President elect-Barack Obama responded today about the scandal that is swirling around Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Obama: Like the rest of the people of Illinois, I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the US attorney's office today, but as this is a on going investigation involving the Governor I don't' think it's appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time.
{snip}
I'll answer this one question. I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I we were not aware of what was happening. As I said it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment.
It wouldn't be a surprise to find out that a member of Obama's team had met with Blags anyway. That's normal politics, but Obama does have to get ahead of the story or the traditional media will try to tear him apart. Aided of course by the right wing lunatic fringe. We just witnessed eight years of the culture of corruption with Bush, but the right wingers will hijack our terminology and the media will be willing allies. What we have seen so far is that Blags even cursed out Obama.
He also appears to think little of the president-elect, whom he calls a "motherf***er" at one point.
"F**k him," Blagjoveich says of Obama during a lengthy call with top aides and his wife recorded on November 10th, "For nothing? F**k him."
Digby says:
It's natural that Obama and many of his staff have crossed paths with the players in this scandal. But according to Lynn Sweet of the Tribune, who has followed Obama for some time and is not a sycophant, says the campaign put a mile between itself and Blagojevich, not even allowing him to speak at the Democratic convention. They are not close.
Get ready for the right wing freak show that is about to begin. They are going to go hog-wild.
