NYT: White House Used Bill Clinton to Ask Sestak to Drop Out of Race; Updated
**Written by guest-blogger Doug Powers
Bill Clinton met with President Obama yesterday — reportedly to discuss how to handle damage control from the oil spill in the Gulf — but it’s a good guess that a heaping helping of “getting our stories straight” was the featured item on the lunch menu:
President Obama’s chief of staff used former President Bill Clinton as an intermediary to see if Representative Joe Sestak would drop out of a Senate primary if given a prominent, but unpaid, advisory position, people briefed on the matter said Friday.
Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, asked Mr. Clinton to explore the possibilities last summer, according to the briefed individuals, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the politically charged situation. Mr. Sestak said no and went on to win last week’s Pennsylvania Democratic primary against Senator Arlen Specter.
“Did you get Joe Sestak a job yet, Daddy?”
It seems like a believable story — I mean, who wouldn’t be convinced to give up their quest to become a United States Senator in return for a spiffy, uncompensated job title in an administration that may well be swept out of office in just over two years — sooner if nobody buys their explanation for this?
If it’s that easy I’m going to call Nancy Pelosi and convince her not to run for re-election by offering her a job as an unpaid volunteer at her plastic surgeon’s office and give her the title “Queen of the World.”
According to the New York Times, one of the “jobs” being dangled in front of Sestak was a position on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. One of duties of PIAB members is to bring to the president’s attention activities that are not being adequately addressed by the Attorney General — things like, oh I don’t know… the White House orchestrating a bribery to get somebody to drop out of a Senate race.
For those of you keeping score at home, “nothing improper took place” usually bats two or three spots in the lineup ahead of “mistakes were made.”
Rahm Emanuel couldn’t be reached for comment because he was in the middle of a dine-n-dash at an Israeli restaurant.
Update: Via Ed Morrissey, White House Counsel has released a memo (who’s up for another Friday document dump, holiday weekend edition?) attempting to offer an explanation, which Sestak has naturally corroborated.
Morrissey sums it up:
Excuse me, but a position on a Presidential Board is not a “job” in any sense of the word. Sestak has repeatedly insisted that the White House offered him a job to get him to withdraw from the race. Now we’re at the who’s-lying stage, and it may well be everyone.
If there is so clearly no evidence of any wrongdoing, then why didn’t they just have Robert Gibbs come out and explain it away a long time ago instead of dodging any and all press inquiries?
This is starting to get Nixonian.
Update II: As you can see, Bill Clinton was very forthcoming after being asked about the Sestak story while working the line after an event today:
**Written by guest-blogger Doug Powers
Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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I DO NOT BELIEVE ONE WORD of this! I wonder if sestak will back this up? I would think sestak would be given something to back up this up. I still think there should be an formal hearing on this by Issa.
L
letget,
gotta proof read S/B something to back this up.
L
Bill Clinton to the rescue again.
All this time we were waiting for an answer, they were figuring how to spin this whole thing. Billy boy is always up for aiding and abetting.
Hmmm… remember, its not the crime, its the coverup… so I guess he called Bill because Bill did pretty much get away with it?
As Baby Herman said “this stinks like yesterdays diapers”…
Hey! Get Liar #1 to lie for “President Hologram” & Associates. Big surprise huh?
Can we impeach Clinton again?
Even though the godfather ordered the hit, he’s just as culpable. Can’t shift the blame to a useful idiot.
With such a simply explanation now put forth, a new questions emerge.
WHY has Joe Sestak withheld the information regarding the people that contacted both himself and his political team?
WHAT could Joe’s motive for such obfuscation possible be?
WHY is Joe still hiding behind this White House story?
WHO would want a Senator that HIDES from the press during his campaign?
… and WHY can’t Freddy post a decent leading sentence? …
Sigh ….
Oh man, stop, you’re killing me!
Why did Sestak pointedly say over and over the White House, The White House etc… etc. I do not believe one word of this, THEY LIE!!! But hey, whats new!
I don’t see how you can keep the President from having to testify in Blagojovich’s trial after these revelations.
This pattern of governing merely consisting of rewarding your friends and punishing your enemies. . . as well as making bribes is very unseemly.
Blago was only doing what the Obama administration is doing. I wonder if Sestak has a blue dress he hasn’t dry cleaned from the meeting.
This story looks and smells just like pure unadulterated Pelosi to me (You thought I was going use a different word didn’t you? I now us Pelosi as a substitute word for both bulls@$% and s@$%).
It sounds like they just added conspiracy to the list of potential charges instead of clearing anything up. Their only hope is that Sestak and his brother are willing to commit perjury if they’re hauled before a grand jury.
I expect the brakes to fail on Sestak’s car any day now. Anyone missing a horse head?
According to the latest polls the idiots in Connecticut don’t have a problem with a liar becoming their next Senator so why should we expect any more intelligence from the people of Pennsylvania?
There might be a Congressional hearing on this if the Republicans regain control of the House. Using Clinton as the bagman is of course, somewhat risky, as he might have to testify under oath…..and we all know that he would never tell a lie.
/sarc.
A buffer defense. It figures –it’s a line of defense from the Detroit “Kilpatrick family” favorite film. Ed Morrissey defines the term. From The Godfather:
The real question is: What price did Bill charge? Was it Hillary 2012? Is Obama now officially a lameduck?
Gads, hc in 2012? Have you seen how this gal has gone to pot in the last year? She needs a hair dresser stat!
