White House faces more questions over dealmaking

AP via Breitbart ^ | June 03, 2010 | By PHILIP ELLIOTT

[Jet Jaguar]

The White House faced fresh questions over back-room dealmaking after a Colorado Democrat acknowledged he had been encouraged by one of President Barack Obama's top advisers to apply for an international development job instead of challenging the candidate whom the president favored in a Senate race.

The revelation again called into question repeated promises by Obama to run an open government that was above private political horse-trading. In appealing to voters this election year, Republicans charge that Obama's promise to change the ways of Washington has given way to the craven politics he campaigned against.

Former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff on Wednesday night released a copy of an e-mail in which White House deputy chief of staff Jim Messina described three federal international development jobs that might be available to him if he were not challenging Sen. Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination.

"He added that he could not guarantee my appointment to any of these positions," Romanoff said in a statement. "At no time was I promised a job, nor did I request Mr. Messina's assistance in obtaining one."

snip

"Mr. Romanoff was recommended to the White House from Democrats in Colorado for a position in the administration," White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said. "There were some initial conversations with him but no job was ever offered."

Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican who unsuccessfully sought a Justice Department investigation into the Sestak matter, asked, "Just how deep does the Obama White House's effort to invoke Chicago-style politics for the purpose of manipulating elections really go?"

[wac3rd]

Conversations? There was an e-mail detailing the positions.

You lie.

[HospiceNurse]

This is really bad timing for N0bama. It will be an obvious pattern to everyone that the accusation that Blago was offered a job to place Jarrett in the Illinois senator’s position.

[BigSkyFreeper]

There was no conversation. There’s an e-mail naming names and job positions.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It’s also an obvious pattern that the alleged Sestak job offer wasn’t just a rumor. Sestak at the time claimed he was offered a job back in January, even citing he was offered the job in the summer of 2009. He hasn’t yet denied to this day he was confronted with an offer, yet the White House is busy trying to cover up. Which begs the question, how many more bribes are out there that haven’t come to light?

[Think free or die]

"how many more bribes are out there that haven’t come to light?"

and how many threats?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Had this been from a Republican administration, every newspaper in the US would have a fresh story every day, page 1, above the fold...

[Genoa]

The legalese - at no time was an offer made, we just mentioned certain possibilities, etc. - is completely lost on me. How strong does a hint have to be before it becomes a de facto offer? I have been to successful job interviews where the understanding was quite evident even though the actual "offer" (wink wink) had not been made.