EXHAUSTIVE ANALYSIS: More Questions about Obama and Blagojevich in the Wake of Obama’s Latest Gambit at Transparency

Here is Obama attempting to bamboozle the public and the sycophantic and obsequious media:

“I have never spoken to the governor on this subject. I am confident that no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat. I think the materials released by the U.S. attorney reflect that fact,” Obama said at a Chicago news conference. “I’ve asked my team to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor’s office about this vacancy so that we can share them with you over the next few days.”

Obama, in other words, will ask his staff to compile documents that reveal when they established contact with Blagojevich’s office. But what about the many “advisors” and other individuals who appear to be relaying information between Blagojevich and Obama in the conversations transcribed and summarized in the criminal complaint filed by Special Agent of the FBI David Cain? I ask this question, as it is clear to me that communication between Obama and Blagojevich was occurring between third parties. While they may not embroil his immediate advisors in any scheme that involving “pay to play,” it does reveal that others who served as emissaries for Blagojevich and Obama did embroil themselves and, by implication, Blagojevich and Obama in such conversations.

Obama, according to Advisor B, one of Blagojevich’s advisors cited on page 68 of the complaint, wanted to avoid any “fingerprints” in any arrangement made with Blagojevich. And Blagojevich, according to page 57 of the complaint, sought to “conduct indirectly … a negotiation” with Obama. Nothing could be in writing, and everything must be indirect: this is why Obama’s attempt to appear transparent with a release of all direct communications with Blagojevich’s office is irrelevant. What is relevant are all the indirect communications that occurred. Who are the Advisors mentioned in the complaint? Who spoke with the SEIU representative? Why was Blagojevich on the telephone with “advisors” in Washington, DC? And who on the Obama staff was speaking to these “advisors?”

Let us review the chronology as it is outlined in the criminal complaint.

Conservation 1: November 3, 2008

• Blagojevich and Deputy Governor A discuss the possibility of an open US Senate seat the day before the Presidential election
• Blagojevich threatens to assume the seat if he is not offered anything

With whom was Deputy Governor A communicating? And is Deputy Governor A considered a member of Blagojevich’s office?

Conversation 2: November 3, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with Advisor A
• Blagojevich tells Advisor A that he is aware of media reports of Senate Candidate 1’s interest in the open US Senate seat; Blagojevich states he will only offer Valerie Jarrett the Senate seat if he gets “something real good;” he reiterates his intention to assume the seat and to drive a “hard bargain”

With whom was Advisor A communicating?

Conversation 3: November 4, 2008

• Deputy Governor A broaches the topic of the Senate seat, and he asks Blagojevich to draft of list of wants for the seat
• Blagojevich notes that nothing can be written down
• Blagojevich states he is interested in an ambassadorship

With whom was Deputy Governor A speaking? Why is Deputy Governor A asking for a list? To whom would such a list be submitted?

Conversation 4: November 4, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with John Harris, his Chief of Staff
• Blagojevich mentions the “trick” of conducting negotiations with Obama “indirectly”
• He hypothetically asks Obama what Obama is willing to offer for the seat, and he again reiterates his intention to assume the seat himself

With whom was John Harris in communication? And what is this “trick” of negotiating “indirectly?” Does this explain the presence of Washington, DC, advisors in later telephone calls?

Conversation 5: November 5, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with Deputy Governor A regarding position he can assume if he were to offer the Senate seat to Obama’s chosen candidate
• Secretary of Health and Human Services and ambassadorships are discussed; also discussed is Secretary of Energy and Blagojevich’s connection to the coal industry

Notice how the conversation with Deputy Governor A has become more specific, and notice how they discuss possibilities within the Obama administration. With whom was Deputy Governor A in contact? Was this information relayed to team Obama through an intermediary?

Conversation 6: November 5, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with John Harris
• They discuss federal positions that could be traded for the Senate seat, and Blagojevich mentions the private sector and whether Obama could put something “big” together there
• Harris mentions private foundations, and Blagojevich tells Harris to do “homework” right away on the possibility
• The Red Cross is mentioned, but Harris states that it would have to be a private foundation under the influence of a President Obama

Blagojevich knows he is the subject of a federal probe, and he speaks in code as a result. What “homework” was assigned to Harris? To whom was Harris relaying this information about federal positions and private foundation positions that could be traded for the Senate seat? And why did Harris mention that any private foundation would have to be under the influence of a President Obama? With whom did Harris do his homework?

Conversation 7: November 5, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with Harris and with Deputy Governor A
• They discuss potential private foundations heavily dependent on federal aid, as this would place it under the influence of Obama

With whom did Harris and Deputy Governor A speak on November 5? How did they determine that a private foundation would be an option for Blagojevich?

