Corruption to the left of him. Corruption to the right of him. Corruption right in front of him. Yet in spite of all this, Howard Fineman of Newsweek maintains that Barack Obama has been somehow hermetically sealed off from Chicago corruption throughout his political career. Fineman is merely echoing the premise currently being promoted by much of the media in his Newsweek article about Illinois governor Rod Blagovech and Jesse Jackson, Jr.. Fineman starts out by hinting that Jesse Jackson, Jr. was corruptible (emphasis mine):
What I know about the South Side of Chicago I know not from Barack Obama, but from Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. In the summer of 1997, I spent two days with him there. He was in his second term representing the area. He was fond of it, but the real message I got from him was: I want to be in the Loop, literally.
The son of the civil-rights leader had attended St. Albans School in Washington and gone on to earn a law degree. He of course knew the history of the movement, and revered it. He admired his dad, whom he called "The Rev." But it was clear that Junior hungered for proximity to established money and power.
He told me about the time that friends in the business world had taken him downtown for a tour of the Federal Reserve's branch on LaSalle Street. He had been ushered into the inner sanctum and shown the real stuff: bundled stacks of Benjamins.
Jackson laughed at the memory, but clearly was impressed. That was real clout, he said. That was the way the world really worked.
I thought of Junior's trip to the bank when I read U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's charges against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. And I thought of Junior when I noted the suggestion, made by ABC News, that Junior was "candidate no. 5" in Fitzgerald's criminal complaint. On that candidate's behalf, prosecutors claim, "emissaries" allegedly offered to raise major cash for Blagojevich. In exchange, the prosecutors say, Blago was willing to name that candidate to fill Obama's suddenly vacant U.S. Senate seat.
From suggesting that Jesse Jackson, Jr. could be corrupted, Fineman then goes on to assert that Obama was able to remain simon pure while all the Chicago corruption swirled around him because he was lucky enough not to remain in any elected position long enough to be corrupted:
Among Obama's many gifts are luck—and a knack for not staying long enough in any one place to be corrupted by the local culture. Luckily for him, the world economy is falling apart, which meant that he was too busy learning about credit default swaps to worry about who he wanted to replace him in his U.S. Senate seat from Illinois.
More important, Obama managed to be allied with, but not really captured by, a host of Chicago and Illinois factions. There are virtues in having a relatively short career, especially if you have to spend it in the gamey Land of Lincoln.
When Obama did choose sides, he chose early and wisely, thanks, serendipitously, to his wife's ties. He joined the Daley Family team—Mayor Richie and Brother Bill. And he kept a certain distance from Blagojevich, who by all accounts had become the worst of the worst—trading his early reformist label for harsh pay-to-play tactics, and a lunatic disregard for what the Feds were up to. (Blagojevich's office issued a general statement saying his arrest would have "no impact" on the people of Illinois, and that all business would continue.)
Huh? Obama kept a certain distance from Blagojevich? Fineman then contradicts this assertion in his very next paragraph:
My sense is that there isn't much Blago can do to damage Obama. Yes, Obama was an early supporter and adviser in 2002, when Blago first ran for governor and Obama was positioning himself to run for U.S. Senate in 2004. Yes, Obama allies Rahm Emanuel and David Wilhelm (but not David Axelrod) did work on that campaign. But Obama had the sense to keep his distance—and he essentially got out of town before Blago went wild.
Sorry, Howard, but working as an adviser to Blagojevich when he was running for governor does not strike your humble correspondent as keeping his distance.
—P.J. Gladnick is a freelance writer and creator of the DUmmie FUnnies blog.
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Comments Policy
Well then, Obama is the
December 11, 2008 - 07:27 ET by msh1973Well then, Obama is the dumbest man alive...if he can't tell what is going on around him then he sure isn't astute enough to be POTUS. Give me a break!
Wasn't the same thing said
December 11, 2008 - 07:48 ET by motherbeltWasn't the same thing said about Bill Clinton?
It seemed that he was surrounded by corruption from his earliest days in Arkansas, but somehow was never part of it, and didn't even know it was going on!
Too busy..
December 11, 2008 - 07:51 ET by AJBThat's because he was too busy having the troopers set up redevous with hookers...
Obama, hermetically sealed IN with Chicago corruption
December 11, 2008 - 07:34 ET by 10ksnookerThere, that's better.
Corruption, Nationalization, and Propaganda ... It's the Democrat way.
The One lies badly, and everyone knows it.
Dailey family seperated
December 11, 2008 - 07:35 ET by nadadhimmiDailey family seperated from Chicago corruption?? What incredible bullshit you spew, Fineman. The Dailey family has DIRECTED, and PROFITTED from the corruption for well over 1/2 a century. It's like saying the Sulzberger family has been seperated from the operation of the New York Times. Howie, you expect the little people to believe you when you disimminate such obvious and politically motivated crap? This is a perfect example of WHY the American newspapers and old media are rapidly dying. People just don't believe your lying shit anymore.. The noble 4th estate?, laughable!!
