It’s a common consensus that Illinois State Senate leader and Obama political godfather Emil Jones Jr. was “Senate Candidate 5” in Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pay-to-play scheme to fill Obama’s seat and believed worthy of a major shakedown attempt.
What we haven’t heard yet what contact Jones had with EITHER Blago or Obama.
And, by “contact,” I don’t necessarily mean direct contact, but through surrogates, albeit authorized ones. Let’s be clear on that.
I’m also curious who was pressuring Blago NOT to appoint Jones. And, if Blago was trying to lever that, depending on that first question. Hmmm….
Unlike the stereotypical conservative seeing a new Whitewater here, I’m not saying Obama’s got any bad connections. Unlike Obamiacs, though, I’m not giving Just.Another.Politician.™ a pre-emptive blanket whitewash.
There’s plenty to still fall out of this baby, and Pat Fitzgerald probably set a record for number of different ways to say “no comment” yesterday.
Update, 3:10 p.m.: ABC News says Candidate No. Jesse Jackson Jr., not Jones Jr. If true, the acorn sure doesn't fall far from the tree, eh?
Jackson himself didn't deny the connection.
But, that makes the "pressure not to appoint" even more mysterious.
Oh, and I hope Blago does NOT resign soon, so we can have a special election for the empty Senate seat. Chris Cilizza reminds us just how much fun this could be
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