Blagojevich Was Not Alone in Illinois Political Corruption

The Chicago Daily Observer reports:

Today, many of Blagojevich’s former friends and playmates deny knowing him or they are keeping their distance. Erstwhile friends such De Leo, Saviano, Quinn and so many others have vanished or suffered selective forms of political amnesia. Another former member of the Illinois State Senate, Barack H. Obama, used to count Blagojevich and the political wheeler dealer Antonin “Tony” Rezko as his friends and allies. President Obama, US Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) and the newly elected Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel used to actively court Blagojevich when they were attempting to climb the rungs of the political ladder or seeking favors. Emanuel and his family members actually contributed to Blagojevich’s campaign fund on a reliable basis. Schakowsky, herself, sought to be named to the US Senate vacancy.

These opportunistic relationships soured when Obama’s career eclipsed that of Blagojevich and when the governor was impeached and removed from office. Nevertheless, there are numerous examples of both Emanuel and Obama trying to elbow their way into photographs in order to stand in close proximity to Blagojevich when they were absolute beginners and he was the established careerist. Emanuel actually succeeded Blagojevich in Congress in 2002 when the Elvis impersonator vacated the seat to run for the Governor’s Mansion. During that campaign and in the early stages of his Congressional career, Emanuel was all over Blagojevich like white on rice. Both men lived within one mile of each other in Chicago, an easy jog for Blago, until Emanuel foolishly made an estimated $80,000.00 legal mistake and rented his principal residence to tenants in 2009. In any event, it was not an accident that Emanuel was chosen to serve as the President-elect’s emissary when suggestions were made as to suitable appointees to the vacant US Senate seat. Blago and Rahm were political allies at one time and their relationship was viewed as the closest to being salvageable before the US Attorney came a calling.

Who could forget the video of Obama endorsing Blago down below?