Obama's preferences for his seat

Posted: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 5:35 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray and Chuck Todd
While making clear that Obama and his team had no inappropriate contact regarding the vacant Senate seat, the report does note Obama's preferences to succeed him.

After Valerie Jarrett withdrew her name from consideration for the Senate seat, the report says, Obama discussed other "qualified" candidates with incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and senior adviser David Axelrod. They were Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., state comptroller Dan Hynes, and Tammy Duckworth, director of the state's department of veterans' affairs.

Emanuel then relayed those names to Blagojevich's chief of staff, John Harris. The report says in subsequent phone calls, Emanuel -- with Obama's approval -- recommended state Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson as "qualified candidates" to Harris.

One passage that raised our eyebrows here: "In these conversations, Mr. Emanuel and Mr. Harris discussed the merits of potential candidates and the strategic benefit that each candidate would bring to the Senate seat." What does Greg Craig mean in his report by "strategic benefit"?

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Comments

I would love for this to be true because it would be an early Christmas Present to the quick to jump to conclusion media and the MorningJealousyJoe Crew. Just to have them fall on their face one more time would be a great pleasure of mind, especially JoeScarborough and his irresponsible sidekick Mika.

Remember people, Rahm has been doing a lot of smiling at Obama's News conference as if to say "I know something you don't know"

I tell you this is a great way to teach the press a lesson; when you go on a witch-hunt you better know what you are hunting. I hope when this is all said and done the press would move more caution for fear they will be the next news media with mud on their face, i.e. 21 times.

WhatWillMorningJoeDoNow (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 5:50 PM)

The Media was duped once again; first everyone complained that Obama wasn’t being forthright enough; 2nd why didn’t he come out stronger; 3rd why doesn’t he just release the reports and defy what Fitzgerald and his investigation asked of him; 4th Now lets just make up some lies “21 time” speculation, speculation, speculation and the impatience press,

The press is so predictable and apparently Obama knows them better than they know themselves.

Remember Folks he duped you into believing that Pennsylvania was a closer race and we all knew how that turned out don’t we.

You can’t control him, remember that; you couldn’t control him into picking Hillary for VP and you weren’t able to control him on this….. Remember he figured out Politico and Mark Halperin, what ever they say is the opposite of what’s to be true.

He is one fine Lawyer.

JohnnyMae (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 5:53 PM)

Smile, I see you are looking to try and get that last barb in about Obama or his transition team hey Mark and Chuck. Don't you think that "strategic benefit" just might mean someone who believes in and supports Obama's proposals and plans for this country, and that the person (as the new Senator from Illinois) will work with Obama to help get many of his proposals passed? Ever thought of that guys?

You guys need to relax. You have been too pre-conditioned by the Bush administration.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 5:54 PM)

Oh come on! Lower your eyebrows!

STRATEGIC BENEFIT = ABILITY TO WIN SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS.

Nothing More, Nothing Less.

Texas Reader Who Rarely is Inspired to Comment (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 5:58 PM)

>>>One passage that raised our eyebrows here: "In these conversations, Mr. Emanuel and Mr. Harris discussed the merits of potential candidates and the strategic benefit that each candidate would bring to the Senate seat." What does Greg Craig mean in his report by "strategic benefit"?

==========
So what are you going to do now, try and manufacture a story out of a non-story? I realize you guys and the MSM need people to pay attention to you, but THERE'S NO STORY HERE! The only people desperate enough to bite this are the right-wingnuts hoping against hope that they can smear Obama. GOD D--N, even Newt Gingrich says to let this go.

And yet you let a juicy story like Palin's daughter's baby-daddy's mother getting arrested for drug posession and manufacturing fly right by without mention.

Geez!

28 Days Until Inauguration Day!
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:04 PM)

Strategic benefit could also mean the likelihood that the person would be a strong supporter of an Obama agenda in Congress.

Of course, I'm sure some can find something sinister in just about anything.

Tim, Harrisburg (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:05 PM)

Just read the report. Spinning still continuing? Competent folks are in charge now. Let's build our country again.

J. Richter (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:06 PM)

Define "inappropriate contact" before we take this thing any further. We already know this will hang around until inauguration day, along with some of Obama's other questionmarks.

Peter Percival Patterson (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:15 PM)

From the latest news, Bush has pardoned some prisoners as per usual before he leaves office. It would be great if he would pardon those poor border guards that he let get arrested while doing their duty. Good Grief! Do something that makes sense for a change.

