food fight here.
Posted by: BertieW | Dec 19, 2008 9:53:05 AM
It will be interesting when Blago tells his side of the story. If it's true that Emmanuel was trying to strong-arm the governor into appointing Valarie Garret to the Senate seat - and Obama was aware of it - Obama could very quickly go from being the Savior of the Democratic party to becoming the Nixon of this generation.
Time will tell.
Right now, I'm remembering Nixon very clearly saying "I am not a crook" and Bill Clinton saying "I did not have s*x with that woman." Obama's "my team had no inappropriate contact with the governor" could go down in history.
Posted by: Sharp shooter | Dec 19, 2008 11:45:38 AM
If Emanuel was a Republican you
Obama Toadies in the press wouldn't
be calling it a "cone of silence",
you would be calling it a Coverup!
What are Emanuel and Obama hiding?
Posted by: reaganfan | Dec 19, 2008 1:10:17 PM
The Cone of Silence by Rahm Emanuel has already distorted Obama's integrity.
I think Rahm Emanuel and Rod Blago are just victims for the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to the post according
to all mighty Barack Hussein Obama's plan. Even though Obama insists "my team had no inappropriate contact with the governor." In this points, Mr. & Mrs. Obama should release from being obsession by posting a high profile the seat for Valerie Jarrett.
Posted by: Janet from NY | Dec 19, 2008 1:41:16 PM
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