Who On Obama’s Staff Talked to Hot Rod Blagojevich About The Senate Seat?

Ok, now Obama’s staff is saying that David Axelrod misspoke about Obama talking to the Governor Blagojevich but what about Obama’s staff?

Obama leaves this question open with an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Q: Have you ever spoken to [Illinois] Gov. [Rod R.] Blagojevich about the Senate seat?

O: I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time. My strong belief is that it needed to be filled by somebody who is going to represent the people of Illinois and fight for them. And beyond that, I was focused on the transition.

Q: And that was before and after the election?

O: Yes.

Q: Are you aware of any conversations between Blagojevich or [chief of staff] John Harris and any of your top aides, including Rahm [Emanuel]?

O: Let me stop you there because . . . it’s an ongoing… …investigation. I think it would be inappropriate for me to, you know, remark on the situation beyond the facts that I know. And that’s the fact that I didn’t discuss this issue with the governor at all.

Q: Could you talk to the point of whether an appointment by Gov. Blagojevich would taint whoever your successor would be, given what we know?

O: I think what the people of Illinois deserve is somebody they can trust, somebody that’s going to fight for them and, you know, I think we’ve got to make sure that whatever process emerges gives them that assurance. I haven’t examined all the options that are out there at this point.

Jim Geraghty points out that Obama knows about the scandal and did NOT speak directly to Hot Rod Blagojevich. But, what about his other staffers? How about Obama’s soon to be Chief of Staff and former Illinios Congressman Rahm Emanuel?

And, who does United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald have on tape? What did they say and when did they say it?

Update:

Maybe it was Axelrod since he does not seem to have a problem with pay to play Chicago style.

“The democratic process is often messy,” Axelrod wrote in the op-ed. “Diverse constituencies fight fiercely for their priorities. Their elected representatives use the influence they have to meet those needs, including sometimes the exchange of favors – consideration for jobs being just one.

“When a congressman responds to the president’s request for support for a judicial nominee or a trade deal by replying that he’d like the president’s backing for a new bridge in his district, he’s fighting for his constituents. If the money for that bridge is approved over a worthier project elsewhere, should the deal between the two officials become a crime?” Axelrod wondered, questioning whether a “system free of political influence … is really desirable.”

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