L
If the job offered to Sestak was a non-salaried job, or nothing of value, then why offer it to him? Not even a moron nor achild could be won over with nothing. Even if the job was a non-salary position, that doesn’t mean it has no value. Could be used as a power base to influence matters profitably for yourself, or positioning yourself for a lobbying kingdom. What a bunch of crap…Obama and his running dogs are proving their incompetence every day.
Dictators in Communist countries don’t HAVE to tell the truth. They just say something, and the People have no choice but to accept it.
I would like to take this opportunity once again to thank all the a**holes who voted for Barack Obama. Way to go, you big fat stupid losers…
Asked for comment, Mrs. Clinton replied: “My husband is not the Secretary of State. I am!”
Sufferin’ succotash! Just when you thought this couldn’t get any sweeter, enter Billy Jeff Clintoon – stage right! The go to guy – who’s credibility is impeccable. “There is no conversation with that man.” And the WH mystery man is – you guessed it – RAHMBO who…”used former President Bill Clinton as an intermediary to see if Representative Joe Sestak would drop out of a Senate primary if given a prominent, but unpaid, advisory position“. Plausible deniability?? BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA Stop! Yer killin’ me!
Pull up a chair, grab some popcorn. It’s SHOWTIME!
It doesn’t matter who made the offer. The offer had to have been authorized at the highest levels (Zero, Emanuel, Axelrod), and that is the party responsible – not the messenger.
Somewhere Vince Foster is smiling.
I should point out your statement is excessively harsh. Not all of the STUPID, SORRY A$$, CLUELESS, BRAIN DEAD LOSERS were fat.
Hmm Doug – I’m pretty sure Sestak must be mistaken – these guys don’t have ethical lapses. …
Obama – “Find me a liar! And I mean a LIAR!”
“Bill Clinton’s office – are you calling about the Internship?”
Funny post. Nevertheless I find it credible that this White house is trying to entice people into working for free. After all, this is what they want to do to everyone in the health care industry. While we’re at it, I welcome all congress critters to volunteer their time picking up trash along NYC freeways.
Obama and Biden should lead by example. Lets see the diabolical duo dig some ditches.
LATEST NEWS: Sestak was offered a special price on the Brooklyn Bridge to stay out of the senate race.
And of course it is a perfect piece of casting in getting Bill Clinton to run interference on this. He’ll just dazzle ‘em with an unending line of barbrastreisand.
And to wrap the matter up in pretty paper with a handsome bow they can have the inestimable Patrick Fitzgerald to work it down to a misdemeanor below jaywalking in seriousness.
Was this one of the “jobs” that Obama “saved or created”?
Sestak was just live from the Capitol steps and…Democrat=Liar. Joe Sestak is a Democrat. Enough said.
The White House – Clinton – Sestak story is simply Incredulous!
Now, let’s be fair about this: It was a complete misunderstanding. Billy Clinton thought they said the SEX TAPE problem instead of Sestak. Hearing is the 2nd thing to go….
ROFLMAO with both legs kicking in the air.
And what kind of “job” was Bill thinking about getting or giving in the White House?
We have a Sextape problem. Can you offer him a “job” in the Oval office?
Cigar anyone?
Who’d have thought Blago would end up being the one that sounded honest?
Ah, Slick Willy. He’s no longer prez, but still as smooth as a used car salesman. NOT!
Is there any mystery about how slick Willy would respond under oath?
SENATOR: “Did you offer a job to Mr. Sestak?”
CLINTON: “That depends on what the definition of ‘job’ is.”
SENATOR: “Let me rephrase the question. Did you make an offer of employment of any kind to Mr. Sestak?”
CLINTON: “Let me be clear. I did not have employer relations with that man, Mr. Sestak.” …
That would depend on the meaning of “is” I guess
Yes it is incredulous but with a friendly press, congress and Justice Department there is little if any incentive for them not to lie. There are a few Huff and Puff statements out there but beyond Representative Issa not much thunder and lightning. That Bambi sent Bill Clinton to do his bidding (get me a cup of coffee, boy) is rich. Miss Hillary must be fuming-again.
But perhaps the story will have enough traction to help knock off Sestak this November. Do they have hanging chads in PA?
===
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed.
The White House got this idea (Slick Willie as the fall guy) from the latest episodes of “24″ where former President Weasel-face Logan’s corrupt ideas (Clinton’s) were used to enhance Allison Taylor’s ambitions (Obammy).
This Sestak excuse shows how desperate this administration is for fresh ideas to cover their Chicago tactics. Plus,there was the news dump on a Friday before a three-day weekend to soften the blow.
Bill Clinton, former impeached cigar-smokin’ Prez, husband of the current Secretary of State, the sacrificial lamb (mutton) of our Dear Leader’s transparent reign. What could go wrong?
I keep returning to my question: Who could vote for any Democrat and still be considered an American?
The real news coming out of the OBambi-Clinton lunch is Hillary to replace Biden on the 2012 Democrat ticket! Guess that answers one of the questions!
Why yes dear I did have sex with our next door neighbor next door. But the neighbor across the street asked me to.
So we’re good right?
So, Billy C, what ya been up to lately?
Aw, nothin’ really…just trying to get some dumb schmuck a job with Hillary’s predecessor and hopin’ he’ll work for nothin’. Man, Obama’s really countin’ on me to git ‘er done. But, hey, I’m hopin’ all this is legal, cuz I be done had enough with legal investigations, know what I mean? Hah! Got a light for my cigar?