Sestak's response

Source: MSNBC

From NBC's Mark Murray
And right on cue, Sestak just issued a statement confirming what the White House had released.

Last summer, I received a phone call from President Clinton. During the course of the conversation, he expressed concern over my prospects if I were to enter the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the value of having me stay in the House of Representatives because of my military background. He said that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had spoken with him about my being on a Presidential Board while remaining in the House of Representatives. I said no. I told President Clinton that my only consideration in getting into the Senate race or not was whether it was the right thing to do for Pennsylvania working families and not any offer. The former President said he knew I'd say that, and the conversation moved on to other subjects.

There are many important challenges facing Pennsylvania and the rest of the country. I intend to remain focused on those issues and continue my fight on behalf of working families.

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/05/28/2331452.aspx

End of story. Let's move on.

just asked him about wanting him to stay in the House, what in the hell is the problem. HE IS THE ONE WHO BLEW IT OUT OF PROPORTION'S and I don't think democrats have a choice but not to trust him.

Are you sure you're posting in the right place?

So why should we distrust him?

Certainly not a "job" if a job is defined by receiving pay. Sestak seems like a real schmuck to me. But he's our schmuck! I mean that without an ounce of irony. I hope he takes Pennsylvania.

Not a job and a schmuck! Why the hell did he call it a job? Did he think of anybody else beside himself?

...Republican Arlen Specter was the White House favorite,
and Democrat Joe Sestak ruined their little party by believing that the Democrats of Pennsylvania should decided who gets to run for that seat.

Isn't it a shame that long term Republican Arlen Specter feels right at home in today's Democratic Party?
Even getting a Democratic President, and former Democratic President to carry water for him?
Specter hasn't changed...only the letter behind his name.

Democratic Party in which Spectre felt comfy. His changes seem to be dictated by what seems likeliest to help Arlen most, not by principles or ideology.

Remember Al Franken on Saturday Night Live? Well, Spectre says to the Dem Party and to the Pub Party: "You must be asking yourself, what can YOU do for ME, Arl Spectre."

all the time and it is not illegal. The repukes are just looking for an election issue, and as usual, some duers are all too willing to go along.

repukes in action. They will keep on this like a dog on a bone, and the media will go right along with it, after all they haven't had a "scandal" to report on for eight fucking years. I think they are going to work and build this up all they can.

the fucking media don't know all about your little clipping? You can bet your ass everyone of those bastards knows it very well. Let's see, St. Fucking Regan, Obama, hummm who gets the pass? Democrat or Republican? :eyes: You seem to think they aren't all fucking hypocrites.

Fact is, if that's all they've got, then the Republicans are desperate.

and the poor little media hasn't had a scandal to cover for eight long fucking years. They are going to ride this. Nothing they like better.

who know Washington. They essentially rolled their eyes.

The republicans are pitiable they are so desperate.

Sen. Durbin, Tim Kaine of the DNC and others all said an explanation was needed. 18 USC 211 makes it illegal. Even David Axelrod, WH senior adviser, this week said if it happened like Sestak said it did it "would be a serious breach of the law".

Really? Where the emolument or thing of value? There is none. Did you read the code section at all?

without expending resources is a thing of value. Even Senior adviser Axelrod agreed with that on Tuesday.

nt

chance of becoming a U.S. Senator by offering him a non-paying job?

If yes, I under-estimated his ambitions or the naiveté of Rahmbo in thinking
congressman Sestak would take the bait. More likely the 2nd option.

Rahm Emanuel needs to go ASAP.

We are talking about the President's making an unsolicited offer to Sestak of an appointive position, via Clinton. Clinton did not ask Sestak for payment to use his (Clinton's) infuence with Obama or to supor Sestak in getting the position. Sestak refused the appointive position. Who violated 18 USC 211? By doing what?

18 USC 211

Whoever solicits or receives, either as a political contribution, or for personal emolument, any money or thing of value, in consideration of the promise of support or use of influence in obtaining for any person any appointive office or place under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Whoever solicits or receives any thing of value in consideration of aiding a person to obtain employment under the United States either by referring his name to an executive department or agency of the United States or by requiring the payment of a fee because such person has secured such employment shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. This section shall not apply to such services rendered by an employment agency pursuant to the written request of an executive department or agency of the United States.

