Tuesday, May 25, 2010
FI Award #2
FI Award* number two goes to Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), former US Navy Admiral and contender for the Senate seat to be vacated by "true blue" Arlen Specter at the end of the current term, for his stellar performance on Meet the Press" last Sunday.
Several months ago, Sestak revealed that someone in the Obama White House had offered him a job, intimating the offer was conditional on Sestak withdrawing from the Dem. primary against the aforementioned exemplar of honorable behavior, Sen. Specter. When asked for clarification, Sestak has consistently stonewalled. Any politician worth his stripes would have realized that it is now time to shut up, but on Sunday, Sestak brought the old news back to the front burner by repeating his claim before stonewalling again. But don't rely on that right wing tool Fox News--the LA Times has a lot to say about it as well (in an unexpectedly snarky piece), and even presents a transcript of the conversation. That Sestak permitted this issue to bubble up again suggests that he just might not be ready for prime time, and that's why he's FI #2.
The White House, of course, has joined Sestak in the "see no evil, hear no evil" club (too late for "speak no evil"). According to WH Press Secretary Robert Gibbs (Obama's answer to "Baghdad Bob," "[L]awyers in the White House and others have looked into conversations that were had with Congressman Sestak. And nothing inappropriate happened." Hmmm. Fox, meet henhouse.
By the way, it is a crime under 18 USC Sec. 600 for a government official to offer a job to a candidate to induce that candidate to withdraw from an election. Here's the entire text of that law:
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) is trying to get to the bottom of this, but I don't expect he'll get anywhere unless some "deep throat" comes forward, or unless the White House offers up some lamb for sacrifice.
Hope and Change!
* For explanation of the FI Award, go here.
Several months ago, Sestak revealed that someone in the Obama White House had offered him a job, intimating the offer was conditional on Sestak withdrawing from the Dem. primary against the aforementioned exemplar of honorable behavior, Sen. Specter. When asked for clarification, Sestak has consistently stonewalled. Any politician worth his stripes would have realized that it is now time to shut up, but on Sunday, Sestak brought the old news back to the front burner by repeating his claim before stonewalling again. But don't rely on that right wing tool Fox News--the LA Times has a lot to say about it as well (in an unexpectedly snarky piece), and even presents a transcript of the conversation. That Sestak permitted this issue to bubble up again suggests that he just might not be ready for prime time, and that's why he's FI #2.
The White House, of course, has joined Sestak in the "see no evil, hear no evil" club (too late for "speak no evil"). According to WH Press Secretary Robert Gibbs (Obama's answer to "Baghdad Bob," "[L]awyers in the White House and others have looked into conversations that were had with Congressman Sestak. And nothing inappropriate happened." Hmmm. Fox, meet henhouse.
By the way, it is a crime under 18 USC Sec. 600 for a government official to offer a job to a candidate to induce that candidate to withdraw from an election. Here's the entire text of that law:
Whoever, directly or indirectly, promises any employment, position, compensation, contract, appointment, or other benefit, provided for or made possible in whole or in part by any Act of Congress, or any special consideration in obtaining any such benefit, to any person as consideration, favor, or reward for any political activity or for the support of or opposition to any candidate or any political party in connection with any general or special election to any political office, or in connection with any primary election or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) is trying to get to the bottom of this, but I don't expect he'll get anywhere unless some "deep throat" comes forward, or unless the White House offers up some lamb for sacrifice.
Hope and Change!
* For explanation of the FI Award, go here.
Labels: Democrats, Election, government, politics
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