by Mike Dorning and James Janega
Barack Obama told reporters today to wait until he's out of town on Christmas vacation in Hawaii for answers to questions on his advisers' dealings with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Asked at a press conference moments ago about how he squared his commitment to transparency in government with the tight-lipped response he and his advisers have had to questions about their dealings with the scandal-tarnished governor, Obama said that it has been "frustrating" to maintain silence but that the questions will be answered next week--which happens to be when he will be in Hawaii on break.
"It's a little bit frustrating. There has been a little bit of speculation in the press that I would like to correct immediately. We are abiding by the request of the U.S. Attorney's office," Obama said. "But it's not going to be that long. By next week, you guys will have the answers to all of your questions."
As Obama spoke, his political advisor David Axelrod and chief of staff designate Rahm Emanuel watched from the margins of the room. Axelrod stood motionless, hands on hips, a frown partially hidden by his moustache and his attention laser-focused on Obama as he spoke. Emanuel, who was checking a message on his Blackberry when the question was asked, smiled in faint amusement, put the Blackberry away and watched the rest of Obama's response with his legs crossed at his ankles, arms crossed and a single finger pressed across his lips. He was still smiling.
Obama leaves for Christmas vacation in Hawaii this weekend. He has pledged to release information on his staff's contacts with Blagojevich and his advisers but postponed the release until next week, following a request from prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald to delay disclosure.
Sources with knowledge of the investigation have identified Emanuel as involved in discussions with Blagojevich advisers over filling the U.S. Senate vacated by Barack Obama. Emanuel and Obama have both declined to discuss the conversations, though Obama has said he had no direct conversations with the governor over the Senate seat.
Though little else is known about conversations between the Obama camp and the Blagojevich camp, the criminal complaint against Blagojevich does make one thing clear: The governor certainly perceived Obama to be unwilling to go along with his attempts to wring a payoff out of the president-elect for appointing a favored candidate to the open Senate seat.
Blagojevich is portrayed spewing profanities on several occasions out of frustration because he believes Obama will not give him a government job or other financial reward.
At Obama's press conference, the president-elect announced his nomination of Sen. Ken Salazar (D- Colo.) to be Interior Secretary and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to be Agriculture Secretary. Both nominations had been widely reported in advance.
Comments
Enjoy that well deserved vacation, President-elect Obama and Mrs. Obama and family. President-elect Obama has his work cut out for him, thanks to the incompetent administrations of Bush-Cheney ! The choices President-elect Obama has made, in assembling his cabinet, so far, have been outstanding !! America will be better served, with his leadership, than the previous two administrations, lack thereof.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | December 17, 2008 12:40 PM
Obama's "Hope and Change" mantra has morphed into "duck, deny and delay."
Posted by: HopeNChange | December 17, 2008 12:41 PM
HopeNChange,
You need to pay attention, Fitz is the one that asked Obama to hold off, you know, the Federal prosecutor. BTW, how's your 401k doing, Bruce?
Posted by: dt | December 17, 2008 12:53 PM
http://www.gopcatholics.blogspot.com
Posted by: Peter | December 17, 2008 1:27 PM
I just find it hard to believe there could be some 21 converstations between both camps if it were understood that Obama would do NO DEALINGS at all. Plus, I am curious why Obama wouldn't want to answer questions himself rather than allow his camp to answer them while he's on vacation. There may be nothing to it but nothing sure seems doesn't seem as transparent as it could be.
Posted by: Teresa | December 17, 2008 1:56 PM
If the tapes are accurate, it sounds like the Obama camp refused to play ball with Blago re the Senate seat. The only problem I see happening with the Obama camp at this point is that if Blago made improper proposals to the Obama camp, did they have a duty to report it?
Posted by: Herbie H. | December 17, 2008 2:15 PM
Obama's "Hope and Change" mantra has morphed into "duck, deny and delay."
Posted by: HopeNChange | December 17, 2008 12:41 PM
Yes Teresa,
Obama has to be guilty of something in regards to Blago because even though he said yesterday that the Feds told him not to talk about it until next week he should have anyway. He must be guilty of something, there is no way he's going to be as great of a Prez as our hero and savior George Bush has been. If we keep making up things about Obama eventually something has to stick.
I'm going to file a court case tomorrow asking that Presidential term limits be lifted so that George Bush and Dick Cheney can lead us for the rest of time. Everyone loved those two and they love Republican leadership. The last two election are just a myth made up by the liberal media. The Dems didn't really win.
Posted by: we must stop hope and bring back despair | December 17, 2008 2:21 PM
Shouldn't the "transparent" Obama demand that the prosecutor make public ALL the tapes, and let the public read the transcripts?
That's what Obama would do, if Obama actually was transparent, and had nothing to hide.
For that matter, shouldn't the Tribune forgo its Obama-worship and demand full disclosure of the tapes? Shouldn't Obama supporters demand full disclosure?
