Sen. Reid called Blagojevich about Obama seat

Associated Press

Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 | 11:33 p.m.

Illinois' embattled governor complained through his spokesman Saturday that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is guilty of a conflict of interest in that Reid telephoned him in early December to discuss the seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Lucio Guerrero, spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said he didn't know firsthand which candidates the Nevada Democrat supported during the call, but said he knows Reid's candidates did not include Roland Burris, the man the governor recently picked for Obama's seat.

Senate leaders have vowed to oppose the appointment of Burris.

"I think the governor believes there is a conflict of interest _ that Reid showed he has a horse in the race and Roland Burris wasn't one of them," Guerrero said.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, Reid spokesman Jim Manley confirmed the majority leader called Blagojevich on Dec. 3 _ six days before the governor's arrest on federal corruption charges _ to talk about the vacancy. Prosecutors say Blagojevich at the time was trying to peddle Obama's seat in exchange for money or a job in Obama's cabinet.

Manley declined to name the candidates discussed, saying there was "no need to embarrass the people that were subject of the conversation."

Manley added that Reid also spoke to the New York and Colorado governors about openings created when senators from those states accepted Obama administration jobs.

"It is part of his job as majority leader to share his thoughts about candidates who have the qualities needed to succeed in the Senate," Manley said.

Manley said the claim that Reid has a conflict of interest regarding Burris was "absolutely ridiculous."

"The Senate Democratic caucus has said from the very beginning we would not accept an appointment by the governor," he said. "This has nothing to do with Mr. Burris. It is about the man doing the appointing."

Burris wouldn't comment on Reid's conversations with the governor, saying he didn't know the details of what they discussed.

Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, accepted Blagojevich's appointment and is expected to be in Washington on Tuesday and ask to be sworn in along with the rest of the Senate. The Democratic leadership is expected to defer the matter to a rules panel until impeachment proceedings against Blagojevich are settled, apparently in hopes that a new governor will appoint someone else.

Reid is standing by the decision to oppose any appointment by Blagojevich, Manley said.

An attorney representing Burris is lobbying for Senate support, sending a letter to Senate Democratic leaders asking them to seat his client.

In the letter, dated Friday, attorney Timothy Wright called on the Senate leaders to grant the people of Illinois the representation the U.S. Constitution affords them.

The letter was addressed to Dick Durbin of Illinois, Charles Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California and to Reid, who has said that anyone picked by Blagojevich will be turned away.

Wright, who said he hadn't received a response to the letter as of Saturday, told The AP that he planned to go to federal court if the Senate refuses to seat Burris.

Burris has already asked the Illinois Supreme Court to force Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to certify the appointment, hoping it will help his argument to be seated.

Reid urged Blagojevich to appoint either Illinois Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth or Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday, citing anonymous sources.

Reid reportedly opposed the appointments of Democratic Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Danny Davis because the Democratic leader feared they would lose the seat to a Republican in the 2010 general election. Reid also allegedly opposed Emil Jones, the powerful black leader of the Illinois Senate, on the same grounds.

"What is clear to me is that every candidate that was African-American was denied and every other candidate was acceptable," said Wright, adding, "I'm not going to read too much into that."

Wright also echoed Blagojevich's claim of a conflict of interest, saying that Reid's call to the governor showed he had a political stake in who took Obama's seat.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By johnevegas

1/4/09 at 8:21 a.m.

Suggest removal

"What is clear to me is that every candidate that was African-American was denied and every other candidate was acceptable," said Wright, adding, "I'm not going to read too much into that."

You gotta love attorneys. By saying "I'm not going to read too much into that." he, in fact, does.

As if race or Reid were ever the issues.
By texexnv

1/4/09 at 8:24 a.m.

Suggest removal

This clearly shows what an out and out liar Boss Reid has become,..er..um, still is.

He would have accepted Duckworth or Madigan faster than a bailout. Yet he is going to have armed guards at the Senate door for anyone that is not his hand-picked stooge.

Reid stated on Meet the Press just minutes ago that he knew Blago has had a "cloud over his head for a LONG TIME". Since Reid knew full well about this long lasting cloud, why was Reid trying to force Blago into selecting someone of his choosing?!? Reid then says he never spoke against Jessee Jackson Jr.! And he also says on MTP this is NOT about the 2010 elections although his spokesman, Jim Manley, said different in this interview http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blago...

Since the above article says "at least portions of the phone conversations are on tape", the voters of Nevada deserve to hear these tapes to determine for themselves how big of a liar their senior Senator really is.
By Future2012

1/4/09 at 10:24 a.m.

Suggest removal

Harry Reid caught on tape

Harry would not have this problem if he would stay out of other State's business. Or maybe not.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid fancies himself as the Democrat's kingmaker and as such has long directed Nevada politicians such as Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Commish Rory Reid our future Governor.

Harry Reid has made his millions with shady insider land deals and that gratuitous book advance. But more "power" is what he seeks.

But while Harry Reid said "Gov. Blagojevich's efforts to try to tarnish others while the cloud of suspicion continues to grow over him are shameful, as are his efforts to further betray the public trust and sow seeds of division," he has gotten caught on tape in the growing south-side of Chicago machine politics.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid didn't want Black Rep. Jesse Jackson in the Senate, a point he made clear to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in a conversation about filling Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Nevada Democrat made a call to Blagojevich on Dec. 3 to discuss the seat vacated by the president-elect, Reid spokesman Jim Manley confirmed. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that during their discussion Reid pressured Blagojevich not to appoint Jesse Jackson Jr., Danny Davis or Emil Jones. Six days later, authorities arrested Blagojevich for allegedly trying to sell Obama's seat.

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero says the call shows Reid has a conflict of interest in vowing not to accept black former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris for the seat.

Reid is clearly opposed to Illinois selecting their own Senator and as a racist blacks need not apply.

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