Emanuel 'traded political favours with Rod Blagojevich'

London Daily Telegraph ^ | June 23, 2010 | Michele Walk

[FMoran]

Mr Emanuel published an endorsement of Mr Blagojevich in the Chicago Tribune in exchange for $2 million (£1.3 million) in school funding to his district, according to the emails, which were released on Monday. The newspaper had recently claimed in an editorial that Mr Blagojevich used public funds to support his re-election campaign. Mr Blagojevich, who was re-elected in 2006 but resigned in 2009, is currently on trial in Illinois on corruption charges. He is alleged to have attempted to sell Mr Obama's former Senate seat.

The emails detailing the deal, revealed by the Associated Press, apparently were exchanged between Mr Emanuel, his staff and Mr Blagojevich's chief aide, Bradley Tusk.

Senior Democrats have told the Telegraph that Mr Emanuel is preparing to stand down after the mid-term congressional elections in November.

[FMoran]

Even the Brits are onto Emanuel...let's hope their prediction that he's stepping down is true. I wonder who their sources were...

[tobyhill]

My only question is, why wasn’t there more people charged?

[rightwingextremist1776]

Lots and lots of things are falling off the ‘Bama wagon. I can't WAIT for November to turn the heat up on these criminals.

[Carley]

This makes Rahm the perfect candidate for the next president of the US

Corrupt wheeler dealer of dubious citizenship.

[ScottinVA]

Mr Emanuel published an endorsement of Mr Blagojevich in the Chicago Tribune in exchange for $2 million (£1.3 million) in school funding to his district, according to the emails, which were released on Monday. The newspaper had recently claimed in an editorial that Mr Blagojevich used public funds to support his re-election campaign.

Another day at the office in Chicago. Corruption is an intricate part of the political culture in IL... so much so that locals derisively refer to those who want to clean it up as "Goo-goos (i.e. Good Government types).

[NativeNewYorker]

[DrC]

According to NY Slimes (hardly a hostile opponent of Obama), Obama made the decision to fire McChrystal after reading just the first part of the Rolling Stone story (where McChrystal gripes about having to socialize with the French). All McChrystal did was bad-mouth a few muckety-mucks.

In contrast, the Blago story quite blatantly exposes corrupt and illegal behavior by Obama’s chief of staff. Shouldn’t the decision whether to fire Rahm be even easier and faster???

[9YearLurker]

“In contrast, the Blago story quite blatantly exposes corrupt and illegal behavior by Obama’s chief of staff. Shouldn’t the decision whether to fire Rahm be even easier and faster???”

—Ha, ha, ha!!!

[FMoran]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Obama didn’t read the RS article. There’s hardly anything *actually attributed to McChrystal* that justifies what Obama did. None of the aides were even named - how do we know that hack writer didn’t make up the quotes, or one of his aides had an axe to grind? Shame.

But as you say, corruption and bullying are the name of the game in this White House. Ego, in, rationality, out.

[highlander_UW]

Hopefully he’ll be stepping down and fitting to size his prison garb.