JoAnn, Moundsville, WV (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:17 PM)

I'm waiting for Jesse Jackson Jr. to blow the whistle.

Certainly there's more to this than what we already know.

Flaming Star (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:18 PM)

Face it Media you wanted a story and now you know there is nothing there. Take responsiblity especially "Morning Joe" and move on. In fact keep it up Morning Joe so that you can continue to lose crediblity until your show is a down right joke!!!!

I don't know if you have noticed but even your own guess are looking at you crazy.

justwaitandsee (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:20 PM)

This is the so called LIBERAL MEDIA attacking a LIBERAL. My how unliberal it seems. There is nothing to this alligation, never was and never will be except in the minds of the petty, gossips, or hate mongers.

eagle1776 (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:41 PM)

Chuck Todd needs to get a life! The fact that Obama may have okayed a list of six or so names to be considered as his appointed replacement is hardly "involvement" that rises to eye-brow raising levels or warrants serious discussion in the Illinois mess.

Paul Goldberg, Green Cove Springs FL (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:42 PM)

"What does Greg Craig mean in his report by "strategic benefit"?"

OMG! You don't think....No, it's now way...is it possible that strategic benefit could be who could win a state wide election 2010? OMG! The corruption of discussing the political viability of an appointment in a statewide election!

Dawn of VA (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:56 PM)

Wheh! We know all is well in the world when this attempt at a story becomes news. Peace on Earth must have arrived! Happy Holidays everyone!

Phil, Greenville, NC (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 7:57 PM)

You people need to stop hating your President-elect, hating the people of America, and hating America. I have never seen or heard such hateful garbage as that spouted by Todd, Maddow, and Olbermann. You people used to be my heroes and now I wish you were fired (especially Maddow). Give the hate a break. You are becoming as destructive if not more than Bush and this country doesn't need that!!!

Santa Fe, NM (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 11:01 PM)

I used to like Chuck Todd, but this is beyond the pale. What's so sinister about discussing "strategic benefits"? What do Mark and Todd think, that we can't read at all or between the lines? Sheesh. Meanwhile, Karl Rove's IT guru dies in a plane crash that first they say was due to weather, then to running out of fuel, first his body was immediately identified, and then it was burnt to a crisp and unidentifiable. Cover something that matters! Where's Bush's pardon of yet another Wall St multi-million-dollar thief? Or the 27 yr old Utah university student who stopped the oil companies from turning their national parks into a toxic dump? I only watch Keith and Rachel, the rest of MSNBC bites.

V, Seattle (Sent Tuesday, December 23, 2008 11:46 PM)

When you're at the point that "strategic benefit" raises a red flag you'd better go home for Christmas vacation.

These people are politicians, they're democrats and they're looking out for future elections as well as party support politically. I don't think that's been made illegal yet.

Kathie, CT (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 5:43 AM)

Tammy Duckworth would be great, but the patriotic Republicans would shoot her down the same way they shot down Max Cleland.

Toby in Illinois (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 8:58 AM)

I respect total freedom of the media, especially now considering a terrible media Bill passed hurriedly by 25 Kenyan MPs (and now before the 'President', awaiting assent into la,)empowering the Minister of internal security to invade media houses, impound equipment, dismantle some other, order the Communications Commission Of Kenya to withdraw brodcasting frequencies and vet content to be brodcast and printed, among other damning proposals.
I believe Obama had made promises to his Illinois electorate and would naturally be interested to know who replaces him to assure delivery on those promises and continuity of any incomplete projects he had initiated there-before.
The Media should self regulate, and remain mature and eschew witch-hunting.We need it, and free.

Wycliffe, Nakuru, Kenya (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 9:45 AM)

The media tries to create stories where there are none. Of course some of them would like to see a scandal involving our next president even before he takes office. Keep on trying. The big news last week was the admission by VP Cheney that he committed war crimes, the same crimes the USA hanged offenders after World War II. Why isn't the media asking for the trial of Cheney by the international Court at the Hague? Maybe because it is not "STRATEGIC"! CHUCK, please shut up. Your column shoul be renamed, " DO NOT READ THIS"

Tumu, Dallas, Texas (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 9:54 AM)

And yet you let a juicy story like Palin's daughter's baby-daddy's mother getting arrested for drug posession and manufacturing fly right by without mention.

