Wednesday, December 10, 2008

BARACK OBAMA

Recall the Last Time Obama Was Asked About a Controversial Meeting . . .

So far, Obama has answered one question about the Blagojevich matter:

Q Mr. President-elect, did you have any contact — were you aware of — were you aware at all of what was happening with your Senate seat?

PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA: I — hold on, hold on, hold on a second, guys. I'll just answer this one question.

I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so we were not — I was not aware of what was happening. And as I said, it's a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don't think it's appropriate to comment. Okay?

As noted below, that contradicts public comments by Obama strategist David Axelrod, and it would seem a little surprising that in the month since election day, the President-Elect has not communicated any preference or thoughts on his Senate successor to the man who would be selecting that successor, or any of his staff. Particularly when the governor was seeking, among other forms of compensation, a cabinet post.

If Obama's answer is not accurate — or a lie — this would make at least the second time that he has been asked, directly, a fairly simple yes-or-no question on "was there a meeting?" and, depending on your perspective, either gave the wrong answer or lied. Back in early March, after reports came out about a meeting between his campaign and the Canadian government about NAFTA:

Obama: I don't have to clarify it, the Canadian Embassy already clarified it by saying that the story is not true. Our office has said the story is not true. It's important for viewers to understand that it was not true.

Anchor: So, completely inaccurate, did not happen, end of discussion.

Obama: It did not happen.

Days later, both the Canadian government and Obama adviser Austan Goolsbee admitted there had in fact been a meeting.

It is a disturbing precedent for this scandal.

UPDATE: Axelrod is saying he misspoke, although it's curious how he would get the notion that Obama and Blagojevich spoke, and why he would go around saying they had spoken without knowing so. Ben Smith cannot get an answer to another simple question: When was the last time the two men spoke?

And since Obama's answer covers contact "with his office," did he speak to anyone on Blagojevich's staff?

12/10 09:15 AMShare