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Obama Already Caught Misleading Public

Obama claimed today that he has never had any contact, whatsoever, with the Blagojevich Administration in Illinois:

Obama was asked: "Were you aware at all about what was happening with your Senate seat?" He responded: "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening."

Wow. Obama has never had contact with the governor or his office? Really?

No, not really, of course. In reality, Obama has had plenty of contact.

Mr. Obama has a relationship with Mr. Blagojevich, having not only endorsed Blagojevich in 2002 and 2006, but having served as a top adviser to the Illinois governor in his first 2002 run for the state house.

It must have been very difficult for Obama to have been Blagojevich's top adviser without ever having any contact with him. Charitably, I suppose Obama's comment could be taken to mean that once Blagojevich won in 2002, that was the end of their contact.

But even that isn't true.

Mr. Obama said, "If the governor asks me to work on his behalf, I'll be happy to do it."

Apparently the governor did. At the Illinois State Fair in August 2006, Obama spoke on Blagojevich's behalf.

"We've got a governor in Rod Blagojevich who has delivered consistently on behalf of the people of Illinois," Obama told the crowd.

In January 2007, Blagojevich's office reserved the Old State Capitol for Mr. Obama's presidential announcement at Obama's request.

Not recent enough? How about this photo of them together last week at the National Governors Association?

Red handed.

Now, clearly Obama didn't mean what he said. He has had contact with Blagojevich, and the record is clear on that. Obama probably meant to say that he hasn't had contact with Blagojevich regarding his replacement.

But when you speak in imprecise and misleading language (and make false statements), so as to distance yourself from a brewing political scandal, over and over and over again, it's hard to think it's not intentional.

Full post as published by Expressio Unius on December 09, 2008 (boomark / email).