Obama's Blago Problem

Alan Stewart Carl, a moderate blogger who voted for President-Elect Barack Obama, writes: "So, it didn’t take long for the taint of scandal to hit Barack Obama’s not-yet-in-power administration. With the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, it’s hard for anyone but the hardest core Obamaphiles to wonder what Obama’s relationship with Blagojevich is and whether the president-elect or his people had any dealings with the governor concerning the appointment of Obama’s successor in the senate. As Steve Benen of Washington Monthly notes, the media isn’t waiting for any proof of wrongdoing by Obama before jumping onto the story and pressing Obama for answers. Some of this is due to the media’s constant need for a juicy story. But part of it is also due to some very real questions."

He adds: "As [Dick] Polman notes, it’s possible to maneuver the Chicago machine and still be clean. Adlai Stevenson and Paul Simon both succeeded in Illinois without being dirty. Obama could very well be of the same mold. For me, the concern isn’t that Obama may be corrupt (I don’t believe he is). The question is whether he too easily suffers the corrupt or is too willing to look the other way. Can he live up to his promises to be a reformer? Maybe the Blagojevich case will spur him to fight against the very system of corruption he had to maneuver while in Illinois. Maybe not. Time will tell."

Booker Rising response: Barry today has his first press conference since Blago was charged. Politico suggests seven questions that he should answer lest that 73% approval rating on how he is handling his presidential transition suffer.