Sestak and the White House stonewall
Six weeks ago, Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. Joe Sestak confirmed to the Philly press that he had been offered a job by the Obama administration in exchange for dropping his Senate bid against White House-endorsed incumbent Arlen Specter. After first denying any contact with Sestak took place, White House flack Robert Gibbs changed course and admitted a conversation had occurred. Then he urged the MSM to move on. FNC’s James Rosen recaps the whole sordid case to date here.
Questions about the ethics and legality of such a deal continue to mount. Sestak remains tight-lipped about the details (to protect the bribers, no doubt) — even as he now uses the very issue to tout his independence. Talk about exploiting a crisis. The Morning Call of Pa. reported this weekend:
Sestak has refused to provide any details and the White House has admitted only that a conversation did take place. The secretiveness of it all has prompted a Republican congressman to call for a federal investigation into whether any such offer violated federal law.
”Having been asked a question that no one had ever asked me before, I answered it honestly,” Sestak said Friday. ”The politics of what happens after, I’m not interested in. There are other things we have to focus on.”
…Initially, the White House denied Sestak’s story.
Then, in mid-March, after being asked six times over a month, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs acknowledged a conversation with Sestak had occurred. But Gibbs remained vague.
”I’m told that whatever conversations have been had are not problematic,” Gibbs said. ”I think Congressman Sestak has discussed that this is — whatever happened is in the past, and he’s focused on his primary election.”
…Clearly the issue isn’t expected to go away before the May 18 primary. Despite the distraction it’s caused in Sestak’s campaign, he said it shows the voters he can be trusted to answer questions honestly. ”Asked that question,” he said, ”I’d answer it the same way again.”
Careful there, Joe. Too much self-congratulatory exercise and you’ll throw out your shoulder. The GOP minority on the House Oversight and Government Reform committee, spearheaded by ranking member GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, isn’t taking “no comment” or it’s all “in the past” or “I already answered the question” for an answer:
Issa, a Southern California pol who on numerous occasions has accused the administration of ”Chicago-like politics,” has demanded the White House come clean about the alleged job offer.
He is the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform panel. He has sent the White House two letters, on March 10 and March 22, asking specific questions about Sestak’s claim.
Issa has not received a response, according to his spokesman, Kurt Bardella.
In the second letter, Issa gave the White House until April 5 to respond.
Bardella said Issa would extend the deadline, giving the Obama administration until after the Easter holiday to answer before contacting U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and asking that a special prosecutor investigate whether a crime had been committed.
”Either Joe Sestak is lying or the White House is lying,” Bardella said. ”There is no gray area here.”
Hey, isn’t it time for the White House to hold another “Open Questions” session soon? The stonewalls are piling up.
Dodge, baby, dodge.
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Categories: Corruption
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Okay Michelle, only the two of us are awake, but I have a good excuse – time zone!
Unfortunately – having one of your stooges running the Justice Department is automatic immunity for the administration. Illegal activity – hey, time for Obama to shoot some hoops with his sycophants.
Seems I’m not the only one who can’t sleep tonight.
Thanks for being so dedicated Michelle!
A few questions:
1. At this point, since this has become so public, it would be very hard for Sestak to be given some administration. Wouldn’t it look rather validating if Sestak were given a job after all?
But then Barry has never worried about his Chicago thug politics being too obvious.
2. Hey Pennsylvania Democrat primary voters. How do you feel about your two great choices for Senate? One is a buffoon, the other is already tainted by scandal, and likely would not receive a very friendly welcome by the administration. Not that I care but, at least with Specter, you already know he will do whatever Owebowma wants. Is it better him than someone Owebowma might be showing the wheels of his bus?
3. What if Sestak is elected? 6 months later, what happens if the WH decides they cannot get out of their offer of some administration job and Sestak resigns?
Maybe the better choice would be to throw them both out of office.
They’re Democrats. They are both lying. There is no gray area here.
Hey AG. I thought I was going to be first…but then I guess I got wordy.