Posted by: HopeNChange | December 17, 2008 2:47 PM
Agree-
Obama is holping for a cool down regarding Blago. but with Blago sharp lawyer and J Jackson Jr could get hotter.
Posted by: Inky | December 17, 2008 2:58 PM
For that matter, shouldn't the Tribune forgo its Obama-worship and demand full disclosure of the tapes? Shouldn't Obama supporters demand full disclosure?
Posted by: HopeNChange | December 17, 2008 2:47 PM
I agree with Teresa,
People are just letting Obama slide and it has got to stop. Over the last eight years Obama is already guilty of outing a CIA agent for political reasons, pre-emptively invading a country (Iraq) for no reason, torture in our name and tanking our economy while giving tax cuts to big oil, the wealthiest 1% and big corporations etc etc. and yet NO ONE in the media ever even tried to call him out on it. And then to make matters worse, after Obama did all of this the media sat back and elected him President?
This has got to stop. I'm going to have to call up Rush and cry again because I can't take it anymore and he's the only one who understands us.
Posted by: Deano | December 17, 2008 3:02 PM
Obama should want to come out and answer questions for himself rather than go on vacation and let his camp answer questions for him. I mean really, to have all this time when he's been just dying to set the record straight and be told he's unable to speak to these accusations had to have been beyond difficult to say the least ha.
I guess we can be thankful that vacations do come to an end and he can come back and verify what we've been told and we can here it in his own words at that point.
Posted by: Teresa | December 17, 2008 3:13 PM
That's fine HopeNChange, but they would never release that evidence until their case against Blago is complete. It is Fitzgerald's case against Blago, and Obama has no ownership of it. Do you expect the proscecutors to reveal their entire evidence before trial? Get real.
Posted by: Flo | December 17, 2008 3:17 PM
Shouldn't the "transparent" Obama demand that the prosecutor make public ALL the tapes, and let the public read the transcripts?That's what Obama would do, if Obama actually was transparent, and had nothing to hide.For that matter, shouldn't the Tribune forgo its Obama-worship and demand full disclosure of the tapes? Shouldn't Obama supporters demand full disclosure?
.
Posted by: HopeNChange | December 17, 2008 2:47 PM
.
HopeNChange/Teresa is right. The lack of proof is absolutely damning agains the Obama transition team. Obama is clearly guilty as sin. Nothing could prove this more than the absolute lack of any concrete proof that he did anything wrong. This is inargable fact, similar to the inarguable fact that Iraq had WMD's in 2003, as evidenced by the complete lack of evidence that they existed at the time.
HopeNChange/Teresa has spoken. Now the courts and Congress must act to impeach and convict Obama immediately of his clear and proven crimes. Proof is made unneccesary by the lear and blinding light of HopeNChange/Teresa's logically based guesses. I'm so glad we have her to be the calm, logical, unbiased voice of reality, showing us the truth, untainted by facts, information or evidence
Posted by: facts? we don't need no stinkin' facts! | December 17, 2008 3:17 PM
Obama should want to come out and answer questions for himself rather than go on vacation and let his camp answer questions for him. I mean really, to have all this time when he's been just dying to set the record straight and be told he's unable to speak to these accusations had to have been beyond difficult to say the least ha.
I guess we can be thankful that vacations do come to an end and he can come back and verify what we've been told and we can here it in his own words at that point.
Posted by: Teresa | December 17, 2008 3:13 PM
Wonder if Obama will have some small fry in his admirstration read off the statement and then walk away from the podium regarding this.
Posted by: Inky | December 17, 2008 3:33 PM
That is exactly what he should do, Inky; since it's just a distraction from the real business anyway; let Robert Gibbs release the report and let the media feeding frenzy have at it. Or maybe let Rahm be there too, since he seems to be the lightning rod.
Posted by: mort | December 17, 2008 3:57 PM
That is exactly what he should do, Inky; since it's just a distraction from the real business anyway; let Robert Gibbs release the report and let the media feeding frenzy have at it. Or maybe let Rahm be there too, since he seems to be the lightning rod.
Posted by: mort | December 17, 2008 3:57 PM
Don't think Rahm will rechage so quick or not at all after this mess.
Posted by: Inky | December 17, 2008 4:14 PM
Obama should hire a George Bush look-alike to come out and release the report next week and then we could all sit back have fun watching the Repubs heads explode all throughout the holiday season.
Posted by: Larry McLawabidding | December 17, 2008 4:21 PM
None of us can be sure what is clear yet, but transparency not being one of them is obvious.
Posted by: Teresa | December 17, 2008 4:36 PM
The Rove clones that post here will have their hopes dashed for a scandal just in time for Christmas. I would like to see Fitzgerald delay for an additional week so the clones will be frothing at the mouth with expectation when the absurdity of their allegations are laid bare.
Posted by: Ron M | December 17, 2008 5:24 PM
HopenChange/Teresa, be serious. Do you really expect prosecutors to release all of the evidence they have to the public during an ongoing investigation?
