Obama calls on Blago to Resign; Jackson is #5.
In my opinion, Obama should have done this yesterday. We are going to have to get used to his cautiousness. He doesn’t like to act until he has all the facts, which is better than going off half cocked like Bush. Robert Gibbs confirms the demand:
CHICAGO – President-elect Barack Obama is calling for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said Wednesday.
Gibbs said Obama agrees with other prominent politicians that “under the current circumstances, it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois.”
Obama also wants a special election:
In response to questions from The Associated Press, Gibbs said Obama believes the Illinois legislature should consider a special election to fill the seat. Gibbs said the hope is to put a process in place to select a new senator who will have the trust and confidence of the people of Illinois.
Chicago Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) is the anonymous “Senate Candidate #5” whose emissaries Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich reportedly claimed offered up to a million dollars to name him to the U.S. Senate, federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News. […]Jackson Jr. said this morning he was contacted yesterday by federal prosecutors in Chicago who he said “asked me to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process.”
Jackson Jr. said “I don’t know” when asked if he was Candidate #5, but said he was told “I am not a target of this investigation.”
Jackson Jr. said he agreed to talk with federal investigators “as quickly as possible” after he consults with a lawyer.
The Congressman, a son of the famed civil rights leader, denied that anyone had been authorized to make payments or promises to the Governor on his behalf.
Also related – it’s confirmed that Senate candidate 5 is Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Link
But, as Josh Marshall says:
Thanks, just updated the post.
Oh, c’mon. Isn’t that exactly who you thought it would be?
I assumed it was Jackson, but it wasn’t confirmed.
When I post that it was Jackson yesterday, I got jumped on as a smear-monger. In my opinion Jackson was one of the few that could raise that kind of money. The curious thing for me was the report that Jackson and Obama don’t get along, does anyone know why?
Ed Schultz had had a creepy interview with Jackson a few weeks ago and I heard a snippet of the replay today (I only listen to Schultz when I’m in the car on XM, I stream Thom Hartmann on the InternetS at my desk noon-3).
Jackson said he REALLY wanted that appointment badly.
Creepy.
Well, I imagine Jackson won’t be the appointee or electee now.
Jackson hadnt met with Blago in 4 yrs! Lets not jump to collusions…but it appears everyone with one brain cell knew Blago was under investigation.
Lets hope there is a special election and Jan Schakowsky wins. She really is an excellent Congresswoman.
God I hope they bust Mayor Daley next.
Apparently Jackson is not on the Fed’s tapes. With this story, it’s hard to know how much of this is Blago fantasizing with his aides and how much was actually soliciting favors.