JUST WHAT CLARENCE ORDERED:

Rahm Emanuel and Jesse Jackson Jr face new revelations in Governor Rod Blagojevich scandal (James Bone, 12/12/08, Times of London)

Fox News Chicago reported that Mr Emanuel, a Chicago politician who won the Illinois governor's former Congressional seat, may have been captured on FBI wire-taps discussing the fate of Mr Obama's vacated US Senate seat with Gov Rod Blagojevich.

The TV station said Mr Emanuel had "multiple conversations" with Mr Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to "sell" the open Senate seat for a cabinet post or lucrative top foundation job, and his chief of staff. The report said the governor was given a list of Senate candidates acceptable to Mr Obama.

Because the FBI was secretly taping Gov Blagojevich in recent weeks, Mr Emanuel's conversations may have been recorded, Fox News Chicago said.

Any tape-recordings of the newly appointed White House chief of staff speaking to Gov Blagojevich about Mr Obama's former Senate seat would prove an acute embarrassment to the incoming Obama Administration, even if no illegal deals were discussed, and could even force Mr Emanuel's resignation.

Mr Obama has promised to release details of any contacts between his staff and the governor's office, but told a news conference on Thursday he was "absolutely certain" none of his aides were involved in any deal-making.

Mr Emanuel skipped Mr Obama's press conference, which he typically attends.

Would have been helpful if someone had at least mentioned to voters that Mr. Obama is just a Cook County hack.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 12, 2008 1:57 PM