Corruption in Chicago? I Don't Believe It
It's the news of the hour. TV's most photogenic US Attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, has arrested the governor of Illinois for, among other things, trying to "sell" the U.S. Senate seat vacated by (technically-not-yet)-President-Elect Barack Obama.
(Actually, there's more to the indictment. But let's stick with the sexy stuff.)
In exchange for appointing any particular individual, Governor Blagojevich attempted to negotiate any of the following: (a) a high-paying job for himself or his wife at a union-affiliated organization; (b) a highly-paying corporate board member position for his wife; (c) an up-front grant of campaign funds; or (d) a cabinet or ambassadorial position for himself. (from HuffPo).
In other words, it was mostly about the benjamins. And we're not talking McCain or Kerry money. (You have to marry rich for that.) Blagojevich was looking for midlevel Biglaw associate money: the ability to earn $250k-300k annually.
Here's my thought. Some of these demands (e.g., the cash payment) are clearly graft. A few of the others, though--particularly the demand that the appointee help fund-raise--sound like the quid-pro-quo of politics, except taken to an unreasonable (i.e., clearly criminal) degree.
To put it another way: Blagojevich had every right to say "F-ck Obama" (that's in the indictment!) and appoint himself to the vacant seat. There's no reason for Obama's designee to get any particular consideration. Clearly, their's an inherent promise here: appoint my chosen successor, and I'll campaign in your state, or invite you on Air Force One, or otherwise give you national prominence. The difference here is that Blagojevich attempted to monetize the transaction, in a particularly transparent way.
(Actually, there's more to the indictment. But let's stick with the sexy stuff.)
In exchange for appointing any particular individual, Governor Blagojevich attempted to negotiate any of the following: (a) a high-paying job for himself or his wife at a union-affiliated organization; (b) a highly-paying corporate board member position for his wife; (c) an up-front grant of campaign funds; or (d) a cabinet or ambassadorial position for himself. (from HuffPo).
In other words, it was mostly about the benjamins. And we're not talking McCain or Kerry money. (You have to marry rich for that.) Blagojevich was looking for midlevel Biglaw associate money: the ability to earn $250k-300k annually.
Here's my thought. Some of these demands (e.g., the cash payment) are clearly graft. A few of the others, though--particularly the demand that the appointee help fund-raise--sound like the quid-pro-quo of politics, except taken to an unreasonable (i.e., clearly criminal) degree.
To put it another way: Blagojevich had every right to say "F-ck Obama" (that's in the indictment!) and appoint himself to the vacant seat. There's no reason for Obama's designee to get any particular consideration. Clearly, their's an inherent promise here: appoint my chosen successor, and I'll campaign in your state, or invite you on Air Force One, or otherwise give you national prominence. The difference here is that Blagojevich attempted to monetize the transaction, in a particularly transparent way.
posted by Carbolic at 10:29 AM
6 Comments:
I think the headline to this article says it all.
Money quote:
Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, characterized Illinois' place in the pantheon of political corruption.
"If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor," Grant said. "Even the most cynical agents in our office were shocked."
Correction: Obama's Senate seat is "technically" vacated, seeing as how he formally resigned it effective Nov. 16: “To the President of the Senate: This letter is to inform you that I resign from the United States Senate effective November 16, 2008, in order to prepare for my duties as President of the United States.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XL_5hlRZkc
NYTs: "according to the affidavit, Mr. Blagojevich discussed whether he could strip a Chicago children’s hospital of $8 million in state money after a hospital executive declined to make a $50,000 contribution."
He even hates children and small animals!
Ugh. I can't stand it when they do that.
Too bad that post got removed. I was really looking for a way to make some money. Online.
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