CNN's Griffin falsely suggested Obama denies assertions in Blagojevich complaint -- but there's no allegation for him to deny
SUMMARY: CNN's Drew Griffin misrepresented President-elect Barack Obama's response to the criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, falsely suggesting that Obama disputes allegations made in the complaint. In fact, there are no allegations regarding Obama in the complaint for him to deny, as U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald made clear when he stated that the complaint "makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever."
On the December 11 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, correspondent Drew Griffin misrepresented President-elect Barack Obama's response to the criminal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), falsely suggesting that Obama disputes allegations made in the complaint. In fact, there are no allegations regarding Obama in the complaint for him to deny, as U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald made clear when he stated that the complaint "makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever -- his conduct."
Discussing allegations in the complaint that Blagojevich attempted to seek a "three-way deal" with Obama and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), in which Blagojevich would be rewarded by SEIU for naming Obama's preferred replacement for his Senate seat, Griffin asserted:
GRIFFIN: The complaint outlines how Blagojevich and his chief of staff were allegedly cooking up what they called a "three-way deal" that would "leverage the president-elect's desire to have Senate candidate one appointed." Prosecutors say candidate one would become senator, Blagojevich would resign to become a high-paid leader of a political action group affiliated with a labor union called SEIU, and the president would then help SEIU by supporting its political agenda.
Convoluted, complicated, and simply not true, according to the president-elect -- at least as far as he is aware.
In fact, contrary to Griffin's suggestion that Obama said allegations included in the complaint are "not true," Obama has not denied any allegations made in the complaint, nor does he have any reason to do so. During a December 9 press conference announcing the charges against Blagojevich, Fitzgerald stated that the complaint "makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever -- his conduct" and cautioned the press to "not cast aspersions on people for being named or being discussed or if you learn they're being interviewed." Indeed, as Media Matters for America has documented, 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.' "
In a press conference earlier on December 11, Obama said he was "appalled and disappointed by what we heard in those transcripts" in the complaint, and said he did not "think that the governor at this point can effectively serve the people of Illinois." Obama went on to say that he "had no contact with the governor's office" and "did not speak to the governor about these issues," adding that he was "absolutely certain" that "our office had no involvement in any deal-making around my Senate seat."
From the December 11 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
BLITZER: I want to go to Chicago right now. Drew Griffin is looking in this story as well, and it's a -- it's a fast-developing story in Chicago. Amid all of these allegations of political corruption, Drew, what's the latest?
GRIFFIN: The very latest is the Chicago Tribune Company announced it's been subpoenaed in the government's probe into the Blagojevich affair. The government wants to see the documents relating to that Blagojevich deal where the governor allegedly would help the Tribune Company sell Wrigley Field if the paper would fire some critical journalists.
Also today, Governor Blagojevich himself did not resign but apparently went to work -- showed up for work with his accused chief of staff; neither one of them making any statements publicly. In the spotlight today, Wolf, was the president-elect completely denying he had any involvement in any Blagojevich dealings. But when it came to his staff, he left the door open.
[begin video clip]
OBAMA: I was as appalled --
GRIFFIN: We already knew President-elect Obama was appalled. We already knew he wants Governor Blagojevich to resign. That hanging cloud is what he or his team or anyone representing him knew about the deal that at least the governor allegedly thought he was cooking up with the president-elect's administration.
Like it or not, says Jay Stewart of the Better Government Association of Chicago, Obama is dealing with his very first presidential scandal, and it grew out of the same political swamp Obama -- the politician -- was raised in.
STEWART: The president-elect's got a lot of serious issues to deal with. He really shouldn't be dealing with this. But, you know, Illinois politics is like a black hole -- it keeps sucking you back in.
GRIFFIN: Sucking him in is the deal mentioned deep into the government's 78-page complaint against the governor. Specifically, the deal to put candidate number one, believed to be Valerie Jarrett, in the vacant U.S. Senate seat. She is one of Obama's closest confidantes, money-raiser, and now White House staffer, who was considered a front-runner for the seat before suddenly pulling out.
The complaint outlines how Blagojevich and his chief of staff were allegedly cooking up what they called a "three-way deal" that would "leverage the president-elect's desire to have Senate candidate one appointed." Prosecutors say candidate one would become senator, Blagojevich would resign to become a high-paid leader of a political action group affiliated with a labor union called SEIU, and the president would then help SEIU by supporting its political agenda.
Convoluted, complicated, and simply not true, according to the president-elect -- at least as far as he is aware.
OBAMA: What I want to do is to gather all the facts about any staff contacts that I might -- may have -- that may have taken place between the transition office and the governor's office, and we'll have those in the next few days.
GRIFFIN: Valerie Jarrett did not respond to CNN's request for an interview. The Service Employees International Union sent only a statement, saying, "We have no reason to believe that SEIU or any SEIU official was involved in any wrongdoing."
[end video clip]
GRIFFIN: All of this amid calls, Wolf -- renewed calls for the governor to resign. The lieutenant governor went to Springfield today and said Blagojevich should resign. And it's looking more and more likely that the legislature will take up impeachment proceedings when they meet next week in Springfield. Wolf.
These MSM guys are just hopeless, aren't they? Even the best of them know who pays the bills.