Sestak’s behavior is either very strange or very clever. He is willing to claim openly that someone in the White House committed a crime, and doggedly sticks to his story, but won’t finger the culprit. Either he is now afraid to reveal the felon, or he is using the situation to his advantage. You know…turning a bribe around in the form of blackmail. Me thinks Mr. Sestak will be feathering his nest in ways other than receiving a job in the administration if he keeps his mouth shut. A good investigative reporter should look into Mr. Sestak’s affairs during and after the election.
“The most open, ethical and transparent government in history.”
What a joke. Too bad the joke’s on us.
Hmmm, this has the feel of a cover up.
Expecting honesty or integrity from anything to do with this administration is like panning for gold in my septic tank. It just isn’t there.
Yes, this should be investigated further, but recognize it will only generate a large amount of heat and not much light.
One principle is known, Rep Sestak. The second principle, the individual who spoke with Sestak, remains unknown, and their testifying might require them to incriminate themselves.
The concern I have is whether this will result in a conviction, and only fan the flames of greater discourse. This would amount to a political battle. And, politcal battles, like all battles, should be selected carefully.
@ Zorro #6
“Rosen and Malkin”
hmm…has a nice ring to it…sorta like
“Woodward and Bernstein”
I get the impression he is naive. I recall the first story on this, and it almost seemed as if he was reporting something he felt was no big deal…somewhat trying to say, “hey, vote for me, I’m a big man because the WH wants me in their administration”, only to get a call from Rahm later.
Time for the infra-red cameras, then, zyg!
Is this the punch line?
The game-plan is obvious: roll up into a ball like an Armadillo, let the Voluntary State Media surround you with the Wall of Silence, and hope that those who won’t give up on finding the truth can be dismissed as a handful of cranks.
“After all, how can this be a real news story if only FOX News and a few far-right-wing blogs are trying to make an issue of it?”
But if reincarnation exists, Michelle must’ve been a Rottweiler in some past life (a very pretty Rottweiler, I’m sure!) — the “dog with a bone” trait has survived the passage of time. Which is good, because that’s the level of determination that’ll be necessary to get to the truth here.
I can see where Rep. Joe Sestak might be miffed-after the Luziann Purchase and Cornhusker Kickback a mere JOB must be insulting. Within minutes of his going public the deal most likely was sweetened hence the term Silence is Golden.
Remember: it’s NOT our money!
.
Seeing that Sestak is claiming that a crime has been committed; yet refuses to tell who the culprit is does that not make him an accessory to the crime?
So you’re saying it’s (racist term) and white?
More like “order” the MSM to move on, which the MSM would glady do. However, if it involved a conservative, the howls would be ceaseless. This is an amazing corrupt and graft-full government that the MSM and even some citizens support.
I would think that is a given but the Beltway crowd fears opening a can of worms–they would go to jail by the score.
I agree. I think that Sestak was just running his mouth, bragging about turning down a White House sweet deal, then the phone rang and it was the “most open and transparent white house” telling him to shut up or be ostracized.
This administration is a septic tank!
Sorry for the broken record but,…….
This stonewalling is yet ANOTHER reason why we need to regain control of one house of Congress. Then the hearings can begin. tiredofito8 nailed it.
A corrupt press in bed with a corrupt administration. We are a banana republic.
since this administration is built on a foundation of deceit,lies and corruption it’s safe to say zero and his boys are lying.
It’s no secret that Democrats use the movie “Dodgeball” as one of their main tactics.
Just remember the 5 D’s, kids…
Dodge, dip, duck, dive, and dodge….
Holder will get right on it. He can put the team that investigated the New Black Panther Party voter intimidation case on it. They’re not busy.
Andrew Romanoff received a similar offer.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13429758
Works for me. I have bag full of wrenches and an excellent arm.
So? They can be offered immunity in exchange for their testimony.
If no laws were broken then no flames will be fanned. You’ve never worried about fanning flames in the past. I think you’re simply worried that Obama’s administration will look bad if this is investigated.
I think that’s what Nixon’s administration claimed prior to the Watergate hearings.
