Police today arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff on federal corruption charges that both touch the Tribune bankruptcy and the incoming administration of his fellow Illinois Democrat Barack Obama.According to the Chicago Tribune, the governor and his Chief of Staff John Harris allegedly demanded the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co. That takes pettiness to a new level.
Finding a new owner for the ivy-covered baseball temple is in the best interest of all taxpayers. I can't understand why any political leader with an ounce of integrity would want to hinder the sale, even to the extraordinarily obnoxious Mark Cuban. Then I read a little further.
The Tribune reports Blagojevich and Harris have been accused in a "wide-ranging criminal conspiracy" to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for state appointments, state jobs and state contracts.
Finally, Blagojevich allegedly tried to sell his influence in picking Obama's successor. "Blagojevich sought appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate." The Associated Press reported that the governor allegedly "took money from at least one individual in connection with naming a successor for the U.S. Senate seat." It does not name the person.
Obama, whose own dealing with Chicago's political establishment hurt him during the campaign, has some explaining to do.
Let this be a cautionary tale. With hundreds and billions of dollars floating around in bailouts and other government financial help, some people are bound to get sticky fingers.
And how is this for irony: Blagojevich was elected in 2002 as the first Democratic governor in 30 years in because voters were tired of the ethics shenanigans of his predecessor Republican George Ryan. The former governor is now in prison on corruption charges.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-09-2008 @ 12:18PM
Brian said...
"Obama, ... has some explaining to do."
Really? How so?
I wouldn't be surprised if, in following this down the rabbit hole, we found out that Obama was part of the Governor's schemes at some point. But there is nothing to suggest as much in your post or the original Tribune piece. So far all we know on the HSS post is that it was speculation on Blagojevich's part with no indication that the idea was ever discussed with the President-elect.
Other than that Obama was the one who vacated the Senate seat now up for sale, I don't see how this "touches" him.
Combine this with you straying to take a swipe at Mark Cuban and I'd say there was a little bit of sloppiness in this piece.
12-09-2008 @ 12:29PM
Sheldon L said...
Gee, now they will be "shopping" for a senator, congressman and a governor...
That ought to keep the FBI busy!
12-09-2008 @ 1:28PM
Sand Aaron said...
I believe that attorney general warned the press about using this scandal to promote a political agenda, yet it appears you have chosen to ignore that. Why, do you want to be the first one to speculate on a connection?
What is Obama supposed to explain? Lest we forget, we've been through all his associations with the Chicago political machine and still he was elected president.
I think you have some explaining to do on why you want to even include his name in this article.
12-09-2008 @ 1:27PM
Michael said...
This is a crack up and should be no surprise to anyone in this country. Illinois is the most corrupt state in the Union. The corruption there makes Mexico look like childs play. I look forward to hearing what I am sure will come up in the near future about Obama since he is just as dirty as the rest from there. When the dirt is fully exposed about Obama and the rest of his cronies along with the truth about election donations, and the vast hidden records Obama failed or refused to show, it will be entertaining. It would be ironic if Obama is arrested the day before his innauguration on corruption and much more. What is the greatest fear though is how if and when his history and all is exposed and he is removed, the blacks in this counrty will turn our cities into firey infernos and looting will be rampant as they are famous for. This is just the tip of the iceberg and I hope the Feds take it to the finish. Expose them all and prosecute them all to the full extent of the law.
12-09-2008 @ 10:12PM
Shirly said...
Let's deal with some more important issues... Monday's P.M. Press Conference.
"Should the state members of the Electoral College cast their votes for Mr. Obama in the face of such overwhelming evidence, and without verification of Mr. Obama's eligibility, they would be committing treason to the Constitution," said Schulz.
12-11-2008 @ 10:28PM
tony said...
another one...
yes, another "associate" from the massiah's past that threatens to taint his immage...
One more guy - corrupt to the core - that he personally supported, even after said corruption was quite evident. But once again he is ignorant of all of this...
Are we to honestly believe that this is all just a strange series of coincidences? That people like Rezko, Ayers, Write, and now Blagojevich are all just random encounters? There is a pattern here, and I really don't think Obama is anything like the media is portraying him to be.
And lets not forget that citizenship issue. He could end it all by just showing it and ending all doubt. Instead, he has spent close to a cool million on THREE ENTIRE LAW FIRMS to make sure that Birth Certificate never see's the light of day.