Rendell slams Obama over Blago

[Thrill]

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell today criticized Barack Obama for not being more upfront about the Illinois corruption scandal.
Now, he said, the story will continue to dominate the media’s attention.

“They have never been in an executive position before,” Rendell said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “The rule of thumb is whatever you did, say it and get it over with and make it a one-day story as opposed to a three-day story. Politicians are always misjudging the intelligence of the American people.”

The criminal complaint essentially exonerates Obama and his staff, Rendell said, because it quotes Blagojevich as saying the president-elect would offer him nothing but appreciation for appointing Obama confidant Valerie Jarrett to the position.

The criminal complaint exonerates Obama and his staff because it quotes Blagojevich as saying the president-elect would offer him nothing but appreciation for appointing Obama confidant Valerie Jarrett to the position, Rendell said.

“Blagojevich curses them out,” Rendell said. “It is easy just say, ‘Hey folks here it is, of course we had contact.'

"But they made the mistake of making it a four or five or six day story.”

Obama issued a tepid statement on the first day of the scandal, issued a call through his spokesman for the governor’s resignation on the second day, and pledged Thursday to release details his staff’s contact with Blagojevich’s office in the coming days.

Emanuel turned testy and declined to talk with a reporter who approached him Thursday at Chicago City Hall, where he was watching his children perform in a concert. The Chicago Sun-Times reporter pressed him to comment about whether he was the emissary named in the criminal complaint.

“You’re wasting your time,” Emanuel said. “I’m not going to say a word to you. I’m going to do this with my children. Don’t do that. I’m a father. I have two kids. I’m not going to do it.”

When pressed for comment, he said, “I’m not as capable as you. I’m going to be a father. I’m allowed to be a father,” and he pushed the reporter’s digital recorder away.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16520.html

Don't you just love Democrats?

[TwilightGardener]

1. Can't wait until Fast Eddie's administration comes under a microscope--

I'll bet all sorts of ugly things are crawling around under that rock. PA politics are not exactly clean.

[Jennicut]

6. He needs to be wiretapped too.What a jerk. First the Janet Napolitano comment

and now this. Eddie, you are a jerk.

[TwilightGardener]

7. He is a jerk. Perfect word for him.

[sharp_stick]

2. Ed Rendell just needs to STFU

what the hell is it to PA what goes on in Ohio. This guy has been a royal pain in the ass ever since Obama won the nomination.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. This Rendell guy's likeability is starting to wear thin.

What's with him lately?

[AllentownJake]

10. Lately?

:rofl:

Where have you been.

[City Lights]

4. Re: Rahm...WGN is reporting that he has been "uncharistically silent" about

the Blago stuff based on his refusal to answer questions at his kids' concert, insinuating that he's hiding something.

I don't just love Democrats, I just love the media too! x(

[ErinBerin84]

5. why does Ed Rendell feel like anyone cares about his

track record of offensive opinions?

[ClarkUSA]

8. Gee, where was he during the Monica Lewinsky affair? We coulda really used his wisdom then...

:eyes:

[AllentownJake]

9. Hey Rendell two words for you

John Street.

[LynneSin]

16. That's actually not fair - Rendall and Street couldn't stand each other

I mean I'm not defending Fast Eddie but that was obvious during Rendall's tenure as Philly's mayor.

[AllentownJake]

20. Yet Rendell still endorsed him for mayor twice

So its the same standard for Obama.

[3dogday]

39. I voted Repug twice in my lifetime

I voted twice for Sam Katz because Street was just not an option for me.

Philly politics are ugly.

Rendell was a pretty good mayor by our admittedly low standards in fitness for city government

[skeewee08]

11. Didn't Obama say yesterday that his staff is gathering

information to see if any contact was made /when made. and by whom , let him gather his information first then he will put it to rest.

[Mojorabbit]

29. I think Rendell is right

It should have been put to rest immediately and been a non story. It should have taken all of 24 hours for the Obama team to find out if anyone had spoken to the gov. He should have said of course we gave our recommendations to the gov and acted like it was as normal as pie which it was. The longer it drags on the worse for everyone involved. Just my opinion.

[yodermon]

12. Isn't there the possibility that some in the Obama camp might have to testify?

Especially if Rahm (or whomever) actually *blew the whistle* on Blagojevich?
Wouldn't this be reason enough to hedge on public statements?

[ksimons]

13. K&R

He's probably right that the more folks deny, the more room you give the press to stretch the story. Reminds me of Hillary and the Bosnia trip - too much information that can be verified spills form folks lips, and then they act surprised when an opposite story surfaces. Scary actually.

[Vinca]

14. Maybe Fitz has told the Obama team to stay quiet.

Rendell should do the world a favor and STFU.

[liskddksil]

15. This from the guy

who refused money to PA cities whose mayors did not fall in line with Hillary. He's one to talk.

