Cunningham accuses media of "latch[ing] on" to evidence indicating Obama had nothing to do with Blagojevich scandal
On his radio show, Bill Cunningham advanced baseless speculation that President-elect Barack Obama will not be inaugurated because of the scandal involving Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Also, accusing the media of "latch[ing] on" to evidence undermining any suggestion of wrongdoing by Obama, Cunningham falsely claimed that "parts" of the criminal complaint against Blagojevich "clearly indicate that Obama is up to his eyeballs in fraud." But as U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald made clear, the complaint indicates nothing of the sort.
On the December 10 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Cincinnati-based radio host Bill Cunningham forwarded baseless speculation that President-elect Barack Obama will not be inaugurated because of the scandal involving Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D). Cunningham stated: "Some have speculated, including my producer, Matt Steinman, that it's possible Obama will not be inaugurated, 'cause this scandal will envelop him and consume him." Cunningham also claimed of the criminal complaint against Blagojevich, "[I]t is replete with references to Barack Obama and his direct and indirect involvement in the bribe. It's all over the affidavits. The media latches on to a phrase that indicates that Obama is not participating whatsoever. But there are other parts of this affidavit that clearly indicates that he is participating." Cunningham later added: "[T]hey will not tell you the parts of the affidavit that clearly indicate that Obama is up to his eyeballs in fraud." Cunningham made these remarks despite U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's statement that the criminal complaint against Blagojevich "makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever -- his conduct" and Fitzgerald's warning to the press to "not cast aspersions on people for being named or being discussed or if you learn they're being interviewed."
As Media Matters for America has noted, the complaint against Blagojevich does not include a single allegation of misconduct by Obama, and at least one mention of "president-elect" in the complaint affirmatively undermines any suggestion of wrongdoing on Obama's part. In that instance, the complaint alleges that Blagojevich "said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but 'they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them.' "
From the December 10 broadcast of Clear Channel's The Big Show with Bill Cunningham:
CUNNINGHAM: ABC News and myself have read the entire 76-page affidavit, and it -- it is replete with references to Barack Obama and his direct and indirect involvement in the bribe. It's all over the affidavits. The media latches on to a phrase that indicates that Obama is not participating whatsoever. But there are other parts of this affidavit that clearly indicates that he is participating.
[...]
CUNNINGHAM: All right, now, Billy Cunningham. Coming up later this hour will be WGN's Andrea Darlas about the latest from the Obama scandal, the first of his presidency, before he gets to office. Some have speculated, including my producer, Matt Steinman, that it's possible Obama will not be inaugurated, 'cause this scandal will envelop him and consume him. In that case, I think either -- I would think Nancy Pelosi would be the president, because there's all kinds of speculation about what's going on.
[...]
CUNNINGHAM: Also on ABC News' website, there's the following recitation from the affidavit filed by the FBI. The FBI affidavit says Blagojevich had been told by an adviser that the president-elect can get Rob [sic] Blagojevich's wife on paid corporate boards in exchange for naming the president-elect's pick to the U.S. Senate. Now, the media, because they so support Obama, will tell you the things in the affidavit that are exam -- are finding Obama innocent in this matter. And they will not tell you the parts of the affidavit that clearly indicate that Obama is up to his eyeballs in fraud.
The FBI affidavit says Blagojevich had been told by an adviser, quote, "The president-elect can get Rod Blagojevich's wife on paid corporate boards in exchange for naming the president-elect's pick to the U.S. Senate," unquote. That is in the FBI affidavit, according to ABC News. And I've read 75 pages and it is certainly there. So, we'll see what happens.
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Wow, you mean the media--for once--"latched on" to the truth?...
Cunningham is reaching just like his fellow propagandists.
Cunningham is reaching just like his fellow propagandists. JLYONS
More like he's giving his listeners the reach-around!
You have to be creative in right-wing talk radio...
It's not easy to work up a new set of lies each day.
That's why they recycle the same lies over and over and over....
They believe in creation, their own.
I know! Why can't they just latch on to innuendo and hearsay?
You can't get more transparently partisan than that.
They're starting to spread lies all over again... All the same suspects...Limbaugh, Hannity, etc.
MEMO: The election is over. You lost. Get over it.
They will be more vicious than they were during the Clinton Years. They are angry and when the vicious Cons are angry they are dangerous.
