| | Obama: 'No contact' with Gov. in alleged seat-sale scheme
 Barack Obama, weighing in for the first time on the arrest of his home-state governor, called the situation "sad" and denied any involvement in Rod Blagojevich's alleged scheme to sell the Senate seat vacated by the president-elect.
"Like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S.. Attorneys office today. But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I donʼt think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time," Obama said, regarding Blagojevich's arrest.
The president-elect spoke briefly following a meeting with former Vice President Al Gore, and spoke about their exchange of ideas on energy and environmental issues.
As a pool of reporters were ushered from the room, one shouted a question about the details of the Blagojevich probe.
"I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening," Obama said. "And as I said it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don't think it's appropriate to comment."
A 76-page FBI affidavit outlined the allegations against Blagojevich, who is accused of attempting to solicit bribes and jobs in exchange for the Senate appointment. The governor was authorized to appoint someone to finish the remaining two years of Obama's term.
US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who has spearheaded the five-year public corruption probe that snagged Blagojevich, said earlier Tuesday that the FBI uncovered nothing to indicate participation by Obama in any of the schemes envisioned by Blagojevich.
"I should make clear the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect, whatsoever," Fitzgerald said.
Obama and Blagojevich are not close and there are indications that some representatives of the president-elect's team refused to play ball.
Blagojevich reportedly told his chief of staff Harris on Nov. 11 that he knew Obama's team wanted a particular candidate to be appointed to fill the seat. But, he said, "They’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."
In another conversation, which was captured by an FBI wiretap, the governor referred to Obama as a "motherfucker."
Obama had been scheduled to meet with the Chicago FBI earlier Tuesday morning, but that meeting was suddenly canceled, according to a pool report. It's unclear whether the meeting or its cancellation was related to the governor's arrest.
This video is from MSNBC's News Live, broadcast Dec. 9, 2008.
Download video via RawReplay.com
Below in a pool report on the Obama photo-op:
________________________________
From: Jonathan Weisman
To: Katherine Hogan; Ben Finkenbinder
Sent: Tue Dec 09 15:18:19 2008
Subject: Pool Report 2
At 1:55 p.m., the pool was brought into a sparse corner office of the transition headquarters in Chicago's federal building. President-elect Obama sat in the middle, with Vice President-elect Joe Biden on his right and former Vice President Al Gore on his left. Three American flags were arrayed behind them. Mr. Obama then said, "Like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S.. Attorneys office today. But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I donʼt think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time."
He went on to say "The purpose of this meeting today was to listen and learn from Vice President Al Gore on the extraordinary work that he has done around the issue of climate change. All three of us are in aggreeent that the time for delay is over. The time for denial is over. We all believe what the scientists have been telling us for years now, that this is a matter of urgency and national security, and it has to be dealt with in a serious way. That is what I intend my administration to do."
After speaking a little more on climate change, the pool was about to be ushered out, when your pooler (I've been assured it was a classy act by certain members of the transition) shouted a question, asking if Mr. Obama was aware of what was happening with his Senate seat. Mr. Obama stopped the press and said he wanted to answer the question.
"I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening," Mr. Obama said. "And as I said it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don't think it's appropriate to comment."
At 2:00, the pool left the room.
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