Report: Jackson Backers Sought Cash For Obama Post

[Beacool]

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Businessmen with ties to both Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson discussed raising $1 million for Blagojevich to help persuade him to appoint Jackson to President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, according to a published report.

Citing unnamed sources, the Chicago Tribune reports in a story for Friday's editions that businessman Raghuveer Nayak and Blagojevich aide Rajinder Bedi told attendees at an Oct. 31 meeting that they needed to raise the money for the governor to ensure Jackson's appointment.

"Raghu said he needed to raise a million for Rod to make sure Jesse got the seat," an unidentified source who attended the meeting told the Tribune. Blagojevich also attended the meeting, which was sponsored by Nayak, an Oak Brook businessman.

A message left at a listing for Raghuveer Nayak in Oak Brook was not immediately returned early Friday. No published listing for Bedi could be found.

Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges that allege, among other things, a brazen scheme to put Obama's vacant Senate seat up for sale.

According to the FBI complaint, the Oct. 31 meeting took place the same day federal prosecutors intercepted a conversation in which Blagojevich claims he'd been approached by a representative for an unnamed "Senate Candidate 5" who offered cash in exchange for the Senate seat.

http://wcbstv.com/national/Blagojevich.arrested.corruption.2.885701.html

[uponit7771]

1. unnn, I don't beleive anything that comes out of Rods mouth or "unamed sources"

[AllentownJake]

2. Pretty much new it was him and it was probably true

the moment I read the 73 page press release from the justice department.

Baring an indictment he'll be in congress forever, however any chance of higher office has just been destroyed.

[Thrill]

3. Jesse Jr. wanted this seat too bad. He didn't hide that

I was hoping he wouldn't go as far as offering money. ugh

[Rebubula]

4. I like Mr. Jackson

I will reserve any judgment until all the facts come out.

However...does not look that good. At the least, it looks suspicious.

[FloridaGrl]

17. I guess we are reading two different articles

because I see no reference of JJJ himself giving the go ahead to offer money for the seat. :shrug:

[opihimoimoi]

5. Sad...Jackson is now Toast....could this be reversed? Odds look dim.

Not enough maturity yet....shoulda coulda woulda but neva....came out with slime on his pants/shirt.

[olkaz]

6. Incoming JJJ brigade...

First he ABSOLUTELY was not #5.

Then, since it was only Blagojevich fingering him, it had to be a lie.

Now, "unnamed sources" means it isn't true.

I have no idea whether he did it or didn't do it, but it looks very likely that some of the people around JJJ may have been dirty, even if he wasn't.

[avaistheone1]

7. I don't think this look good for JJJ.

Too much shuffling and backpedaling.

[firedupdem]

8. I don't trust unnamed sources at all....

the only thing they have on JJJ is he was campaigning hard for that seat! I would hope he wouldn't be stupid enough to be involved with this. I also know that a lot of folks don't like the Jackson name and would have no problem trying to smear him with lies. I hope this isn't true at all...he's done a great job so far.

[Jennicut]

9. The evidence has to show that JJJ went to these guys to get them to raise money

Until there is evidence I won't judge JJJ yet. Still, if true then it is disappointing but sometimes even our own Dems disappoint us. Power can be all-consuming to some.

[avaistheone1]

10. Or that JJJ sent them or had prior knowledge of the so called

emissaries' mission and did nothing to stop them.

[ProSense]

11. Someone doesn't want Jackson to get the seat.

Why hasn't Fitzgerald subpoenaed any of these so-called emissaries?

They held a fundraiser? Was this supposed to be a secret?

At a luncheon meeting on October 31, Nayak and Rajinder Bedi told many of the attendees that they were organizing a fundraiser for Blagojevich, and that the purpose of the event was to get Jackson named to the Senate seat, two sources tell the Trib.

The meeting led to a fundraiser last Saturday which was attended by Jesse Jackson's brother, a former business partner of one of the businessmen, Raghuveer Nayak.

One source told the paper that he overheard Nayak and Bedi discussing plans with another politically active Indian-American businessman.

Raghu said he needed to raise a million for Rod to make sure Jesse got the seat," the second businessman said. "He said, 'I can raise half of it, $500,000.' The idea was that the other two would help raise the rest.]

Nayak and Bedi are politically active in Chicago's Indian-American community. Nayak has raised money for Blagojevich and contributed to Jackson. Bedi is an aide to Blagojevich, who the governor is said to call "my Sikh warrior."

link

Chicago Tribune owner been subpoenaed and they're the source of most of the Blagojevich stories

[ShadowLiberal]

18. Because they never actually overheard conversations with Blago and JJJ or his emissaries

They only heard Blago talking about what they had offered him. Blago said this to people he trusted, not thinking others might be listening.

Personally I find it hard to believe why Blago would have made up offers from Jackson and his people when he had no idea prosecutors were listening in to his conversations. But such evidence likely won't be enough to get Jackson into any legal trouble, as it'll just be his word against theirs.

[ProSense]

19. "why Blago would have made up offers...when he had no idea prosecutors were listening"

Maybe he was trying to get as much as possible, claiming to have received an offer from someonein the hopes of getting a bigger counter offer?

Blagojevich is clearly dishonest, why is it so hard to imagine that he is a liar?

[WI_DEM]

12. While I doubt JJJ will be charged with anything, his dream of this senate seat is over

in fact, it's turned into a nightmare. He won't be appointed and I doubt even if there is a special election he would win it because he lusted after it too much and has been hit by Blago's mud.

[ClarkUSA]

13. This is a misleading OP title as it quotes third-person allegations by Gov. Blago, not facts.

This OP is kinda like Drudge quoting Whitewater statements about Bill Clinton from Ken Starr. When will the vengeful
Hillaryland need to punish any and all people with links to Obama end? If only Barack had such vindictive tendencies!

[Beacool]

14. Hell hath no fury...........

}(

[Skwmom]

15. Did you ever hear - those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?

[Beacool]

16. Who, moi?

I'm innocent I tell you, innocent!!!!

:P