Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Blagojevich's Crimes, Obama's Silence; Grounds for Impeachment?

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on Tuesday on federal corruption charges that included attempts to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Shortly after the arrest, Obama was asked by a reporter if he had been aware that Blagojevich was seeking to sell his senate seat.

"I had no contact with the governor or his office," Obama replied, "and so we were not -- I was not aware of what was happening."

However, Prosecutors allege that in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett - a close friend of Obama - to the Senate seat, Blagojevich sought appointment as secretary of Health and Human Services or wanted an ambassadorship in the new Obama administration. It seems highly unlikely that the president-elect was unaware of this. And if he did have knowledge that Blagojevich was seeking to sell his senate seat and chose to remain mum about it, well, that would seemingly be grounds for impeachment.

Thus, if U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald is the upright and honest prosecutor he purports to be, he definitely should include Barack Obama in his investigation.

But I have a feeling that when it comes to the "Messiah", Mr. Fitzgerald - like many others before him - will simply fold like a cheap suit.