This was a crime, pure and simple. And the Chicago thug mafia head, Barack Hussein Obama was fully aware of that crime. He needs to be indicted, along with everyone who had a part in the lying (six times on record?) and cover-up. A CRIME…you know, AGAINST THE LAW. Then, lying to cover it up is yet ANOTHER CRIME. Yes, I’m yelling! This is so freakin’ obvious, even the moonbats can’t spin it away. But they sure are trying. I now know what they meant by “transparency”. Their tactics are getting so bizare and so clearly dishonest, they even have a hard time keeping straight face while talking! Welcome to the freak show, and bring popcorn.
I guess silence really can be golden – not only does this give the appearance of Sestak using his reticence to keep the WH out of the Spectre-Sestak contest, it also lends credence to the notion that Sestak may well have an administrative position waiting for him should he lose to Spectre.
Now that’s depressing.
Kinda like getting Bonnie to turn on Clyde.
Ain’t happening.
And I don’t wanna hear anyone say “elections have consequences” any more.
A FELONY is a FELONY regardless of the cover-ability by ‘executive privilege’.
The criminal depth & ‘kingly’ deception of this crook (& cronies) in this White House must be investigated.
Yes, and it will be interesting to see what it is and if it was worth it after we all make his life miserable. Oh, and Sphincter is going to lose the election.
prendad: FIFY
In the correct world, it is referred to as “gaboon ebony and white” thank you very much!
He’s gonna get himself ostracized to the bottom of the Potomac in his brand new cement shoes.
Won’t happen in this case. Just like Corleone in The Godfather movies, The One has a lot of buffers:
That would require that the Republicans show some actual cojones (to use a popular, albeit usually misspelled term). Unfortunately, with the exception of Issa and a couple of others, they don’t have any.
You don’t indict sitting presidents, you impeach them – and we saw how that goes the last time a Democrat president committed multiple felonies.
The best case scenario is if both SpecterDetector and Sestak are sullied by this scandal, and Pat Toomey gets elected. My state’s voters are pretty ignorant, though.
1. Impeachment
2. Arrest
3. Indictment
4. Trial
5. Imprisonment
Texvet2 is, of course right about the term “indictment” as relates to a sitting president.
HOWEVER, we CAN indict THE ONE in the court of public opinion, and we NEED to press this scandal.
As to stonewalls, what’s good for THE ONE should work nicely for corporate CEOs as they are bullied by Waxman and his myrmidons.
CEOs should just say NO!
Rep. Stephen King from Iowa….
In spades.
Anyone see this political cartoon on Big Hollywood yesterday? It’s dead accurate.
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/author/hudlash/
Martha Stewart, Scooter Libby, and numerous other folks have gone to jail and prison for obstruction of justice. Lying to investigators, refusing to answer all can lead to jail time. Are there any honest politicians anymore?
Anytime I hear the name Robert Gibbs, I know there is a lie or some other bullcrap coming next.
With the notable exception of one Billy Jeff Clinton who perjured himself under oath multiple times to a grand jury and lied to special counsel. Dems in the White House apparently don’t play by the same rules as everyone else.
Your question assumes that honest politicians have actually existed at some point in time. Seems the very word “politician” has devolved into something precluding integrity or veracity.
Our founding fathers were unique. Of course they weren’t professional politicians, they were all successful at other things, and brought keen intellects with them to the public arena.
None of this surprises me….corruption is a way of life in our Congress and, particularly in this Presidential office. Aloha Guy #48 just said it….
We have no statesmen who love their country more than themselves.
Roman politicians were called “candidati” because they wore white togas to show their political cleanliness.
Sestak is trying to claim he is a pure candidate by being candid, but only a full account of the bribe would make him so.
To voters: Bribes are acceptable in Democratic circles. The ends justifies the means. Its just the way things are done in Washington. We just don’t want the voting public to know about it before we redistribute the wealth where we think it needs to go.
Remember, this is about social justice. The rules don’t apply here because we are doing bigger and greater things than that. Even bigger than the US constitution.
Just bear with us a little longer. We are almost there. And of course, we will fix any problems later so don’t worry if things look tough at first. We are for the people. If you are not one of the evil rich, you will be ok. Trust me.
Inner city voters: Oh.. okay.
off topic:
FCC holding net neutrality meetings/comments this week…let them know how you feel…
nointernettakeover.com
Spot ON!!!