from enterstageright
Update: Politico has confirmed the SEIU official was Andy Stern, head of the SEIU. Change to Win, which is where the jobs Blagocevichwas asking for for himself and his wife, has denied any contact with Blagojevich.
SEIU’s Communication Director, Ramona Oliver, has put out a rather uninformative denial:
We have no reason to believe that SEIU or any SEIU official was involved in any wrongdoing.
In keeping with the U.S. Attorney’s request, we are not sharing information with the media at this time.
Blagojevich seems to have mainly wanted money, because his family was having financial problems, and possibly to have a political future of some sort.
However Blagojevich seems to have kept changing his mind about specifically what he wanted from SEIU. At one point he wanted a 501(c)(4) organization set up with 10 to 15 million bucks in it. The organization would help the new Senator, but it looks like it would be run by Blagojevich. The unnamed union official agreed to "send up a flare".
At a different point Blagejovich wanted to be put in charge of Change to Win, which is affiliated with SEIU. It sounds like the SEIU official objected on the basis that other folks were doing the work already, but Harris (Blagojevich’s chief of staff) seemed to think that a three way quid pro quo could be worked out in which Obama gave something to SEIU and SEIU gave Blagojevich the job. No indication if SEIU was good with this. Then Blagojevich got the bright idea that perhaps SEIU could give his wife a job.
The questions now are these:
1) Who was the unnamed union official? (Update: according to Politico, it was Andy Stern)
2) Is any of this criminally corrupt? Was Harris reading in that SEIU was willing to do the 3 way deal? Was the request for a job effectively politely brushed off "gee, we’d love to, but ummm, other people are doing the work" or was it being seriously considered. It’s hard to tell from what’s in Fitzgerald’s document.
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ok.. I’m going to try to stay on a moral high horse here, because all of this is making me a bit ill, but shouldn’t the ONLY proper response from SEIU or any other responsible citizen be “Absolutely not. You just solicidated a crime. Right after I hang up on you I’m going to call the FBI.” ???
I know this isn’t how things work in the “real world” of American politics, but, still….
solicited, even
If he thought he was having financial trouble before this I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he finds out how much lawyers charge an hour.
Makes GM employees look like burger flippers.
Not a crime, not anything a jury’s gonna buy, any more than Fumo’s gonna get convicted in Pennsylvania. The overworshipped Fitzgerald is pushing Bushco bullshit. Obama may be OK with both possibilities: bounce Blago, more control over his replacement, Fumo not running again keeps his friend Rendell happy. You think Clinton didn’t give a shit about the party? Watch the White Bill Clinton.
Fitz!
hmmm, would serve stern right. who of Stern’s appointed honchos runs the show in Chicago? That might be a clue about who it is.
They couldn’t be that stupid, could they?
No telling where arrogance gets you.
Just got to watch some of the Fitz presser…damn, he’s great!
Love how reporters try to interrupt him, and Fitz just brushes ‘em off to finish his previous answer, then calmly points to the next reporter he’s gonna answer. Completely in control.
Why is this guy not the Attorney General nominee?!?
Well at least this is something tangible. The other story I heard was that Blagojevich was simply asking the Senate or Democrats to offer something like a future sub-Cabinet post or such in exchange for the selection “otherwise I might as well appoint myself”.
If he was asking for money, or a non-governmental position, it’s a lot more clear. But I’m not sure how asking for perks for his State or the playing of musical chairs might stand up in court. This is the stuff that Senators pull all the time in negotiating for Chairmanships, jobs in the Administration (I’ll quit if I get the power to do X, Y and Z), etc.
Now we’re talkin’ real money!
Obama’s day in the life of a SEIU worker got a lot of attention at the time:
http://www.walkadayinmyshoes20…..-and-beck/
o/t
Breaking – B of A has offered to extend credit to Republic Windows and Doors to resolve worker pay issues
Trib
It would be a drag if SEIU was involved, but it’ll be better for all Dems moving forward to clean House, Senate, and our supporters.
Unlike most Repubs, we care about Ethics even when it involves our own team.
Sounds like they’re only loaning enough to resolve the issues of back-pay, not stay in business. On the other hand, hard to imagine why they’d loan any money to a business intending to permanently close it’s doors. Not clear to me what is happening.
“Is any of this criminally corrupt? Was Harris reading in that SEIU was willing to do the 3 way deal? Was the request for a job effectively politely brushed off “gee, we’d love to, but ummm, other people are doing the work” or was it being seriously considered. It’s hard to tell from the what’s in Fitzgerald’s document.”
Or was it framed in a way that he wanted something in return for “consideration” but “this has to be done in a utterly legal manner”.
At least it’ll give the wingnuts something to blather about besides Obama’s citizenship (or alleged lack thereof).
I thought there was quite a bit beyond back pay. Things like severence and earned vacation etc.
Can’t wait for the wingnuts to start claiming that Obama was involved. The parts in the indictment that the Obama team brushed them off by saying they would appreciate it will be ignored. The more ridiculous they are the more obvious it becomes to everyone!
Thanks, cb12, for the link and ratfood @ 12 for your view.
I’ve had 2 personal experiences with Bank of America and frankly will never set foot in their door again. (1) They apparently bought my home mortgage in one of those bundles. I had never missed or been late on a payment so I guess that boosted the rating for that bundle. I was within 6 months of payout on my 25 year mortgage when I got a letter saying I had missed 4 payments and if total not rendered within 30 days, foreclosure proceedings would be instituted. I was in total shock! After gathering all my cancelled checks and bank statements, etc. I went to my lawyer. He advised I go to the local BofA and discuss matter. Luckily I got a really sharp customer rep who knew her business. By this time I had received a letter from BofA which contained my last 4 uncashed checks; no explanation why they were never cashed. Bottom line of story was the home office worker profusely apologizing and BEGGING me to “just forget that this ever happened”. Haven’t figured that out yet. Did someone figure that since I am (1)a woman (2) single (3) old/senile, that they could take my house??
(2) Our local BofA was then located in the same building with our public library where I did genealogy research. I needed quarters for the copy machine in the library. I presented the BofA with my personal check on another local bank across town for $10.00. Cashier said they could not cash my check since I did not have an account there with them, wouldn’t even call my bank to see if my check was good. Talk about cheap!!
The article cb12 linked to states, “The factory closed last Friday after BofA cancelled its financing.”…..”The bank has been criticized for cutting off the plant’s credit after taking federal bailout money.”
I guess now BofA will write the total amount off as a loss thereby reducing their taxes. (and shutting down the criticism).
Let me make one thing very clear: Andy Stern has created a culture of corruption with his undemocratic practices and loyalty above all else inner circle that; this creates a fecund environment for people like Blagojevich to try to exact patronage. In fact, there was a recent merger of the Illinois healthcare local that was conducted through the very undemocratic mixing of ballots vs. self-determination. It’s about time for progressives, especially among the blogosphere to stop canonizing Andy Stern. There is no shortcut to organizing workers; the means are the ends.
Please follow the link below for more information:
http://www.seiuvoice.org/
I’m a staffer and member of UHW. Let’s hope that the other posters/administrators of this blog identify their biases and relationships with SEIU. Democracy and sunshine are wonderful disinfectants.