Every president for more than three decades has had to talk with federal prosecutors at one time or another. President-elect Barack Obama may have set a land speed record by giving his first interview to investigators even before taking the oath of office.
Obama sat down last week with four investigators looking into the alleged attempt to sell his former Senate seat. As a witness, rather than a target, Obama seems to have had an easier time with the experience than some of his predecessors. But it is certainly not the way he wanted to begin his presidency.
"Here the guy hasn't even gotten his tuxedo for the ball yet and already there's a prosecutor who wants to talk him," said Robert Bennett, one of Washington's most prominent lawyers who has represented members of Congress, cabinet secretaries and even former President Bill Clinton in all manner of politically charged cases. "It's the era that we live in."
Another reflection of the era is that Obama and his team evidently made no effort to avoid the interview. In the past, some presidents have cooperated with prosecutors or court proceedings only reluctantly, delaying or trying to limit the parameters of their involvement while expressing concern about their prerogatives as the head of the executive branch. But in recent years, the practice has grown so commonplace that Obama's aides said there was never any debate about whether he would answer questions.
"There was absolutely no hesitation whatsoever about making him available - none," said one person involved in the transition.
Read on.
Obama sat down last week with four investigators looking into the alleged attempt to sell his former Senate seat. As a witness, rather than a target, Obama seems to have had an easier time with the experience than some of his predecessors. But it is certainly not the way he wanted to begin his presidency.
"Here the guy hasn't even gotten his tuxedo for the ball yet and already there's a prosecutor who wants to talk him," said Robert Bennett, one of Washington's most prominent lawyers who has represented members of Congress, cabinet secretaries and even former President Bill Clinton in all manner of politically charged cases. "It's the era that we live in."
Another reflection of the era is that Obama and his team evidently made no effort to avoid the interview. In the past, some presidents have cooperated with prosecutors or court proceedings only reluctantly, delaying or trying to limit the parameters of their involvement while expressing concern about their prerogatives as the head of the executive branch. But in recent years, the practice has grown so commonplace that Obama's aides said there was never any debate about whether he would answer questions.
"There was absolutely no hesitation whatsoever about making him available - none," said one person involved in the transition.
Read on.
4 comments:
He has nothing to hide so why not. Now Peaches brought me a NFL Eli Manning game shirt, if I had known G-Rod was selling Senate and Congress seats I might have asked her to put a bid in for me. Look everyone is acting like all this is new it's old school but never talked about. Now Bush is showing what it cost to get a Presidential Pardon. This is why rich people give millions to campaigns. Look if your a thief and rob big bucks but you give millions to the Republican Party you get a gift of her choice. Now Dems do it took but they never put it in your face.
Obama knows this and learned how to stop it. Take this election. He raised billions from everyday people just giving as little as 5 dollars. While McCain was trying for the usual rich donations. Not all rich people are corrupt but it's the wannabes that get on board the GOP train. Look at Madoff who used rich people and became one of them only because he was stealing. But if you or I wanted that Giants seat to the game Madoff's name only would be enough for him to get it. Greed as been around as long as man has been on the earth. Jewish people speak of the hardships of their pass and their right but never give a thought about how Greed also has infected them. Every culture no matter how honest they want to be will some times have that green eye of greed. The bible talks of it often. We are a people of Good and Evil it's the choice that makes the difference.
As you know Rahn Emmauel now has Blagojevichs Congressional seat (not for long as he, Rahn, is headed for DC) Rahn, and Axelrod have been around the block with Chicago/Cook County/Illinois politics for a long enough time to know who is who and how to keep out of the mess.
Obama has had(still has) a smart group around him. Remember David Axelrod started his career as a Political reporter in Chicago/CC/IL and he knows what time of day it is.
Obama and team are smart enough to know who is who and to stay out of the wind (when stuff hits the fan) it won't get on them, they are clean.
At least on local news here they kept replaying the part where Fitzgerald said their was nothing to indicate that Obama knew anything or was involved in anything. CASE CLOSED
Also there are more rumors by the GOPs in the State that Obama will remove Fitzgerald, with all this going on I think that is the last thing Obama will do because with his former Senate Seat reappointing mess he wants
I heard Durbin already wants Fitz back, as well as Obama.
Some of the GOP in Illinois are downright stupid. They ran Alan Keyes against Obama and couldn't run a candidate to beat Blago in the last election, when it was already known he was under investigation. They are also calling for a special election and those people better read the Illinois Constitution first (unlike Lisa Lisa).
Yes, Alan Keyes the import to run for senate GOP, that just goes to show you how sad the GOP is in Illinois.
By the way the Illinois CSpan is really interesting lately the Il Congressman from Danville (GOP) really was upset and slamming Mike Madigan.
Also on the Jim Lehrer News Hour tonight (with Margaret Warner) Mark Shields brought up the fact that the GOP is mostly regional now, and that region the South, which is hurting them. Yes, Mark has a point, unless they get the other states which we all know are the more educated states they are in trouble.
The week in review was also good this week(with Joel Wiesman), Lester Munson was on and thinks for sure Chicago will get the 2016 Olympics, David Grisling also on said it is rare for a city to make money on the Olympics, usually they are paying and paying long afterwards.
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