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The testimony in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has now provided the most direct link between then-Sen. Barack Obama and his wishes about the Senate seat he was vacating.
Tom Balanoff, head of the SEIU in Illinois, testified today that Obama called him the night before the 2008 election to say that while he would not be taking a public position, he believed Valerie Jarrett would fit his standards of being good for Illinois and able to hold the seat in 2010. Balanoff quoted Obama as saying: "I would much prefer she [serve in the White House] but she does want to be Senator and she does meet those criteria."
"I said, 'Thank you, I'm going to reach out to Gov. Blagojevich," Balanoff testified.
The next morning, Jarrett called Balanoff: "Didn't Barack call you last night? Well, I am interested."
As has been heard alluded to in FBI wiretaps previously played in court, Blagojevich suggested to Balanoff he'd be willing to trade a Jarrett appointment for, first, being Health and Human Services secretary and, later, for President Obama's help in getting big Democratic fundraisers to give money for a health care advocacy group that Blagojevich would run.
In tapes played last week, Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris said that word was passed to Blagojevich fundraiser John Wyma that instead of those things, the Obama camp would be "thankful and and appreciative" if he appointed Jarrett.
Blagojevich's reply, captured by the FBI wiretap: "They're not willing to give me anything but appreciation? F--- them."
After Jarrett publicly took herself out of contention, Balanoff said he had a conversation with State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a protege and basketball buddy of Obama's, who is now the Democratic nominee for the Senate seat. Of that conversation, Balanoff said: "In passing he said, 'Maybe he'll appoint me.' "
When Balanoff suggested Giannoulias, Blagojevich bristled: "That motherf-----; I wouldn't do s--- for him. Every chance he got, he took a shot at me."
Giannoulias disclosed over the weekend that the defense has subpoenaed his possible testimony.
In the same meeting, Balanoff said he brought up Rep. Jan Schakowsky as a possible appointee. But, as has been established in FBI wiretapes introduced as evidence last week, Blagojevich was determined to appoint an African American to help him politically.
Balanoff testified that Blagojevich said of Schakowsky: "If she had any ancestors who came over on slave ships, she'd be fine."
NOTE: None of the conversations between Balanoff, Blagojevich, Obama, Jarrett or Giannoulias were captured by FBI wiretaps.
Hat-tip to WMAQ's Phil Rogers
Leave a Comment:
All the hearsay is conspiratorial to the point that it is mind boggling... not.
This trial is just what this Administration needed right now.
Amazing timing.
we all new what kind of group aboma rose from / its just a matter of time before his leftish chicago freinds destoy him.bill ayres ,rev wright/ accorn, russco. what excusses do you have for them besides he didn;t listen in church for twenty years.
English PLEEEZE Carlyss!
thats all you can come up with, the truth hurts dont it.
Not at all... However if you could come up with a coherant sentance then YOU might just Might have an ounce of credibility... In the meantime... well...sucks to be you my friend...
tsk, tsk, you have a spelling error, Red
she has more than a spelling error, she idolizes a crook that is going to tear this country appart.
This whole thing stinks from top to bottom! Interesting to see what the role Obama played. The cat is climbing out of the bag. It will be known if he was within his rights, or illegal. I don’t claim to know the law, but the whole thing comes across as “fishy” to me.
So, the President says that he would be "Thankful and appreciative" and he gets knocked for it? Are you kidding me?
This is like Oakland. There is no there there.
This is Chicago. You must understand, "thankful and appreciative" doesn't generally mean "thankful and appreciative" in a literal sense.
Possibly President Obama truly meant it. Obviously, Blago didn't take it otherwise. But then, Blago is sort of an idiot.
Off message, but did I hear my man Keith O in a conversation yesterday with Lawrence O---say something about Lawrence O getting his own spot/show on MSNBC?
Or is it a case of just wanting something so badly......curious!
Yes Chilled! You heard correctly! Larry O' will be getting his own show (not sure when it's suppose to start) but it will follow Rachel!
Oh Happy Days! My prayers have been answered!
Thanks Feisty.
This is music to my ears. Now, if only Gotcha Gregory would be replaced!
I'm working on it! lol
I haven't watched that Dumbsh!t David in almost a year and a half! He should get Keith O's...
WORST Pundit in the World honor! Smirking right wing jerk off!
True Dat! He is absolutely the worst....hatchet chopping hands and all. He certainly is NOT a moderator, only a wannabe instigator (failing miserably). Maybe he can find employment over at Faux!
I'll never forget when the John Edwards story broke - I thought he was going to c*m in his pants the way he was rubbing his hands together and the spit was flying out of his mouth!
And then there's always the video of him 'fox trotting' with the Turd Blossem at the WH correspondents dinner! That image will forever be etched into my mind! EWWWWW!
OMG Feisty ~ Thank you for the wonderful surprise. It definitely pays to scroll all the way to the end.
WOW, Its cheaper than I think!
Excuse me, did I hear you say something?
WOW! It's cheaper than I think!
That's Chicago for you folks. The Disastocrats are at it again, swapping position, money, looking for those who came by slave ships, union officials acting in capacity as Feds officials and so on. Now, that they are caught playing poker and high stakes, their columns on this web site is strangely empty. Had it been RINOS doing the Chicago dance, boy this whole site would have been taken up with abuse of the RINOS. Even Bammy is hustling for himself. Can't blame him. Now, he's got the gulf on his hands and its not looking pretty by the hour. Alex is ruining his apetite and lunch. After Alex there will be one continuous hell run for hurricanes this season. One by one they will be coming into the gulf. Bammy and his allies BP won't have a snowball chance in summer to clean up. Say Bammy, your union guys have a long hell of a wait. Too bad, isn't it? If the Bammy had began to clean up immediately after the spill, he might have stood a chance but now, its too late. Mother Nature has done him in. Its funny isn't it that after all this time the RINOS has been trying their very best to bring him down and those high poll numbers. Got to give it to them, Mother Nature has done the impossible, they best thank her. I had noticed one thing though , when the spill was gushing out, and even after 71 odd days and silence and hardly any visits from the Bammy, I think he thought that the Union would have cleaned it up pretty fast. So he delayed or refused to bring in the big guns and ships to do the job. Hurricane Alex took him by surprise and now the Bammy realized that he is toast. NOTHING can bring back the gulf now. The hurricanes are on their way. Sorry Bammy you lost.
I wonder what Bush must be thinking and saying, Oh I mean stuttering!