Spin Cycle

Obama, via a pool report, after meeting with Al Gore:

"Like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S.. Attorneys office today. But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I donʼt think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time."

And then, later on:

"I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening. And as I said it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don't think it's appropriate to comment."

The whole narrative of the indictment is based on Blagojevich's inability to get any reward from Obama's team for his Senate selection. So, at least for now, he's completely clean.

But the profession that he knew nothing? The indictment seems to imply that Blagojevic was trying to shake down emissaries of the Obama campaign suggests that representatives of Obama were in touch with the governor and saw some of the behavior that has now proven to be indictable.

The decision of top Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, his number one preference and "Senate Candidate 1" in the indictment, from consideration with no real explanation also suggests that the Obama camp knew something was up.