They really are pathetic, aren't they? I know they get tired of hearing this, but have you seen, just for example, a single story about how Blagojevich came to power in the first place? Did you know that he ran ads in 2002 with a spit screen showing on the left half his opponent, Republican Jim Ryan, and on the right half, convicted former Republican Governor George Ryan (no relation), with the words of a Chicago Tribune headline from 1991, "Ryan's Scandals" appearing in large print over both? As we have seen nationally, those who run campaigns without honor and integrity tend also to govern without honor and integrity.
exactly correct. there's nothing for him to deny.
And to think, numerous posters on this site were claiming that this wasn't conservative misinformation, because no one was suggesting Obama might be involved! Looks like CNN took the GOP bait...
It'll look like this:
Fitzgerald: "Obama is not guilty."
Hannity: "Isn't it significant, Alan, that Fitzgerald used the words 'Obama' and 'guilty' in the same sentence?"
Hey, this one's pretty smooth. "So Obama doesn't deny the allegations?"
From the way the Blagojevich has been frozen out over the last year or so, it is clear that Obama and his people decided a long time ago that they wanted nothing to do with him. They knew that he was a ticking time bomb and that the risks of making any deal with him on any matter far outweighed anything they stood to gain. My guess is that they decided well before the election that they would respond to any overtures from Blagojevich about the senate seat by saying something like "We would be happy to see Jarrett get the job, but you have to do what you think is best for the people of Illinois Rod. We would not presume to try to influence your choice." That would certainly have helped push Rod off the deep end.
Obama went on to say that he "had no contact with the governor's office" and "did not speak to the governor about these issues," adding that he was "absolutely certain" that "our office had no involvement in any deal-making around my Senate seat."
True he doesn't have to deny the specific allegation against Blago. He does need to answer the bold highlighted statements above.
It really comes down to what did BO know and when did he know it. It seems clear that there was contact between his minions and Blago's office. There may have been deal making.
What did Rahm the Knife know or do? What did Mini-Me Jackson have to say when he met with Blago the DAY BEFORE his takedown? Why did Axlerod say "We " have met with Blago on Nov 23.
Yes, this IS a scandal my friends. Keep telling yourself it's not though. When all is said and done Fitz may have a dem twofer!
Aides not talking
Who is Advisor B? The affidavit suggests SOMEONE from team Obama is it. The silence of the Rahm is deafening! It's been reported that he is "beet red" and whining to ABC that they are badgering him.
At some point team Obama is going to have to talk about this. Saying they "don't know anything" isn't going to cut it. I'm confident that Barry is not guilty of any malfeasance, but we do need to know, what he knew and when he knew it.
Has there ever been a scandal BEFORE inauguration?
There's a lot of speculation and innuendo in your post [which is fine] but I think most people here would prefer facts. Do you have any?
His position would indicate no great love for facts. Inuendo, slander, and a belief that his attitude somehow puts him in the position of arbitor of the situation. I don't see this attitude as having any sucess or accuracy in many many years, possibly decades.
I forget you people don't get you news anywhere but the fringe...
Rahmy whining like a 3 yr old
I wouldn't read up on the investigation if I were you. You may be in danger of learning something.
So complaing about death threats is "whining" now? What do you consider a legitimate greivance?
He does need to answer the bold highlighted statements above.
Ummm.. he needs to answer his answers?
The silence of the Rahm is deafening! It's been reported that he is "beet red" and whining...
He's silently whining, and a strange color. That should be noted.
Has there ever been a scandal BEFORE inauguration?
I'm not sure.There have always been easily manipulated suckers 365 days a year.
Don't let up on this, TBone. You seem to have some pretty good leads.
Pay no attention to Koko.
Har! I almost called him Koko, but I figured my Paper Lace reference set the limit for obscure jokes nobody else gets.(Except NeonDesert and you)
TboneSlickGuy,
Blago already revealed that Obama wouldn't play ball with Blago when Blago was caught on FBI tape saying that Obama wouldn't give Blago anything except appreciation for appointing Candidate 1, and concluded with "F-word Obama!"
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Blago_calls_Obama_motherfer.html
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/12/fitzgerald_press_conference_on.html
Look, I'm an old school conservative. Paying for tax cuts by shrinking government. I know that dates me to Calvin Coolidge.
I'm sick of the socialist bailouts that Bush and Obama push. Go fight that crap. Not these cutesy worthless innuendos.
New Republican argument: Fitzgerald is in the tank for Obama.
Beware, Tman418, there are a couple of new shills in our midst. They can't be the usual suspects, though. The style is different, but the arguments are there. Some of them come back with a new "name", hoping that we will forget who they are. The dead giveaway is that the "ideas" are always the same. No variation to the rants.
Don't suppose the start of the wiretapping in October had anything to do with an attempt to get Obama before the November election, do you? I know Fitzgerald seems to be a person of great integrity, but apparently almost anything can be excused by the current White House on national security grounds -- including maybe preventing the election of a Democrat? And is it just a coincidence that the Blagojevich arrest was made on the same day that Don Siegelman's appeal was heard? I tend to trust Fitzgerald, but has he presented any evidence yet supporting his claim that some action by Blagojevich was imminent, justifying his decision to make the arrest when he did? I assume he had good reasons for acting, but has anybody asked him what evidence he had?
Blagojevich has been under investigation for three years, from what I understand. It would be hard to believe the wiretapping would be related to Obama as opposed to the ongoing investigation. His auctioning off the Senate seat were recorded from the wiretaps, which seems like a pretty good reason for immediate action.
God, republicans really are desperate to take their minds off of their @ss whoopin, aren't they? Now a video making spurious claims. What's next - something photoshopped?
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/RNC_video_smears_Obama_with_Blagojevich_1214.html