Obama's Statement on Blagojevich

[lame54]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/obama-blagojevich-press-conference.html

Obama: 'Appalled' over Blagojevich
December 11, 2008 at 10:53 AM | Comments (8)
President-elect Barack Obama said today he was as "appalled and disappointed as anybody" by the transcripts of wire-tapped conversations of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested Tuesday on corruption charges.

Obama said he had never spoken to Blagojevich about whom Blagojevich would appoint to Obama's vacated Senate seat.
One of the charges against the governor is that he was attempting to sell Obama's Senate seat for campaign donations, a Cabinet position or other considerations.
Obama said he has not been contacted by federal agents working on the Blagojevich investigation. "I had no contact with the governor's office. I did not speak to the governor about these issues. That I know for certain."

"We were not, I think, perceived by the governor's office as amenable to any deal making," he added.

"What i'm absolutely certain about is that our office had no involvement in any deal-making...That would be a violation of everything this campaign has been about," Obama said.

"I have asked my team to gather the facts of any contacts" with the governor, Obama said, adding he will share that information with the public in the coming days.

"This Senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade," he said. "It belongs to the people of Illinois."

Obama said he hopes Blagojevich will resign. "I do not think that the governor, at this point, can effectively serve," Obama said.

Obama made his comments at a press conference where he discussed health-care reform and announced that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will be his point man on the issue.

[bluedawg12]

1. Blago was allegedly trying to sell "A Senate" seat.

When they frame it as "Obama's Senate" seat, it creates a mental link that is untrue and misleading.

They should call it Obama's former Senate seat?

The recently vacated Illinois Senate seat?

It wasn't anyone's to sell, there is no link to the man who vacated the seat and the allegations against the Governor. Because the allegations are only about the Governor and not the former Senator.

[BridgeTheGap]

2. It is nothing short of amazing, and speaks tons about Obama, that he didn't get caught up in

the "Chicago style" politics.