Statement from Joe Sestak on White House Counsel's Report
MEDIA, PA - U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Joe Sestak released the following statement today:
"Last summer, I received a phone call from President Clinton. During the course of the conversation, he expressed concern over my prospects if I were to enter the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the value of having me stay in the House of Representatives because of my military background. He said that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had spoken with him about my being on a Presidential Board while remaining in the House of Representatives. I said no. I told President Clinton that my only consideration in getting into the Senate race or not was whether it was the right thing to do for Pennsylvania working families and not any offer. The former President said he knew I'd say that, and the conversation moved on to other subjects.
"There are many important challenges facing Pennsylvania and the rest of the country. I intend to remain focused on those issues and continue my fight on behalf of working families."
Looks like Sestak and the White House are on the same page on this (at long last).
10 comments:
http://twitter.com/JoeNBC/status/14920876282
What politician is tempted to get out of a race for a job with no pay, no status, more work? How stupid does the White House think you are?
So Sestak, in his complicated dance with the White House during the primary, had blurted out during the campaign that he had been offered a job so he wouldn't run against Specter. I am not sure when he said that, but I think it was a while ago. Now that Sestak is the Democratic nominee, he and the White House are making nice, and saying the offer was for an unpaid position, no big deal.
This is the story that is being presented, and likely the only story we are going to get. It may even be true. I remember at some point the US ambassador to Canada under George W Bush was a person whose major qualification for the job was how much money he had raised for Bush. So when Media Matters says this kind of job offer thing happens all the time, I am inclined to believe them.
Of course conservatives will accuse me of beating a dead horse, but I will say if this is the worst thing that happens in the Obama White House, compared to the previous administration we will have been better served. Of course conservatives will say much worse has already happened, perhaps citing "Obamacare". To which I say that any one how does not see the need for a regulated health care (and payment) system does not understand economics.
I remember at some point the US ambassador to Canada under George W Bush was a person whose major qualification for the job was how much money he had raised for Bush.
David Wilkins
And Dan Rooney major qualification for the job U.S. ambassador to Ireland is? Other than funding a couple of Irish charities?
@HTTT..
Face palm.. no, make that a double face palm.. to the explanation.
This is it? This is the "job offered by the White House", a statement made on several occasions? A No-pay job 'offered' by a known perjuror who has pubicly (often) stated his disgust with the _resident and we're supposed to believe this sh*t?
A job PAYS. A job has responsibilities and authority.
I want whatever the moonbats are taking or drinking.
Me thinks this is not over.. by a long shot.
I think the moonbats are going to go crazy spinning this one.. maybe they shoukd take some meds that are prescribed for vertigo. (Yes, I know what I'm talking about with respect to spinning and vertigo.)
See here
I am also wondering if Sestak was caught up embellishing the offer back in February.
"Hey everyone, they are so scared of me beating Specter that they are offering me a big job to not run against him!" It sure sounds good on the campaign trail.
What can Toomey counter with? "Look at how well I shorted the dollar on Wall Street and bet against America!", "Anyone need a derivative" or "You know that bill that repealed the Slass-Steagall act that nearly brought down our economy. I helped write it!"
Well, to expand the conversation about the Sestak job offer, the White House rationale/spin about the offer was in part to keep Sestak in the House of Representatives while also having him serve on whatever panel, a position that would have enhanced his political credentials for whatever future ambitions he might have. After all, surely this would have been Arlen's last term.
As for David Wilkins versus Dan Rooney, well, Wilkins was apparently a long time South Carolina politician who had only been to Canada once, but covered a lot of Canadian ground once appointed. Rooney was not, as far as I know, a politician, but had been to Ireland several times. Relatively equal, as I see it. But since you CM and you HTTP, want to say that unless Obama is perfect, then Obama is the worst kind of liar and scumbag. Which is to say that is Obama breaths the wrong way, you brand him a fascist-communist who is setting camps to imprison and kill somebody (as run by Van Jones).
I really suspect this Sestak thing is going to wind down. Maybe what was done was illegal, but first, the House will never vote out an impeachment, second, the fact that past Presidents did this, and finally I think both Sestak and the White House will hang tough and say no more about the job offer. So I do think this thing will fade away. Maybe Darrell Issa will get some points with conservatives on this, but I think that's about it.
Two weeks ago on meet the press...david gregory after three attempts got sestak to state that he"was offered a job". that was the most recent statement by sestak,not some off the cuff statement in february. The clinton meeting with Obama at the WH soon after stinks with impropriety.The issue at hand is not that this happens all the time,the issue is whether sestak knows the difference bewteen a JOB,and a seat on advisory board.
Meanwhile sestak's decision to jump on board with the Obama/Clinton's contrived story shows sestak to be just like them rest,another hack!Sestak either embellished or lied about the"offer".Either way it brings into question his judgment and integrity.I think Toomey is salivating....
I'm pretty sure that Rahm E. knows exactly what can legally be said, and what can only be implied. Same for Bill Clinton (the man who famously managed to debate the situational meaning of the third person conjugation of the verb "to be").
I'd bet that a non-paying position was offered. Remember, every such position has built in implications of potential for deal-making on the side. Now, that's not a Sestak-y sort of thing to do, but many pols would make hay from such a position. Equally, that sort of position leads practically automatically to cushy think tank or lobbying jobs afterwards, revolving door legislation be damned. Again, not a Sestak-y sort of thing. He's the man most likely to take a pay cut and work longer hours for fewer thanks. But your average pol would be on that offer like butter on a hot biscuit.
So the tone and the implications would have said "money," no doubt. "Job" is pretty reasonable shorthand for "position, power, and all the money you care to grub for."
Was there a lifted eyebrow to suggest that other, more directly paid jobs might also be in the pipeline? Could be. You going to try to create a scandal on the basis of a raised eyebrow, a couple of meaningful pauses, and a cough or two? Because I seriously doubt anyone will find more than that. The Obama administration has been consistently smooth about implying far more than they promise to potential officeholders. Like it or loathe it, admire or deplore it (and I've got some seriously mixed feelings myself, on that) you've pretty much got to admit it.
This is a guy who was an ADMIRAL in the navy;a US Congressman;i don't see the added credential of sitting on an advisory board as being misconstrued for a J.O.B.
His clout was already established.If he lost to Arlen,his future as a lobbyist and consultant with access to the corridors of power was already secured by his resume!!.
Post a Comment