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ED RENDELL: NOT GOING IN THE CABINET.
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is often mentioned as a potential cabinet appointment. Until today, presumably:
"They have never been in an executive position before,” Rendell said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “The rule of thumb is whatever you did, say it and get it over with and make it a one-day story as opposed to a three-day story. Politicians are always misjudging the intelligence of the American people.”Known for his blunt critiques of fellow Democrats, Rendell did not hold back during the interview.
The public, said Rendell, understands Obama and his aides would have an interest in who fills the Senate seat and some contact with the governor's office — and that Obama should have said as much at the outset.
"Did Rahm Emanuel, who took Rod Blagojevich's seat in Congress, have contact with Rod Blagojevich? Of course he did," Rendell said. "They may have thought he was the craziest S.O.B. in the world. But you still have to have contact with him."
Which is not to say Rendell's criticism is incorrect; the Obama team's handling of the issue has been almost as bad as the media's reporting on it. (Those failures were best expressed here: "So, the US Attorney who is going after Blagojevich says there is absolutely no evidence Barack Obama has done anything wrong. This, naturally, is bad news for Barack Obama.")
--Tim Fernholz
COMMENTS (5)
Rendell says, of course Obama's people were in touch with Blago about the appointment, and if they knew what they were doing they should have said so. Does he have some evidence i haven't heard about that Obama's people were in touch with Gov Blog (or his staff, for that matter)?
If not, he's making an unsubstantiated allegation & he's in no place to be criticizing the Obama team for its 'handling' of the issue.
And honestly, is it so impossible to believe that the Obama team - knowing Blago as they do, and mistrusting him accordingly - would just decide to stay the hell away from the decision about who would get Obama's senate seat? I find that much easier to believe than the idea that the Obama team is at this point so naive to think that if they had been in touch with Blago, nobody would find out.
Maybe there's some 'gotcha' story out there i just haven't seen yet. But absent that, i think Rendell's just shooting his mouth off.
And Tim, you need to elaborate on the Obama team's 'mishandling' of the issue. Just linking to a page that talks about reporters trying to weave a story out of thin air doesn't make your point.
Posted by: TW | December 12, 2008 5:36 PM
What did Emanuel know and when did he know it?
What did Axelrod know and when did he know it?
What did Obama know and when did he know it?
Answer us those and perhaps the heat will begin to dissipate. Keep up the stonewalling and the heat will only intensify.
Posted by: Bernstein | December 13, 2008 2:27 AM
really good post, i like this article.
Posted by: laptop parts | December 14, 2008 8:31 PM
Thanks man, Happy New Year
Posted by: laptop battery | January 2, 2009 5:26 AM
Agree with you AT
Posted by: handbag | January 2, 2009 5:29 AM