[Jennicut]

19. And who wanted "street money" from Obama to pay workers to get out the vote in PA

Street money is essentially a bribe.

[AllentownJake]

22. I'm still mad I didn't get my walking around money

walking around is the term we use here :-)

[BeFree]

17. Screw that

Rendell is correct. But Obama is handling this as best he can. He has a million things on his plate and this matter is nothing. What Obama said was that he didn't talk to Blago and if his staff did he would get to the bottom of it asap. Which means one day sooner or later.

Frankly Brent, your divisive tone is what makes me not love some 'supposed' Democrats who post crap on message boards.

[AndrewP]

18. I wish this guy would shut up

[firedupdem]

21. He needs to shut his fat face!

Jealous jerk always clamoring for attention! And I don't blame Rahm...he's at his kids play! Leave him the fuck alone!

[AtomicKitten]

23. Going off half-cocked without all the facts is a much better strategy, Ed. Not.

Get used to the measured response of a thinking man in charge for a change.

[JVS]

24. Oh good lord. I'm not going to get into a primary rehash, but Ed has been known to be a little...

less than on the square as far as his political arm twisting goes.

[Cha]

26. So he's a

hypocrite?

[democrattotheend]

25. Hate to say it, but I think he's right

And I don't mind this getting out there, because if this makes news then it reiterates the point that Obama and his staff are not suspected of any wrongdoing whatsoever.

If the revelation that Rahm gave Blago a list of acceptable Senate candidates is true, why didn't they just get that out there 3 days ago? There's nothing wrong with that but now the media is going to make a big deal about the fact that Obama did not disclose it right away.

[FVZA_Colonel]

27. It is about media perception and spin.

I can only hope enough sources go beyond and report, hey, there's no evidence at all of any wrongdoing, but I'm not so sure that'll happen.

[Vattel]

28. I suspect that Obama is trying to get all the relevant facts

together so he can release them all at once without needing to worry that other things will surface later on. Obama seems to be disciplined and systematic and careful and thorough in his approach to most anything, which is one of the reasons I am hopeful about his presidemcy. I guess I do agree with Rendell that Obama should have emphasized a little more that quite naturally his staff did have discussions of the senate seat with Blago--just to preempt some of the suggestions that any such discussion makes Obama part of the scandal.

[makinguphumans]

32. Yes, Ed is right on this one. Waiting 3 days was not cool.

[happychatter]

33. BS - every word obama speaks generates 36 hours of non-stop media

if he mis-speaks even one finely nuanced IOTA

they're up his ass with a mag light and a magnifying glass looking for ANYTHING that can be construed as an "inconsistency."

He needs to say no more than he needs to say, period

Of course, perhaps if he'd had YOU on his staff, he'd be doing SO much better.

[democrattotheend]

36. Whoa, chill out

I'm a huge Obama supporter and I've been defending him on a lot of blogs against people who think he was involved. I just think that tactically they might have handled this a little better. If I were on his staff (and I have applied to be, though it's a long shot) and he asked for my advice I'd have advised him to get out there earlier with anything like the contacts Rahm is believed to have had with the governor which were totally legal and kosher but look less so when they are revealed 3 days later.

[grantcart]

30. sage advice from "Mr. smooth".

[Bucky]

31. Does Rendel ever stop positioning himself?

I have a grudging admiration for the man--he's a really skilled politician.

But honestly, he just seems to want to be the final word on everything.

[happychatter]

34. I haven't read every response - in case anyone hasn't mentioned it yet

that dirtbag needs to STFU

[TheWraith]

35. Ed Rendell is an asshole, and one who delights in attacking Obama. nt

[FLAprogressive]

37. Brings me back to the primaries....when Rendell was trashing Obama at every opportunity nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

38. STFU Ed.

[Median Democrat]

40. So, Did Rendell Know The Microphone Was On?

[Hippo_Tron]

41. Rendell, are you fucking kidding me??

1) Fitzgerald said "The President-elect is not implicated in any way." The man was tapping the Governor's phones for fuck's sake. If Obama were involved there would be tapes.

2) If there were seriously any relationship between Blagojevich and Obama don't you think the McCain campaign would've found out about it and used it? No Blagojevich had not yet tried to sell Obama's senate seat but he was under investigation and had a 13 percent approval rating.

Obama is basically a fucking boy scout by political standards. People can't seem to get that through their heads.

[RamboLiberal]

42. STFU Fast Eddie - you were the one who was mad

along with Nutter that Obama refused to give out "street money" in PA. Being a resident I wonder what they would find if they wiretapped you. You may not be as crooked as Blago, but you're not exactly an angel.

[SoCalDem]

43. HRC must have promised him the vice presidency..

He's been snarky to & about Obama since...forever.. I guess since he did not get the veep spot, he's stuck in PA forever:(