This story has been in the
December 11, 2008 - 07:39 ET by billbThis story has been in the news for about 48 hours now. It has taken CNN all this time to search their archives for a foto of both George Bush and Blagojavitch in the same frame, which they showed this morning.
LOL....that's rich! They
December 11, 2008 - 08:00 ET by motherbeltLOL....that's rich!
They are sooooo predictable!
Don't mention Blago is a Democrat; show him with Bush.
If I had any interest in watching CNN, I would keep an eye on them today to see if they continue to use that photo when updating the story.
I believe...
December 11, 2008 - 07:40 ET by AJBI believe in Santa Claus. I believe in the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy. I also believe Comrade Glorious Supreme Leader Obama didn't even KNOW there was any corruption in Chicago politics.
Wall of Protection
December 11, 2008 - 07:42 ET by Blogger Guy00001The media erected a wall of protection around the Messiah all during the election campaign. No surprise that they would continue to protect the Chosen One from any and all suggestions of scandal.
Yeah, and the Tribune is
December 11, 2008 - 08:01 ET by ConservativeRexYeah, and the Tribune is going to make sure he stays good and sealed away from eveything he has been involved with in Chicago.
That's right....a "hermetic
December 11, 2008 - 10:21 ET by motherbeltThat's right....a "hermetic seal" doesn't just "happen." It's a conscious undertaking.
The "hermetic seal" is what the media are building around him right now.
If Fineman's assessment is
December 11, 2008 - 08:07 ET by SickofLibsIf Fineman's assessment is correct, then Obama is the most naive dim bulb ever to be elected to any office.
Just what we need right now.
You're kidding, right?
December 11, 2008 - 08:17 ET by Mica the MagnificentIt's kind of like growing up in a brothel and being shocked to learn people get l**d there.
How does Howard know?
December 11, 2008 - 08:08 ET by sawing battahow on earth can one make that statement without bias? Did you have some sort of vulcan mind meld, Howard? How do you know.
The chances are high...not non existent. Obama has been in politics in chicago for years - at all levels. He launched his career at an admitted terrorists home and has had a meteoric rise since. how? by NOT playing the game?
doubt it.
you're a partisan, howard. not a journalist. Just admit it and gain back some self respect. tool.
How do you know?
December 11, 2008 - 08:17 ET by SickofLibsFineman spent two days with Marblemouth Jr. 11 years ago.
What more do we need to know?
I caught a glimpse of CNN yesterday and just laughed..
December 11, 2008 - 09:03 ET by JTPThe anchorette made a slip of the tongue and said "what is it going to take to get US past this mess" or something similar.
I thought to myself.."maybe some honesty"
"I need more cowbell!" SNL
Among Obama's many gifts
December 11, 2008 - 09:08 ET by dscottAmong Obama's many gifts are luck—and a knack for not staying long enough in any one place to be corrupted by the local culture.
OH PLEASE, now I have heard everything! So Obama wasn't corrupted because he was inexperienced????? What nonsense! First the MSM claims he has enough experience to be the President of the US, then they claim he doesn't have enough experience to be tainted by corruption! Excuse me, a person is corruptible due to their character defect not due to their surroundings.
Hello, mental summersaulters, I give that one a 9 for sheer audacity.
If anyone buys that line they are just plain stupid.
BTW - Let's contrast this corruption via exposure versus character. Sarah Palin was surrounded by it, exposed corruption and fought it Alaska, she even took on those in her own political party, what did Barack Obama do???? Nothing!
So now let's ask the questions, why did Barack Obama fail to expose corruption when he had the opportunity? Is anyone claiming Barack Obama was so oblivious to what was going on around him that he didn't know Blagojevich was corrupt? They campaigned for each other for years! Barack Obama was by the MSM's admission was immersed in pervasively corrupt policial surroundings and yet had he EVER took on those corrupt interests?
Here is another question. How did Michelle Obama get her cushy well paying job?
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Fineman figures "I didn't
December 11, 2008 - 09:09 ET by HockeyKidFineman figures "I didn't inhale" worked for Clinton, so it should work for Hussein. The very air in Chicago is rife with corruption, but Hussein's been holding his breath first taking office.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
No, Barack did not hang out
December 11, 2008 - 09:18 ET by oilcanNo, Barack did not hang out with any corrupt politicians. Just unrepentent terrorists, oh wait, that's been debunked too.
I guess we'll never know eh?
But, I'm thinking, why hasn't nothing been brought about Obama's nasty subterfuge of getting his democratic opponents ousted from the ballot when he ran for state senate? Especially since one of them was his like his godmother in bringing him into the game? Doesn't that speak to some sort of underhanded dirty politicking?
