That Only One Guy Is Saying It Is Part of the Problem Why Impeachment Is So Slow
In a rare firsthand account of how Mr. Blagojevich, a two-term Democrat, went about the selection process, an Illinois state senator said in an interview that he had felt pressured to respond to the governor’s interest in him with a quid pro quo agreement and has withdrawn his name because of increasing wariness about the process.
The state senator, Kwame Raoul, who represents the South Side of Chicago, offered few details of his interaction with the governor’s office but said he received a call about a month ago confirming that he was under consideration. Soon afterward, however, Mr. Raoul said he ran head-on into another message: that the governor was looking for a candidate who offered something of tangible value to him.
“It was open knowledge among people in and around Springfield,” Mr. Raoul said. “Legislators and lobbyists alike openly talked about the fact that the governor would want to appoint somebody who would benefit him. I can firmly say that I’ve had these conversations, that I’ve spoken with both legislators and lobbyists who felt that that would be the consideration in his appointment.”
Mr. Raoul would not specifically say what the content of the conversations were, or whom they were with, except that the initial inquiry from the governor’s office was made by Victor Roberson, deputy director for intergovernmental affairs. Interest in his candidacy died on both sides, Mr. Raoul said, adding, “Obviously, the perception was that I didn’t have anything to give other than my service.”
I don’t think most of us were cynical enought to realize how craven Blagojevich was is, but these discussions were taking place about his way of operating in late 2005 and early 2006. Kwame only took office in 2005. He’s just delivering the message many of us thought we were delivering then. Maybe we weren’t clear enough–I certainly thought I was at the time and I know others were. The degree is surprising now that we see the transcripts, but state legislators, press, and even lobbyists have pointed out what was happening.
UPDATE: Rich has more and I apparently read the article incorrectly in state of coughing fits. But essentially Kwame is saying that everyone knew Blagojevich wanted political benefit and that was commonly known.
December 13th, 2008 at
Kwame really stretched the meaning of “benefit.” It wasn’t open knowledge that RRB wanted bribes.
And did Raoul know what Vic Roberson wanted at that meeting, or is he just assuming after the fact?
I had literally dozens of conversations with Kwame during this time period, and so did a lot of people I know. I never heard one mention from him that the shakedown was on.