Conversation 8: November 5, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks to Advisor A
• Blagojevich mentions how Obama could remove someone from the Board of a private foundation and appoint Blagojevich
• Blagojevich voices demands for something for the seat, and he reiterates an intention to appoint himself to the seat

With whom is Advisor A in contact? To whom is Advisor A relaying information about foundations and about Blagojevich’s various threats?

Conversation 9: November 6, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with Spokesman
• Blagojevich instructs Spokesman to leak information to the Chicago Sun-Times about Senate Candidate 2, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Blagojevich’s interest in Senate Candidate 2, which the Chicago Sun-Times published
• Blagojevich instructed Spokesman to leak such information, as he desired to communicate dissatisfaction to the Obama campaign about Valerie Jarrett and what he thought they were offering for her appointment

What prompted Blagojevich to send a threat to the Obama campaign through print media? Who communicated that information to Blagojevich? How did Blagojevich know he had to threaten the Obama team with a Madigan appointment if they were not in contact either directly or indirectly? And why does the Obama campaign deploy Blagojevich’s strategy of communication through the media later? Did the Obama campaign know Blagojevich was hedging his bets with the article in the Chicago Sun-Times? And if they knew, how did they know? Who communicated that information to them?

Conversation 10: November 7, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with Advisor A
• Blagojevich tells Advisor A he will offer the seat to Jarrett if he is appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services

To whom did Advisor A communicate Blagojevich’s offer? With whom is Advisor A in contact? And why was this offer made after the column was printed? Did Blagojevich print the article and then submit the offer in order to pressure the Obama campaign? And if so, who relayed the offer to the Obama campaign?

Conversation 11: November 7, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with Harris and Advisor B, a Washington, DC, consultant
• Blagojevich indicates that he will offer Jarrett the Senate seat if he is appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services, but Harris notes that any deal cannot appear to be a quid pro quo
• Blagojevich notes his financial situation, and Harris states that “they” are considering it
• Blagojevich, Advisor B and Harris then discuss the possibility of a three way deal involving Blagojevich, Obama and “Change to Win,” an organization tied to SEIU (Service Employees International Union)
• Harris mentions how such a deal would conceal a quid pro quo
• Advisor B, who is in DC, is pleased with the notion of a three way deal, and he states that Obama should be leveraged with this deal, as it is better than Madigan as Senator and Blagojevich continuing as Governor

Notice that the notion of a Cabinet position has been abandoned. Who indicated that Obama did not want Blagojevich in the Cabinet? How did Harris know that there were concerns about the appearance of quid pro quo, of “pay to play?” And how does Advisor B in DC intend to leverage Obama? With whom is DC Advisor B in contact? Also notice how much more elaborate the negotiations over a Jarrett appointment are becoming. Clearly there is a line of communication, even if it is indirect.

Conversation 12: November 8, 2008

• Blagojevich and Harris speak
• Discussed is the potential of a financial benefit for Blagojevich’s wife, who he believes can work in New York or DC with her Series 7 license
• An interim position at Change to Win for Blagojevich’s wife is also discussed

Notice that Blagojevich is upping the ante here. Who communicated this to the Obama campaign? With whom is Harris in contact?

Conversation 13: November 10, 2008

• Blagojevich, his wife, Harris, Governor General Counsel and various Washington, DC, advisors, including Advisor B, speak on a conference call
• Blagojevich mentions his connections in Obama’s teams, and he asks how that can be parlayed into financial and political benefits for him and his wife
• Blagojevich mentions how he can assume the Senate seat in order to avoid impeachment in Illinois, and he agrees that Obama will not appoint him to a Cabinet position, as he is too controversial
• Blagojevich asks what he can obtain for the Senate seat, and he mentions that Governor General Counsel believes Blagojevich can be appointed to a private sector Board in exchange for appointing Jarrett to the Senate, but it would have to be a Board not directly connected to Obama
• Blagojevich’s wife also mentions her desire to be appointed to a Board, and Blagojevich mentions his wife’s experience and Series 7 license
• Blagojevich mentions that he does not want to be Governor anymore
• Blagojevich complains that the advisors on the phone are telling him that he must “suck it up” for another two years
• Blagojevich complains that he will receive nothing in return for appointing Jarrett, and he threatens to appoint Senate Candidate 4, one of the three Deputy Governors of Illinois, in retaliation
• Blagojevich mentions how his wife is more qualified to sit on corporate boards than a “specifically named individual,” who is most probably Michelle Obama
• Harris and Blagojevich remind advisors of the problem of Blagojevich’s financial security, and Blagojevich indicates that without something in return he will not appoint Jarrett
• Harris broaches the three way deal with Obama, Blagojevich and the SEIU involving “Change to Win;” such a deal will occur in two years
• A Blagojevich advisor admonishes Blagojevich to be “leery” of promises for events to occur to two years from now
• Blagojevich then discusses other manners whereby he can earn money