A nose for news
December 11, 2008 - 09:44 ET by KC MulvilleSay you're a journalist, and luck presents you with
... yet all Fineman can come up with is "My sense is that there isn't much Blago can do to damage Obama." These guys have no Spider-sense at all. If nothing else, at least put up the pretense of going out and investigating the issue. Ask at least one question: did Obama or anyone in his entourage speak to Blagojevich about the senate seat?
Ask a damned question.
What Did the President Know and When Did he Know It
December 11, 2008 - 09:52 ET by allanfI wonder if that would be the refrain if this scandal involved Bush and not Obama?
there is a big difference between
December 11, 2008 - 09:57 ET by pmohbuckwhat fineman wants to believe ... and what he actually knows.
newsweek reports only the things they want to believe (and want us to believe) ... fineman's no insider or expert on any of this stuff ... just like fahreed zacharia(sp?) doesn't really know how to fix the globe politically, geologically or spiritually (although he tries every week). the problem is that too many people believe EVERYTHING these people say and don't have enough sense to realize that newsweek is comprised mainly of opinions and little reported fact.
i do find it hard to believe that obama stood in the middle of the cesspool known as chicago politics and never smelled a thing. i'll bet this administration will be as scandal-tainted as clinton's (if not more) ... and the media will lose it's power to influence when the nation sees the steps in which it will cover for obama and all things democrat ... payback is a bitch ... and its already on its way.
Newsweek, I'll only charge 1/2 of what Fineman gets
December 11, 2008 - 10:15 ET by Hunter12It's obvious this guy couldn't find the open end on a paper bag, if he can't find the corruption a Chicago politician has been involved in to stay in the power loop. You have to earn the money and favors to grease the wheels that keep pushing you to the top of the pyramid. I suspect that Obama was a pretty savy player to rise so quickly. Here's a few helpful hints for Howard to look into so that he might keep his job: Obama's chairmanship of the Chicago Anneberg Challenge (follow the money), his appointments to the Health Facility Planning Board, and his land deal with Tony Rezko. Howard, you should look at who got money from the CAC and how much they gave back to Obama in campaign contributions. This is called "One hand washes the other" around here. The planning board apointees are a who's who in the Blagojevich scandal. State Senator Barack Obama was on the one of the people who got the list of potential appointees prior to the announcement of the board's configuration. Obama pushed the legislation through the state senate to reconfigure and re-appoint the board. Try to figure out what Tony Rezko got for the under-valued property he sold to Obama. Maybe this one is what Obama got for putting Rezko's people on the planning board. If you need any more help, just post here and I try to see what else I can find for you.
[Edit] Howard, here's one more trail for you to follow:
In Illinois, favored politicians are joined at the hip when it comes to fundraising. For instance, from 1999 through 2006, an analysis by the Chicago Tribune shows Obama took in more than $1.5 million from some 700 people who also contributed to Mayor Daley during his political career.
I could do this all day.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
The Bigger Story
December 11, 2008 - 10:19 ET by Redrowan2000The bigger story in all this is not Obamas connection to Rod or even if Emanuel and Jackson Jr. were involved. It is the complicit cooperation of the news media in this country to protect and serve an elected official that they are in the tank for. If only half of this stuff came out on a sitting Texas Governor you can imagine the 24 -7 news frenzy and charges laid against GW. It really is sad to see an integral part of this republic the 4th estate, prostitute themselves and their profession for political and i'm sure what they consider moral superiority.
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Red
I guess this really isn't
December 11, 2008 - 10:42 ET by Hunter12I guess this really isn't corruption. It would be a sad day for an Illinois table tennis fan if they couldn't go to a tournament and purcahse their t-shirts or DVDs.
After his unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 2000, Obama faced serious financial pressure: numerous debts, limited cash and a law practice he had neglected for a year. Help arrived in early 2001 from a significant new legal client — a longtime political supporter.Chicago entrepreneur Robert Blackwell Jr. paid Obama an $8,000-a-month retainer to give legal advice to his growing technology firm, Electronic Knowledge Interchange. It allowed Obama to supplement his $58,000 part-time state Senate salary for over a year with regular payments from Blackwell’s firm that eventually totaled $112,000.
A few months after receiving his final payment from EKI, Obama sent a request on state Senate letterhead urging Illinois officials to provide a $50,000 tourism promotion grant to another Blackwell company, Killerspin.
Killerspin specializes in table tennis, running tournaments nationwide and selling its own line of equipment and apparel and DVD recordings of the competitions. With support from Obama, other state officials and an Obama aide who went to work part time for Killerspin, the company eventually obtained $320,000 in state grants between 2002 and 2004 to subsidize its tournaments.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Whenever the likes of
December 11, 2008 - 18:39 ET by bigtimerWhenever the likes of leftist brown-nosed Fineman uses the words 'my sense' when referring to himself and/or opinions...I skip it..move on...which I usually do anyway when I see his a$$ kissing face on msnbc...or anywhere else for that matter.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh