Obama and Blago: The Public Be Damned

"Shortly after his 2002 election, Gov. Rod Blagojevich told Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. he didn't appoint the congressman's wife for lottery director because he had refused to make a $25,000 donation to the governor's campaign, a person familiar with the conversation told The Associated Press."


The above is today's "lead" from an AP ("Anti-American, Despicable Associated Press"--to use the full, complete, official name) story featured (lol) on AOL.

First, the story is not "news". Without th source being named, this is mere rumor and gossip. That is always true of "news" with an agenda from an anonymous source, which this is. In this particular case, the story would not be "news", even if it were confirmed by an "on the record" source (the source being an essential aspect of the story, wtihout which the story is mere gossip). The missing source is, in fact, the only "newsworthy" aspect of this story, and the despicable AP is concealling/suppressing that news. Typical of modern "journalists", who fail to even recognize what is "news" and what is not.

Look at the agenda behind this story (more interesting than the story, as the despicable AP presents it--missing the prime news element)!!!! The agenda is to actually make somewhat of a hero (lol) out of Jesse Jackson Jr. for refusing to contribute $250,000 to Blago's 2002 campaign.


What does that say about both Barack "Wrold" Obama and Jackson, however, that they were perfectly willing to foist this monster (Blago) on the people of Illinois Yes, the AP has blown it again, even in terms of its obvious agenda. This story makes both Jackson and Obama look terrible.


Obama supported Blago for governor of Illinois--supported him actively--in both 2002 and 2006. Is it possible that Obama was not aware of what a monster Blago really was? The media is telling you it was obvious from almost the beginning. That did not keep the Chicago politicians, like Obama and Jackson, from telling the people of chicago, and of Illinois, from voting for Blago--did it? How terrible does that make Obama and Jackson? They were perfectly willing to help put an evil man in charge of corruption in Illinois. How corrupt does that make them? Pretty darn corrupt!!!! Certainly, no better than ordinary Chicago politicians (so much for Obama "change").

Note how Jackson did not "blow the whistle" on Blago. Nope. Jackson was evidently still willing to play the same game with Blago six years later (aiming for that Senate seat). Did Jackson or his wife tell the public what a monster they had elected? Did they tell the public about this attempted blackmail that the AP is reporting (gossip though it is)? Don't be silly. THE PUBLIC BE DAMNED. That is the attitude of Obama and Jackson and the entire Democratic Party of Illinois.

Note, by the way, that this story--even if true--does not show Blago to have done anything actually wrong (although indicating he is a pretty corrupt politician). Do politicians routinely appoint political contributors to positons--including those people responsible for raising a lot of money (even with contribution limits, like in the Presidential campaign)? Sure they do. It is not illegal. It is not illegal to fail to appoint someone because they refused to contribute a campaign contribution. What is illegal (a fine line, which is why no smart individual would ever actually say what Blago is alleged to have said) is to demand money ahead of time as a quid pro quo for making an appointment In other words, it is illegal to do what Blago is now alleged to have done: to sell a Senate seat blatantly It is not illegal to appoint a political contributor (in the past) to a Senate seat, or other office.. Note that there is no reason Mrs. Jackson was uniquely qualified to be "lottery director". It was always going to be a political appointment, and the idea that most politicians out there would not give the appointment to a fund raising political supporter, instead of to someone who seemingly was not willing to put his money where his mouth is, represents an absurd view of politics.

Yes, you can say that one of the things wrong with policians and politics is this rewarding of friends and political contributors. However, you are too naive to be true if you thing that is not how politics works in this country. People are rewarded with appointments for political favors (not just money). And, really, it is not realistic to think that this will not always be true. You just hope it is limited, so that the pubic interest is not compromised. In Obama's Chicago, and Obama's Illinois, it is clearly not so limited.


David Axelrod, Obama's political guru, wrote an op-ed in 2005 saying exactly what I say in the above paragraph--attacking Fitzgerald (same U.S. attorney as involved in Blago case) for going after Chicago politicians for giving jobs to their political supporters. Axelrod said--accurately--that this is the way politics works.


Conclusion: Obama has always been an ordinary politician from the extraordinary "culture of corruption" that exists in Chicago. That alone does not make him a bad guy, although it makes him suspect. Helping foist Blago on the people of Illinois does make both Obama and Jackson bad guys.