Ditto "It happens all the time" (which is often claimed by people in absolutely no position to know that, anyway).

As o today, I know if no law that was broken. However, I think the offer was decidedly undemocratic. Primaries ought to be left to viters, period. I don't care how many times the will of the people has been secretly subverted or manipuated.

Time for that undemocratic, back room deal shat to be labeled for what it is, not excused.

Most of us believe that it is WRONG for the National Party (DNC, DSCC, DCCC) to interfere in local Primary Elections, especially when those interfering have a conservative bias.

What was done is arguably business as usual. Sestak was desperate to win the nomination and knew he was going up against the wishes of the White House, so he embellished the "offer" (or the suggestion) that Clinton made to him. He may have embellished how many conversations he had with Clinton--some accounts use the plural in referring to the interaction(s). He also embellished the status of what he was offered, and in using the plural also implies there was more than one offer.

So now Sestak is up against not only Obama but also Clinton in terms of reputation. He knows he can't win that battle. The worst that can happen if the media keeps harping on this (like they did with Blumenthal) is having him finally come out and flatly admit that he "mis-spoke", to use the current nomenclature. And that is going to hurt him in the polls.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Talk about a non-story. I'm sure the republicans were drooling over this one.

Oops!

Can't you see this proves the wingnuts right for pursuing impeachment of President Clinton?

Obviously Monica knew way back then that he would offer this deal in the future and therefore should have been discredited for just this purpose.

After all, rumor has it that it was Sarah Palin who advised Monica to seal that dress in plastic just in case. Really. Also.

Freeper(s) counting on a scandal so a "repuke" could win.:shrug:

I'll continue believing what it smacked of originally.

get in the way.

You've been punked, Rethugs!!!!

Well played, Sestak and Obama--so well played they may have done it on purpose!

:bounce:
rocktivity

PhotOh! Ronald Reagan’s super corrupt job offer to Sen. S.I. Hayakawa
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x318767

the GOP is asking that the FBI come in to investigate. I see the Tera Baggers/GOP losing big time in the November. Why, because America people are tired of this, they want the elected politicians to work together to solve the economy and create jobs.

The media is all over this and the oil spill and saying this is O's Katrina, et al., but where are the GOP trying to help the gulf coast???

They are focusing on petty stuff, ie job offer, with the corporate media following suit.

via Cheney and Rove, to Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8445794&mesg_id=8446001

:bounce:
rocktivity

I already read that at least one high ranking Republican has suggested that a 'special prosecutor' be appointed to investigate. We all know how that goes next the Republicans insist that their selected person gets appointed to the position and then that person, when they find nothing in the original charge, procedes to investigate anything and everything in order to keep the Democratic President tied up in defending himself. These conservative/Republicans don't really believe in democracy if they had their way they would be in charge and we wouldn't need elections.

primary....I found it irritating and thought that he did that just to get votes.....even with this explanation...he still irritates me and so does Issa....Sestak won the primary and now all of this will be used against him.....Isaa will be like a pit bull with his stupid ear piece.

attacking the WH.

The first time this came out, Sestak was asked a direct question by an interviewer. The only thing Sestak did "wrong" was answer truthfully when caught off guard by a question.

If he then used it in the primary, who can blame him? Thanks to a cclassic "back room deal," the WH, the DNC and the Party's stars were all supporting Spectre--and Spectre had a half century of name recognition behnd him as well.

Blaming Sestak is bizarre to me. Please see Replies 36 and 38.

BTW, back room deals seem to be a bad habit of this admin, starting with health insurers over a year ago.

All I hear coming out of the TeeVee is "Obama White House", when apparently Rahm asked Bill Clinton to have that conversation. Has anyone said that President Obama told Rahm to do this, or did Rahm dream it up himself. Not that I see much of a story here, but maybe, just maye Rahm gets thrown under the bus for this.

It's been done by Republicans. Did they raise a fuss then? No. It was proven during the Clinton years that all the Repukes care about is taking down the Democratic President - no caring about the country. It's a shame President Clinton gave them a real scandal. Not going to work here, though.

The fact that Reagan did something similar does not mean it's ethical. Please see Replies 36 and 38.

NO "will you drop out of the race?"

All bogus.

is not an offer in exchange for not running against Spectre for the Senate?

LOL