During this conference call with Washington, DC, advisors and Blagojevich’s inner circle, it becomes clear that Blagojevich’s attempt to parlay the Jarrett appointment for a position for him and his wife has deteriorated: he learns he is too controversial; he learns that Obama’s team has no intention to give him anything; he learns that they want him to complete the final two years of his term as Governor; and he realizes that any attempt to gain anything by a Jarrett appointment will result in nothing. How did he and the advisors on the telephone learn this? Who communicated the Obama team’s intention not to appoint Blagojevich to corporate boards to the Obama’s Cabinet to the Washington, DC, advisors on the call? But notice the SEIU deal with “Change to Win” is still an option. Obama, it seems, does not want to consider the other options, as he and his team hope to avoid the appearance of quid pro quo. But how was this communicated to the DC advisors on the telephone with Blagojevich? Who were the intermediaries, and how was this knowledge disseminated?

Conversation 14: November 10, 2008

• Blagojevich and Advisor A discuss the open Senate seat
• Blagojevich asks if Obama could appoint his wife to a Board
• If Obama cannot or will not appoint Blagojevich’s wife to a corporate Board, then Blagojevich will appoint Jesse Jackson, Jr. to the Senate seat

Here it is clear that Blagojevich and his advisor have learned that the Obama campaign will not appoint Blagojevich to anything. Here they are determining whether or not the wife can be appointed to the position. But notice that although Blagojevich will not receive any direct financial benefit, his wife can. Also notice that the Obama campaign still desires Jarrett to hold the Senate seat. This explains why there are all these conversations and negotiations. It also explains why Blagojevich exploded during Conversation 13: he knows they want the seat for Jarrett, but they are not willing to offer what he wants. Instead, they think they can ask him to wait two years. That is still a promise, however.

Conversation 15: November 10, 2008

• Blagojevich and Advisor A discuss the open Senate seat again
• Blagojevich asks Advisor A to leak to the Chicago Sun-Times that he is seriously considering Jesse Jackson, Jr., for the open Senate seat
• Blagojevich considers this to be another threat to the Obama campaign, who still desires Jarrett
• It is clear that Blagojevich has not intention of selection Jackson; he simply hopes to apply pressure to the Obama campaign

Notice that after negotiations with Obama through various advisors and intermediaries disintegrates, Blagojevich resorts to planting an article in the Chicago Sun-Times in order to compel the Obama team to reconsider their terms. How did Blagojevich and his advisors learn that Obama and his team refused to meet Blagojevich’s terms? Who communicated this? And what did the Obama campaign intend to offer Blagojevich in two years? What was the line of communication between advisors on the call in DC and Obama’s team?

Conversation 16: November 11, 2008

• Blagojevich and John Harris discuss the open Senate seat
• Blagojevich suggests the creations of a 501(c)(4) he could run that would be funded by Warren Buffett or other wealthy Obama allies
• Blagojevich also mentions that he could appoint Senate Candidate 4, Illinois Deputy Governor Louanner Peters, who will vacate it if Blagojevich is impeached and in need of a political office
• Blagojevich knows Obama will not offer him what he wants in exchange for appointing Jarrett

Blagojevich apparently knows Obama will not consider his terms, which explains why he is discussing these other options with his Chief of Staff. But Blagojevich still believes there is room for negotiation. How did Blagojevich know Obama refused to consider his terms? Who communicated this to the advisors who speak with Blagojevich? Who relayed this information between Blagojevich and Obama?

Conversation 17: November 11, 2008

• Blagojevich and Advisor A discuss the open Senate seat
• Advisor A mentions how he is attempting to leak the story about Jesse Jackson, Jr., to the Chicago Sun-Times, and Blagojevich asks about the viability of the creation of a 501(c)(4) to be bankrolled by wealthy Obama allies
• Blagojevich mentions how he could run such an organization, and he mentions how Senate Candidate 6, an Illinois millionaire who may be Blair Hull, can bankroll the organization, but Advisor A explains how it would be difficult for Blagojevich to appoint Senate Candidate 6 to the open seat
• Blagojevich explains how Senate Candidate 6 is better than receiving nothing for selecting Valerie Jarrett, and he asks Advisor A to locate someone who could broach the possibility of bankrolling a 501(c)(4) with Senate Candidate 6

Blagojevich at this point has learned that the Obama campaign will not consider his terms, as they believe he should wait two years. Again, there was a network of communication between the people surrounding Blagojevich and those surrounding Obama. But notice that Blagojevich is now pursuing alternatives. Apparently someone connected to Obama made it very clear to someone connected to Blagojevich that Obama will only appoint Blagojevich to a Board to the Cabinet after Blagojevich finishes his term. But at this point the Obama campaign still believes they can convince Blagojevich to select Jarrett.

