Obama: No Way He Dealt in Blago-Gate

I have to admit, I by no means was one who jumped on the Barack Obama bandwagon early on. Even now, I have my fears that something is going to come out about this guy that will be a shock to us all. Perhaps that's the cynic in me. But so far, nothing.

(Sorry, not trying to necessarily discount those who doubt he was born in the U.S., but so far, that hasn't exactly blown up in his face)

But I, like millions of others in this country, have tremendous hope that the president-elect can pull this country out of its doldroms and that he does in fact represent "change."

Hopefully, this Rod Blagojevich thing will be the closest thing to a scandal Obama has to endure. I now it's early in his administration (as in, embryonic stage) and that may be wishful thinking. But I have to say, the way he is handling it - in a typical No-Drama Obama, cool manner - has impressed me.

His press conference today - where he announced that Tom Daschle was his pick for Health and Human Services secretary - was handled extremely well. There was concern that if Obama didn't come out calm, cool, and collected, he would fan the flames of speculation that perhaps some people in his circle had some questionable dealings or conversations with Governor Blagojevich. But that didn't happen today.

In fact, Obama did what he needed to, and even added a little bit of humor to the absolutely fantastic scandal marring politics in his state.

"I won't quote back some of the things that were said about me. This is a family program, I know," Obama joked to reporters.

On one recording the feds have, an advisor and consultant are telling Blagojevich that he has to "suck it up" for two years and do nothing and give this "motherf***er [the President-elect] his senator. F*** him. For nothing? F*** him." Blagojevich says he will put "[Senate Candidate 4]" in the Senate "before I just give F***ing [Senate Candidate 1] a F***ing Senate seat and I don't get anything."

Get the new
PD toolbar!I'm sure he bit his tongue - or not - when he first heard his governor talk about him like that.

Saying he hasn't been contacted by the feds, nor has anyone in his transition office, Obama said the criminal complaints against Blagojevich makes clear that his people were in no ways "amenable" to the governor's schemes.

"I had no contact with the governor's office, I did not speak to the governor about these issues. That I know for certain," he said about his vacant Senate seat.

But, in what may be perceived as a little wiggle room Obama is leaving for himself, he also said he wants to gather all the facts about "any staff contacts" that may have taken place between Blagojevich and the president-elect's transition team. He said he will make those details public when he has them.

Discussions about the Senate seat are one thing, but make no mistake, he said, "our office had no involvement in any deal making around my Senate seat – that I'm absolutely certain of. That would be a violation of everything this campaign is about and that's not how we do business."

Question from reporter: What's wrong with Illinois politics that so many of its leaders are criminals (or alleged, in this case)?

Obama: "There's two views of politics." One is that you get into it to sacrifice other paths you may take and make a career out of service (which the good guys do), the other (tha way the crooked guys look at it) is that "this is a business - and you're wheelin' and dealin' and 'what's in it for me?'"

"All I can do is read the transcripts ... and shake my head," Obama continued. "This is sort of the far end of the spectrum – this business mentality of politics."

Obama also wanted to send a message to Americans that good guys (clearly not the last couple Illinois governors) can get ahead - as evidenced by him being sent to the nation's highest office on the tidal wave of "change."

"You can get elected by playing it straight. You can get elected by doing the right thing. That's what I hope we have modeled in this campaign and that's what I intend to model in my administration."

Bravo, Mr. President.

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