Right. They'll beat this to death. Unfortunately, the economy is spiraling out of control. Like it or not, the only chance we have is the President elect and his team. It doesn't make sense to attempt to poison the nation with this crap at this time.
This will be the main distraction until everyone wakes up to poverty one morning.
Perhaps we should point them to a quote of their demigod, Ronald Reagan:
"Facts are stubborn things."
Actually, Reagan mangled the quote, and came out with the strangely appropriate (for him and for today's neocons) "Facts are stupid things."
According to www.quotationspage.com, the original quote was from a writing in 1770 by John Adams. Here endeth the lesson.
Actually, you're both right. Reagan did say "Facts are stubborn things". He also said, at another point, "Facts are stupid things".
Media Matters does not point out the quote provided by Cunningham is out of context.
As quoted by Media Matters, Cunningham stated, "The FBI affidavit says Blagojevich had been told by an adviser, quote, 'The president-elect can get Rod Blagojevich's wife on paid corporate boards in exchange for naming the president-elect's pick to the U.S. Senate,' unquote." That by itself might lead one to believe that such an offer had been made.
What Cunningham leaves out is the words before that in the affidavit. The phrase above is immediately preceded with, "ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that Governor General Counsel believes..."
In other words, if Blagojevich is telling the truth (and he is not a trustworthy source), it is only the belief of the Governor General Counsel that the president-elect has the ability to bribe the Governor. That is nothing like Cunningham's insinuation that the affidavit provides evidence that the president-elect actually offered a bribe. There is no such evidence.
If fact, in the same conversation Blagojevich says he has been told that he won't get anything from the president-elect (affidavit at 104(c)). He says, "For nothing? **** him." On the very next day, Blagojevich says of the president-elect and the transition team, "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation."
"some have speculated, including my producer...." how about your mom, she do any speculating?
Just the facts ma'am.
Of course the facts, as has been pointed out time and time again by the Right, have a liberal/progressive bias.
it is replete with references to Barack Obama and his direct and indirect involvement in the bribe.
But of course he provides not one of those references that indicate direct or even indirect involvement. Save the one about what Blago "believes". And Pelosi will be president? The fellow is plain nutty.
Does Obama's senate seat as the prize count as indirect involvement? If I steal Cunningham's car and run some people over, can I rat him out as an accomplice?
Hey!!!! Where are all the usual right wing suspects who normally defend all the batsh*t crazy things said by republicans which are debunked on this site? They can't all be in emergecy rooms around the US having muscle relaxant injected into their dominant hand to release it from the claw shape it got into from all the Rich Lowry "little starbursts" moments they had from this story about Blagojevich?
Conserving their strength, getting drunk, trying out the latest kool-aid flavor, perhaps concurrently.
They may have peaked early today on a previous thread and are all tuckerred out.
Maybe too many of them listened to John Gibson (formally of FauxNews) and have been trying to make more white babies!! The only problem is, as this entire Blagojevich story shows, republicans LIKE TO JUMP THE GUN TOO SOON!!!!!.
;-}
Hey, UK. this item was posted at 4pm .This is when most right wingers are either at dinner just before bedtime (the 70-90 year old demographic) or doing their homework before bathtime (the 10-12 year olds).
Their am radios will give them instructions in the morning. Once they know what to think, they may show up here with their LOL's and flawed logic..
Desperate, wishful thinking.
It's hard to believe, but this guy is a bigger idiot than Limbaugh or Hannity.
"Latching on to evidence." Yeah, that's something LIBERAL'S do. You see... it's preferable to latching onto dogma, failed principals, talking points and propaganda, not to mention medieval superstition. That what CONSERVATIVES do. So it's not surprising this no-talent a$s-clown thinks that using actual "evidence" would be a bad thing. It's much better just to cling to stereotypes.
The right wingnutz keep harping on how many times President-elect Obama's name is found in the charge. Duh! The Governor of Illinois was trying to sell his seat. Of course his name is going to be mentioned.
There is a story this morning about a 70-year old Wall Street typhoon who stole $50,000,000,000. That's a log of Benjamins. Is that Mr. Franklin's fault?
If you want to know the real Bill Cunningham, look at the cheesy cheesecake photos found on his radio station website. I'm a recovering Buckeye and this is just an embarassment - is it still the 1950's or what?