But Jawillie....that is the problem. Palin's daughter's boyfriend's Mother's drug issue is not an issue either. I have no idea if the woman is guilty of doing anything but even if she is, what does it really have to do with anything?

Media needs to focus on the things that matter and get past the urge to gossip....no matter how juicy the gossip may be.

New Indi (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:04 AM)

no dirt here either. politically you want whoever gets in to be an political asset to your incoming administration. that is the politically smart position to want to be in. that is no indicator of illegal or wrong doing. jesse has nothing wrong to reveal about obama and his crew. give it a breal please. get some real news. stop cheapening the blog fella's.

ace (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:18 AM)

C'mon Chuck, we all watched you during the campaign, you know better. Strategic Benefit:

- Ability to raise money
- Popularity with various constituencies (moderates, liberals, African Americans, women, etc).
- Sustaining the strength of the party in Illinois
- Ability to aid in advancing Obama's agenda in the Senate

C'mon, not much of a mystery here.

Michael (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:28 AM)

I've got to say, Joe and Mika sound downright silly sometimes, and the Blago issue, or non-issue, is done.

AML Sonoma,CA (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 11:03 AM)

Congratulations Chuck on your new appointment
to cover the white house!

Louis St Cyr, Lakewood, WA. (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 11:13 AM)

What does Greg Craig mean in his report by "strategic benefit"?

Two things; the first is that the quotes go on the outside in this case. The second is if you can't figure out that strategic benefit means something good for the Democrats in the Senate, you might want to do some thinking about a change in careers.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 11:35 AM)

That query about "strategic benefit" is a real reach by you guys, always trying to imply something dirty. The term means what you always use it to mean: reflecting the interests of this or that group of constituents, and/or support for Obama's agenda. That is the central aspect of politics, by definition. Check out your Political Science 101 textbook. Why do you imply that is dirty?

Susan White (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:15 PM)

"Strategic benefit" - gee, maybe it means being able to win the election in 2010, do you think?

observerinvancouver (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:44 PM)

I'm really glad to see that one of the names on the recommended list is Jesse Jackson, Jr. Initial reports did not include him and that seemed to smack a little bit of ingratitude since Jackson, Jr. had a significant role in the Obama election team. Plus, he seems well qualified (as are the others).

observerinvancouver (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:51 PM)

Chuck

You need to grow up. You know that this is all fluff and i am dissappointed that you have joined the feather brained group at CNN in bloviating on this story. How about focussing to the tough issues that you seem to keep avoiding:

The Madoff scandal - who knew and when ? Why is it being not investigated ? Why is he not in prison ? Should he not commit harakiri ?

The Bush appointments even as he leaves

There are so many relevant important issues and all you can spend your time is on a non story

anil, chevy chase, marylanhd (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 2:07 PM)

I agree, Chuck needs to get a life. And to think I thought he was qualified to moderate MTP (not that David Gregory is). I think everyone at FR would rather beat this dead horse then get off their butts
& investigate a real story. Tim would be ashamed of you Chuck..........

JB in CO (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 2:14 PM)

So, Obama repeatedly said that he, his close aides, and his transitional team members have never had any contact with Gov. Blagojevich. Is he beginning to lie like Clinton? First, Obama let his close aides know who he would like to take over his seat. Second, his close aides then convened Obama's wish to Gov. Blagojevich and his aides. Third Obama's people did bargain with Gov. Blagojevich's people to see whether he will appoint OB's 1st choice friend Valerie Jarrett. Fourth, when Gov. Blagojevich's demanded pay-tp-play, OB instead to put forward a number of people...... With this information in mind, would you still think that OB was not involved?

Joseph (Sent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 2:31 PM)

Strategic benefit - probably in reference as to how helpful the next senator would be in drawing Democratic support, votes, money, etc. How powerful, well liked, etc. this man/woman would be - how helpful to the party. It doesn't necessarily mean anything bad or wrong.

Marcia Gerber Moline, IL (Sent Thursday, December 25, 2008 11:09 PM)

Over 70% of Illinoians voted to make Obama their Senator. Pretty incredible. They would want and expect Obama with his proven right-on judgement to make recommendations for his replacement.

The only raised eyebrows are on the 68 million people that voted for Obama and the millions of others that support him around the world. The right wing American media is at it again, creating false outrages and thereby attempting to damage reputations and our country.

Here we go again (Sent Saturday, December 27, 2008 1:15 PM)

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