Conversation 18: November 12, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with John Harris
• Blagojevich and Harris learn through CNN that Jarrett has withdrawn her name from consideration for the US Senate seat
• Harris interprets it as a tactic of the Obama team
• Blagojevich broaches the topic of a 501(c)(4) again, and he mentions how Obama and allies can fund it while he is still Governor and Jarrett is Senator; Blagojevich also mentions that Senate Candidate 6 can help bankroll the issues advocacy group to be led by Blagojevich
• They agree this is easier for Obama than for Obama to appoint Blagojevich to a position

Obviously Team Obama learned that Blagojevich was upset and willing to consider other candidates for the open Senate seat. Why else did they leak a story to one of their stenographers at CNN? But how did they learn this? Who communicated Blagojevich’s refusal to wait for two years to Obama and his team? And notice how Blagojevich and Harris view the leaked news report as a tactic: they still believe they can negotiate with Obama, and they still believe a 501(c)(4) can be created. All this is indirect communication at its best.

Conversation 19: November 12, 2008

• Blagojevich discusses the open Senate seat with Advisor B
• Blagojevich discusses the option of a 501(c)(4) with Advisor B, who says the “Change for Win” option is better, for from Obama’s perspective, there would be fewer “fingerprints” of Obama’s involvement
• Advisor B mentions that “Change for Win” is a better option, as there will not be stories in four years of how Obama bought Blagojevich off
• Blagojevich mentions how a 501(c)(4) will exist in two years, while “Change to Win” may not

Harris was right: the leaked CNN story was a tactic. Here is Blagojevich on the phone with one of his DC contacts, who mentions an anxiety of “fingerprints” and future news stories. The Obama campaign wants to strike a deal with Blagojevich, but they do not want direct involvement. This is why they think a “Change to Win” position in two years is favorable. But now Blagojevich is negotiating for a 501(c)(4). Negotiations are still occurring, and there is still a line of communication between Obama and Blagojevich.

Conversation 20: November 12, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with a different DC advisor about the open Senate seat
• Blagojevich mentions the 501(c)(4), but the advisor in DC reiterates the reason why “Change to Win” is more desirable: it is one step removed from the President-elect

Negotiations are still occurring, and the Obama campaign seems to think the “Change to Win” position in two years is the best option, as Obama wants to be nowhere near Blagojevich. Notice that someone else in DC spoke with Blagojevich about this option in the same day. Who was speaking to whom? How was this information disseminated from Obama to Blagojevich and vice versa?

Conversation 21: November 12, 2008

• Blagojevich speaks with an SEIU official, someone named Balanoff, who was in DC, about the open Senate seat
• SEIU official met with Blagojevich the previous week, and Blagojevich understood Stern was an emissary of Jarrett
• Blagojevich tells Balanoff he heard Obama was considering candidates other than Jarrett for the open seat, and Balanoff states he would discuss this with Jarrett
• Blagojevich mentions the 501(c)(4) advocacy group option to Balanoff, and he mentions how that advocacy group could assist Jarrett
• Balanoff says he will “put that flag up and see where it goes”

Someone informed Blagojevich that Obama was now considering different candidates. How did he learn his, and who communicated it? What is the line of communication between Obama and Blagojevich? And what is the role of Balanoff? Was Balanoff communicating information from Blagojevich to Jarrett, who then spoke with Obama? Jarrett is, after all, Co-Chair of the Obama Transition Team. While the contact is not direct, it was only mediated by one third party. Notice Balanoff was in DC when this conversation occurred

Conversation 22: November 12, 2008

• Blagojevich and Advisor B discuss the open Senate seat
• Blagojevich tells Advisor B that he asked Stern to broach the topic of a 501(c)(4) with Jarrett, Co-Chair of the Obama Transition Team

Conversation 23: November 12, 2008

• Blagojevich and Harris discuss the open Senate seat
• Blagojevich mentions how he will decide how he will select a candidate for the Senate seat, and he mentions his legal situation as the most important variable
• Harris reminds him that his legal situation is the hardest one to satisfy, and Blagojevich claims it can be satisfied if he appoints himself to the seat

It is becoming increasingly clear that Blagojevich’s legal situation is the reason Obama is chary to appoint him to a Board immediately. Here it seems Blagojevich is realizing negotiations with Obama through Jarrett and through other advisors will yield nothing, unless, of course, he is willing to wait two years for a position on “Change to Win.”

