Obama knew? Blago trial testimony.

[applecorped]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/2427402,CST-NWS-BLAGO24.article

"A top aide to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he believed Barack Obama knew of Blagojevich's plot to win himself a presidential Cabinet post in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate. John Harris, Blagojevich's former chief of staff, testified Wednesday in the former governor's corruption trial that three days after the Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election, the ex-governor told Harris he felt confident Obama knew he wanted to swap perks.


"The president understands that the governor would be willing to make the appointment of Valerie Jarrett as long as he gets what he's asked for. . . . The governor gets the Cabinet appointment he's asked for," Harris said, explaining a recorded call.
Harris said Blagojevich came away believing Obama knew what he wanted after having a conversation with a local union representative, who in turn spoke with labor leader Tom Balanoff, with whom Blagojevich met to discuss a Jarrett appointment. Jarrett, now a White House adviser, was seeking the appointment to Obama's Senate seat.
Defense lawyers say Harris' testimony contradicts the government's previous public statements that Obama knew nothing about deal-making involving the Senate seat appointment."




Poor John Harris.

 

[MikeMangum]

Here comes the excommunication; ask Hitchens what response he got when he testified in the Lewinsky matter. He was cast out from among the faithful and called a "snitch".

 

[Upchurch]

"A top aide to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he believed Barack Obama knew of Blagojevich's plot to win himself a presidential Cabinet post in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate. John Harris, Blagojevich's former chief of staff, testified Wednesday in the former governor's corruption trial that three days after the Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election, the ex-governor told Harris he felt confident Obama knew he wanted to swap perks.


"The president understands that the governor would be willing to make the appointment of Valerie Jarrett as long as he gets what he's asked for. . . . The governor gets the Cabinet appointment he's asked for," Harris said, explaining a recorded call.
Harris said Blagojevich came away believing Obama knew what he wanted after having a conversation with a local union representative, who in turn spoke with labor leader Tom Balanoff, with whom Blagojevich met to discuss a Jarrett appointment. Jarrett, now a White House adviser, was seeking the appointment to Obama's Senate seat.

Note the weasel words and lack of any actual evidence.

Here comes the excommunication

Yeah, 'cause the only reason to question the validity of this testimony is because it makes Obama look bad.

 

[Aoidoi]

An aide testifying about what Blago thought he knew... yeah, I think there's plenty of room there for Obama to not have known details and Blago to have been blowing smoke. He was certainly pissed enough that he was only offered "appreciation" for the appointment to imply he was incorrect in his belief.

Having the President of the United States offer his appreciation seems like a fairly big deal to me, but apparently Blago had to have things spelled out for him, which explains a lot.