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Pressure builds on Obama to release his Blagojevich contacts
Las Angeles Times ^ | 12/13/2008 | Andrew Malcolm

Posted on 12/14/2008 2:41:37 AM PST by PasorBob

From a practical point of view, if everything is above board, what's to hide?

From a political communications and PR point of view, the atypically clumsy silence and delay creates doubts among even some Democrats, an information vacuum that opponents seek to fill with items like this video below and that has turned what could have been a one- or two-day state scandal story into nearly a week-long saga now involving a new national leader who promised to change the way the people's business is done.

All of which also distracts from the message the Obama camp would prefer be focused on: the formation of a talented new Cabinet before Obama escapes Chicago's frigid South Side to Hawaii for the holidays. The scandal is now certain to be a major topic today on the Sunday morning political talk shows as listed here.

The Illinois legislature meets this week to begin preparations for impeachment of Blagojevich and a costly special statewide election to fill Obama's ex-seat. The Tribune story is here. (See video below.)

(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: bho2008; blagojevich; bleepgate; obama; obamatransitionfile
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"From a practical point of view, if everything is above board, what's to hide?"
1 posted on 12/14/2008 2:41:37 AM PST by PasorBob
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To: PasorBob
Pressure builds on Obama to release his Blagojevich contacts

Where's he holding them?

2 posted on 12/14/2008 2:42:42 AM PST by Cementjungle
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To: PasorBob

The exact same question/point can be applied to Obama’s birth certificate.


3 posted on 12/14/2008 2:46:24 AM PST by DB
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To: PasorBob

The exact same question/point can be applied to Obama’s birth certificate.

The “preview” was correct... Something funky with the post process...


4 posted on 12/14/2008 2:47:27 AM PST by DB
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To: Cementjungle
Where's he holding them?

Expect them to make a release during the football games this afternoon. Too late for this week's Sunday talk shows and too early for it to be the probable topic next week.

5 posted on 12/14/2008 2:47:31 AM PST by PasorBob
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To: DB
Obama’s

Is that how it's spelled in Kenyan? :0)

6 posted on 12/14/2008 2:48:54 AM PST by PasorBob
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To: PasorBob

Hey LA Times, release the tapes!


7 posted on 12/14/2008 2:54:47 AM PST by RatsDawg
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To: PasorBob
Change Chains you can believe in!


8 posted on 12/14/2008 2:54:53 AM PST by Bon mots
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To: PasorBob

“The scandal is now certain to be a major topic today on the Sunday morning political talk shows as listed here.”

Naw, to them its “no big deal”, just ask Jim Leher.


9 posted on 12/14/2008 2:55:58 AM PST by RatsDawg
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To: PasorBob

There was Axlerod’s statement that said Obama never wanted Valerie Jarrett in the Senate

Then on the 13th of December, in the New York Times, it is stated that Rahm Emanuel did contact the Governor from Illinois and Valerie Jarrett was on a list of desired people to fill President Elect Obama’s empty Senate seat.

When people start coming out with statements that are bold lies like this. Then there is a cover-up.

Plain and simple.


10 posted on 12/14/2008 2:57:21 AM PST by earmarksrus
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To: PasorBob

Please choose one:

1) What did Obama know, and when did he know it?

2) It’s not the crime. It’s the coverup.

3) “I am not a crook”.


11 posted on 12/14/2008 2:57:48 AM PST by Cringing Negativism Network ("Free Trade" = Fire Americans. Buy another company then fire more Americans.)
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To: PasorBob


12 posted on 12/14/2008 2:58:22 AM PST by SkyPilot
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To: PasorBob

“From a practical point of view, if everything is above board, what’s to hide?”

Same can be said of his Birth Cert, his contacts with Ayers, Wright, and a dozen or so other issues that could cause the Electoral College to say NAY!

But alas!


13 posted on 12/14/2008 3:11:29 AM PST by dbacks (God help the USA.)
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To: PasorBob; Cementjungle; DB; RatsDawg; Bon mots; earmarksrus; Cringing Negativism Network; ...
"From a practical point of view, if everything is above board, what's to hide?"

Lets all chip in and start a chronological list:


14 posted on 12/14/2008 3:17:54 AM PST by XHogPilot
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To: PasorBob
You guys don't get it.

Zero's supporters are OK with anything that "Gets over on the Man". Facts are a MOO point. (channeling Joey from Friends)

15 posted on 12/14/2008 3:27:47 AM PST by MrPiper
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To: PasorBob
"What did he know, and when did he know it?"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
"Screw you honkies, I'm outta here, where's David Frost?"
16 posted on 12/14/2008 3:28:06 AM PST by mkjessup (43 prior Presidents did NOT spend six-figure sums to hide the details of their birth certificate!)
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To: PasorBob
Notice that for the first time since the election, none of Obama's transition team and/or surrogates will appear on the Sunday talk shows.

The wagons are drawn into a circle, phone records are being searched furiously, memories being jogged, friends of Blago being contacted for information and/or instructions on his next move, while someone somewhere is furiously digging for dirt on Fitzgerald.

17 posted on 12/14/2008 3:38:05 AM PST by browardchad
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To: DB
Exactly! I've never heard the media ask why he won't just release his Birth Certificate.

Is it just me, or is the media even starting to tire of the “I never knew him/I've never talked to him” type of automatic denials? He always looks guilty, which may be the only thing bothering his worshippers in the MSM. But, maybe they are also tired of being bullied by The One. He's constantly threatening news stations with cutting off access, or legislating them out of jobs. He's far more bold and cocky with the media than any previous president, and doesn't seem to understand that he will need them to and, therefore, might want to treat them with a teeny bit of respect at least.

I think the media might just be feeling really ready and eager to make the golden boy go through an actual scandal where his favorite whipping posts don't protect him. I hope so. It would be so fun to watch Obamambi's confusion and utter shock when the media stops protecting him and pushing his lies for him.

18 posted on 12/14/2008 3:39:17 AM PST by Cherokee Conservative (We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART?)
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To: PasorBob
...if everything is above board, what's to hide?

Same as the Birth Cert..

19 posted on 12/14/2008 3:43:57 AM PST by realdifferent1 (We've tried the soap box, jury box and ballot box. Only one box left.)
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To: PasorBob
From a practical point of view, if everything is above board, what's to hide?

Here is the basic problem that Obmaa has to deal with: He doesn't know for sure what Rahm Emanuel actually said to Blagojevich and he really doesn't know what Fitz might have on tape.

I'm sure that Emanuel is telling Obama everything he knows but, if you were Obama, would you be absolutely certain that you were hearing the real story. And worse, what if Obama sent Emanuel off to make some kind of a deal that might have been on the up and up. That seems pretty likely to me. Politics is after all about deal making. The problem is that Blagojevich had expectations for that deal that apparently went beyond where Obama/Emanuel were willing to go. Unfortunately for Obama/Emanuel those discussions, unsuccessful as they were from Blagojevich's perspective, may all be on tape. If so, Emanuel is in the unfortunate position of listening to at least the suggestion of a crime by Blago and very likely responding not with a criticism based on the inappropriateness of Blago's request but rather on the "high price" which Obama was not willing to pay. If this is what happened and that tape gets out it would not be a good thing for Obama.

Obama is walking through a minefield. I would expect him to be very careful.

20 posted on 12/14/2008 3:44:55 AM PST by InterceptPoint
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