Conversation 24: November 13, 2008

• Blagojevich and Harris discuss the open Senate seat
• Blagojevich tells Harris he wants to speak directly to “President-elect Advisor” about the 501(c)(4) option and how it could be bankrolled
• Blagojevich says he wants “President-elect Advisor” to receive word of the 501(c)(4) option on that day, for when “President-elect Advisor” asks about the open fifth Congressional district Seat, it will be in the advisor’s mind
• Blagojevich may have the power to appoint a Representative to Illinois’s fifth Congressional district seat, which was previously occupied by Rahm Emanuel

Here Blagojevich is going for broke, and he believes the 501(c)(4) option in exchange for Jarrett can occur if he broaches the topic of the open fifth Congressional district seat. But Blagojevich wants it mention in a manner in which it is not connected to the Senate seat. I guess this is more indirect communication and negotiation. He wants to speak to the advisor directly, and he wants to speak to the advisor now. Who is this advisor? Some assume it is Rahm Emanuel, as Rahm Emanuel occupied the fifth Congressional Seat before becoming a member of the Obama Transition Team.

Conversation 25: November 13, 2008

• Blagojevich and Advisor A discuss open Senate seat
• Blagojevich mentions how he hopes the 501(c)(4) is in the head of the “President-elect Advisor,” but he hopes it is implanted in that person’s mind in a manner in which it is not connected to the open Senate seat or the open House seat
• When asked by Advisor A if it is, Blagojevich responds, “it’s unsaid. It’s unsaid.”

Blagojevich seems to think that if “President-elect Advisor” hears of the 501(c)(4) proposal, he or she may consider it. Again, Blagojevich is going for broke, and he thinks someone in the inner sanctum of Obama can be swayed. But notice that he does not want it mentioned in relation to the open Senate and House seats. This is indirect communication, although all the involved parties will know, as this has been relayed through intermediaries.

Conversation 26: November 13, 2008

• Blagojevich and Advisor A discuss open Senate seat
• Blagojevich asks Advisor A to contact Individual A and ask Individual A to contact “President-elect Advisor” about the 501(c)(4)
• Advisor A asks if it should be mentioned outside of the open Senate and House seats, and Blagojevich says yes
• Advisor A asks if Blagojevich wants Individual A to contact “President-elect Advisor” as Blagojevich thinks there is still “life” in Valerie Jarrett
• Blagojevich thinks there is still life in Jarrett, but he also thinks there are other options

Here it is clear that contacting “President-elect Advisor” with the 501(c)(4) option is the final gambit. And notice that they are in contact with people who can reach advisors of Obama. But Blagojevich wanted to ensure a specific advisor knew of the 501(c)(4) option. Apparently that advisor has a vested interest in the fifth Congressional district seat.

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The twenty-six conversations summarized in the criminal complaint reveal that Blagojevich, Obama and their surrogates were communicating and negotiating through an elaborate network of advisors, friends and allies. Notice how the recorded conversations reveal that new terms and offers were submitted by each party as time passed, and notice how a line of communication was established between Blagojevich, Balanoff and Jarrett, who is Co-Chair of the Obama Transition Team. Also interesting is how both parties responded to each others’ attempts to parlay their terms through media contacts. Communication occurred, and at one point it was almost direct. Blagojevich, we notice, instructed Balanoff to discuss the 501(c)(4) option with Jarrett, Co-Chair of the Obama Transition Team who is also Senate Candidate 1.

Obama can claim he and his team were not in direct contact with Blagojevich’s office. That is not the problem, however. The problem is that an indirect line of communication was created as a result of their knowledge of Blagojevich’s legal problems. All involved parties knew Blagojevich was a target of a federal probe, but the Obama team still wanted to negotiate with him over the open Senate seat to which they had hoped to appoint Valerie Jarrett. There was communication, and it appears that the offer of a position at “Change to Win” in 2010 was made. Is that “pay to play”? I certainly think so, just as I believe that the criminal complaint filed by FBI Special Agent Cain reveals that Obama and Blagojevich were communicating, even if that communication lacks wet fingerprints. The fingerprints may have evaporated, but the traces still remain. Indeed, Obama or someone close to him spoke with Blagojevich about the Senate appointment.