This gets funnier by the day ......

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1360191,harry-reid-blagojevich-j
esse-jackson-010209.article

Reid pressured Blagojevich not to appoint Jackson Jr. to Obamas U.S. Senate
seat

SENATE PICK | Reid reportedly made it clear he didn't want Jackson, Davis or
Jones to be appointed, fearing they'd lose to a GOP opponent in a future
election


January 2, 2009

BY NATASHA KORECKI, CHRIS FUSCO AND LYNN SWEET

Days before Gov. Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell President-elect
Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, top Senate Democrat
Harry Reid made it clear who he didnt want in the post: Jesse Jackson, Jr.,
Danny Davis or Emil Jones.

Rather, Reid called Blagojevich to argue he appoint either state Veterans
Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth or Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan,
sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Sources say the Senate majority leader pushed against Jackson and Davis  both
democratic congressmen from Illinois  and against Jones  the Illinois Senate
president who is the political godfather of President-elect Barack Obama
because he did not believe the three men were electable. He feared losing the
seat to a Republican in a future election.

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero confirmed that Reid (D-Nev.) and U.S. Sen.
Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)  the new chief of the Senate Democratic political
operation  each called Blagojevichs campaign office separately Dec. 3. Sources
believe that at least portions of the phone conversations are on tape.

Before their contacts, Obamas chief of staff Rahm Emanuel called Blagojevich to
tell him to expect to hear from Senate leadership because they were pushing
against Jackson and others, according to statements the governor made to
others.

The Reid-Menendez calls came a day before a Dec. 4 conversation overheard on
government wiretaps where Blagojevich says he was getting a lot of pressure not
to appoint Candidate 5. Candidate 5 is Jackson.

The calls reveal the varying forces directed at Blagojevich as he weighed the
appointment.

Duckworth is the wounded Iraq war veteran who was tapped by Blagojevich for the
state post after she lost a House race in 2006. Duckworths entry in the House
contest was championed by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) with her campaign
assisted by Emanuel, who was running the House political operation at the time,
and Obama. David Axelrod, Obamas chief presidential campaign strategist, was
Duckworths media consultant for her House race.

Madigan is supported by her powerful father Illinois Speaker of the House
Michael Madigan.

A Jackson spokesman said the congressman believes he could attain statewide
support.

Congressman Jackson was encouraged that two independent statewide polls
confirmed that he was the most popular Democrat to succeed Barack, Jackson
spokesman Rick Bryant said. The polls also showed he was in a strong position
to win reelection in 2010, drawing strong support from virtually every
demographic group.

Jim Manley, spokesman for Reid, acknowledged Friday that Reid called
Blagojevich as well as other governors who had Senate vacancies in their
respective states.

Of course Sen. Reid spoke to the governor of Illinois -- just as he spoke to
the governors of New York and Colorado when senators from those states accepted
jobs in the new administration, Manley said. 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.

Reid declined to reveal the specific names discussed, saying he didnt want to
embarrass anyone.

Though Menendez did talk with Blagojevich about the appointment, he did not
suggest any names and he did not discourage the appointment of anyone, said
Matt Miller, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee which
Menendez chairs.

Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on charges he tried to sell Obamas vacant seat
in exchange for campaign funds, a job or ambassadorship.

On Tuesday, he appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the
post.

Reid, as well as other Senators, have vowed to block the move. At a news
conference naming Burris, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) told reporters he
backed Burris because it was important that an African American hold a post in
the U.S. Senate.

An Obama transition team spokeswoman would not comment, referring reporters to
a report released by Obamas transition team before Christmas.

The report did not specify the contact between Emanuel and the governor.

A spokesman for Jones could not be reached for comment. A Davis spokesman
declined comment.

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