Posted by: Liz | December 17, 2008 5:27 PM
Posted by: Larry McLawabidding | December 17, 2008 4:21 PM
Larry,
Obama should hire a team of circus clowns, psychics and palm readers to come out and read the report next week. Watching the exploding heads of the Rush and Hannity clones on here would make for a perfect X-mas gift.
Posted by: Dean Victorino | December 17, 2008 5:52 PM
This daily handwringing by the press is immature. You guys are smart. Please tell me that once Fitzgerald said hold off on releasing your report you didn't honestly think that Obama or his staff was going to turn around and answer questions that might be directly or indirectly related to that report? This isn't rocket science. And by throwing temper tantrums everyday because Obama basically keeps telling you the same thing, is unbecoming.
The crazy thing is that if it was reverse, and Fitzgerald told them to hold off on discussing their report and they didn't to save themselves all this negative press coverage, you guys would be complaining about how they are willing to compromise an important criminal investigation just to get the stink off of their administration.
Maybe its the press that needs to look up the word for "transparent"
Posted by: TRW | December 17, 2008 7:02 PM
No LIz, but we expect better than the Obama camps BS saying they were talking to Blago then NOT TALKING TO BLAGO about the senate seat, then coming back and saying that the talks were within a reasonable range ha ha..... make up your minds, then let the public know, and let it be OBAMA COMING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC !!!!
Posted by: Teresa | December 17, 2008 7:26 PM
No LIz, but we expect better than the Obama camps BS saying they were talking to Blago then NOT TALKING TO BLAGO about the senate seat, then coming back and saying that the talks were within a reasonable range ha ha..... make up your minds, then let the public know, and let it be OBAMA COMING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC !!!!
Posted by: Teresa | December 17, 2008 7:26 PM
If Obama comes forward with a different story. will his original story be a lie?
Posted by: Inky | December 17, 2008 7:48 PM
TRW,
You are absolutely correct. It wouldn't matter what Obama says or does, the deadender type of Republicans like ("HopeNChange/Teresa") would still be on here every single day screaming that he was somehow crooked and holding out on them. These type of nuts are going to burn themselves out before Obama even takes office. I hope Obama drops all the bi-partisan stuff, Repubs like Teresa are going to be psycho's about everything anyway because they still can't get over their election thumping. I say let them sit on the sideline and yell.
Posted by: Sportscenter | December 17, 2008 9:12 PM
If Obama comes forward with a different story. will his original story be a lie?
Posted by: Inky | December 17, 2008 7:48 PM
Inkytard,
Congrats, you represt my vision of the average republican perfectly. You have nothing to say and you can't spell.
Posted by: mental | December 17, 2008 9:20 PM
...
make up your minds, then let the public know, and let it be OBAMA COMING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC !!!!
Posted by: Teresa | December 17, 2008 7:26 PM
....
The Republican party and their goofy cheerleaders (like this Teresa nut) along with their "wannagetcha" Blago-Obama blitz, their insanity over Barack's birth certificate and their planned Rove-inspired and led obstruction of Holder's appointment, at this crucial point in our country's time, will only increase the Republican parties negative ratings with the public in general. Obama's starting off with a balanced cabinet that a huge majority of the country is pleased with, and a 68% approval rating.
They (Republicans) are coming off (again) sounding like the sore losers and whiners that they are, and their negative ratings will tank even further because they still don't understand that these same exact kind of actions by them have already led to back to back electoral losses. Until someone at a high level of the GOP gets a hold of the nuts in the party and refocuses them towards things like coming up with better policies and candidates, they're going to be the minority party for a long time to come. When you have a bunch of psychopath partisans (Teresa) who spend all of their time yelling at the Dem Prez and Dems in general instead of working to make their party better then you as a party are doing nothing but spinning your wheels.
Posted by: HopeNChange | December 18, 2008 12:57 AM
Transparency is the new buzz word whenever the known facts don't meet predetermined expectations. Certainly the hatred expressed by various commentators for the individual duly elected to be our next president would seem quite transparent; however, their true intent is known only to them so they must be left to judge their own motivation. One thing that would appear clear is that the current occupant in the WH, having a 28% approval rating, certainly has lowered the bar for a showing of inprovement.
Posted by: FER | December 18, 2008 1:16 AM
Why are all of you right-wingers so worried about tranparency now? You have completely ignored the need for tranparency for the past eight years. Obama has already been 100% more transparent than the Bush administration.
Posted by: bumpa j | December 18, 2008 12:41 PM
Mr. President Obama has been 100% and has gone above and beyond. Let Obama and family be in peace and remember his grandmother that passed away before we elected him. He's human too. And don't be haters just cause he's got family from Hawaii. It's a lot further to travel, but thank God no flights towards the islands will be affected.
I'll be there too, on the beach with my mai tai.
Respect his time with his family. Ohana means a lot to Mr. Obama!
He's on Hawaiian time now, so give it a rest until he gets back to handle his business, which he has certainly done quite well!!!
Posted by: das right | December 18, 2008 11:43 PM