Obama interviewed by US Attorney's office on Dec 18th...

[kentuck]

Remember Whitewater? It was at the beginning of the Clinton Administration. This is the second coming of Whitewater. And, as we recall, Whitewater was about nothing. But the Republicans used that as a springboard to investigate Clinton for eight long years. Do you think it's giong to be any different this time around. They smell blood.

I wonder, just how many times did Fitzgerald's office interview Bush or Cheney during the Plame investigation? What was the difference? Bush and Cheney were not connected to the Plame affair? But Obama is connected to the Governor Blagoyevich scandal? And, on top of all this, you can bet that the crimes of this Administration will never be investigated. And people wonder why some are so cynical about their government.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/23/AR2008122302793.html?hpid=topnews

<snip>
White House Chief of Staff-designate Rahm Emanuel spoke "one or two" times with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and "about four" times with the governor's chief of staff but did not engage in any inappropriate discussions about who should be appointed to Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, according to a report issued yesterday by Obama's staff.

The five-page memorandum, which was released to reporters by e-mail as the president-elect continued his vacation in Hawaii, says that the contact between the scandal-plagued governor and Obama's staff was proper and limited in scope.

"The accounts contain no indication of inappropriate discussions with the Governor or anyone from his office about a 'deal' or a quid pro quo arrangement in which he would receive a personal benefit in return for any specific appointment to fill the vacancy," said the report, written by White House counsel-designate Gregory Craig.
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The report also revealed for the first time that officials with the U.S. attorney's office investigating the Blagojevich case interviewed Obama on Dec. 18 as part of their criminal probe. Emanuel was interviewed on Dec. 20, and longtime Obama friend and adviser Valerie Jarrett was interviewed on Dec. 19.

The report did not disclose what information the three provided to prosecutors, who have indicated that Obama and his staff are not targets in the case. Obama aides said that Jarrett and Emanuel retained attorneys to represent them during interviews with prosecutors and during the internal staff review

[still_one]

1. If fitzy gives scooter a free pass, nothing will happen with this, because there IS no basis

but the most important reason is because the Democrats control Congress, not the wacko extreme right

[kentuck]

4. But Obama cannot get rid of Fitzgerald while investigation is ongoing?

Right? So he can investigate as long as he wants, just like they did with Clinton.

[still_one]

7. He could, but fitz is no ken starr, so I don't think it will happen. However, fitz

is no hero in my book either, as some on DU like to repeat the MSM talking points at how independent he is

I also do not think he can investigate as long as he wants without Congressional approval

[kentuck]

8. With Clinton, they used special investigators...

With Obama, they may use US Attorneys? Otherwise, no difference. All it takes is one or two US Attorneys with ongoing investigations to tie up an entire Administration. I am not convinced this is not the Republican plan.

[still_one]

10. How will they be funded? /nt

[kentuck]

11. The Repubs could tie up the Congress unless demands were met

That would not be difficult to do...

[ProSense]

2. "This is the second coming of Whitewater. " No it isn't.

There are no cast of characters linked to Obama.

Blagojevich has nothing to do with Obama.

[kentuck]

5. What was the cast of characters linked to Clinton?

during Whitewater? I don't recall that they had any evidence of wrongdoing? In fact, the Clintons lost money on Whitewater.

[ProSense]

9. The Clintons were the basis for the investigation

All the characters could have been innocent, but they were friends and associates of the Clintons.

Ultimately the Clintons were never charged, but 14 other persons were convicted of more than 40 crimes, including a sitting Governor who was removed from office.<39>

Jim Guy Tucker: Governor of Arkansas at the time, removed from office (fraud, 3 counts)
John Haley: attorney for Jim Guy Tucker (tax fraud)
William J. Marks Sr.: Jim Guy Tucker business partner (conspiracy)
Stephen Smith (Whitewater): former Governor Clinton aide (conspiracy to misapply funds). Bill Clinton pardoned.
Webster Hubbell: Clinton political supporter; Rose Law Firm partner (embezzlement, fraud)
Jim McDougal: banker, Clinton political supporter: (18 felonies, varied)
Susan McDougal: Clinton political supporter (multiple fraud) Bill Clinton pardoned.
David Hale: banker, self proclaimed Clinton political supporter: (conspiracy, fraud)
Neal Ainley: Perry County Bank president (embezzled bank funds for Clinton campaign)
Chris Wade: Whitewater real estate broker (multiple loan fraud) Bill Clinton pardoned.
Larry Kuca: Madison real estate agent (multiple loan fraud)
Robert W. Palmer: Madison appraiser (conspiracy). Bill Clinton pardoned.
John Latham: Madison Bank CEO (bank fraud)
Eugene Fitzhugh: Whitewater defendant (multiple bribery)
Charles Matthews (Whitewater): Whitewater defendant (bribery)


There is absolutely no similarity between the two cases. There is no potential for this to escalate beyond the bogus speculations.

[stopbush]

3. I'll make a prediction: if the Rs try for a second Whitewater,

they will lose even more Congressional seats and governorships in 2010.

The country is sick of Rs, sick of their games, sick of them raping the nation on every level while they laugh all the way to the bank.

The Rs don't get it - their day is over. The electorate spoke in 2006 & 2008. The Rs are hellbent on self destruction. Good. Let 'em go.

[napi21]

6. There's no doubt they will try to do to Obama what they did to Clinton,

but I don't think it will work this time! I was somewhat surprised that the media was trying to make something out of this after Fitz stated there was NOT any connection to Obama, but I guess they need SOMETHING to raise their ratings.

I can see why some would think there's a link to Obama because of them both being from Chicago, and I'm GLAD Obama recognized Blogo was a problem and stayed away from him.