EXCLUSIVE: White House asked Clinton to talk to Sestak about Senate run

[kpete]

Source: The Plum Line

EXCLUSIVE: White House asked Clinton to talk to Sestak about Senate run

Senior White House advisers asked former President Bill Clinton to talk to Joe Sestak about whether he was serious about running for Senate, and to feel out whether he'd be open to other alternatives, according to sources familiar with the situation.

But the White House maintains that the Clinton-Sestak discussions were informal, according to the sources. The White House, under pressure to divulge the specifics of its interactions with Sestak, will release a formal statement later today outlining their version of events, including Clinton's involvement.

According to the sources, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel asked Clinton and his longtime adviser, lawyer Doug Band, to talk to Sestak about the race. It's unclear right now whether the White House will say that Clinton was asked to suggest specific administration positions for Sestak, whether Clinton floated positions on his own, whether Clinton discussed other options not related to the adminstration, or whether employment even came up at all in the talks.

But the news that Clinton is at the center of this whole story is noteworthy on its own because of the former president's stature, and underscores how heavily invested the White House was in dissuading Sestak from running. The White House sent Clinton to talk to Sestak because Arlen Specter, constituting the 60th Dem vote in the Senate, was viewed as key to enacting Obama's agenda.

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/exclusive_white_house_asked_cl_1.html

[xchrom]

1. Well if you're serious about something youre

Gonna a former president to be your 'go to'.

[havocmom]

2. So much for the crap that Obama wanted Sestak to beat Specter all along

and other silly myths of the chorus.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Lost that game of chess!

[havocmom]

13. ::choke::

:spray: then :rofl:

Correctamundo!

[No Elephants]

47. Of course. Losing that game of 8 dimensional chess was just another part of the

12 dimensional game of chess, the rest of which will unfold in due course, all according to the Jedi Master master plan. It's all just going right over your head because Obama is so far ahead of you. (I am smart enough to know this, although you clearly aren't).

If it's needed...... :sarcasm:

[bvar22]

15. I wonder if we'll have any

"Boy, I sure was full of shit on THAT one!" posts?

[Captain Hilts]

17. Google search is our friend! Freddie Mertz and Zipplewrath!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x304895

[KansDem]

3. I really don't know what the hoopla is.

I think this is a non-story...

[Captain Hilts]

7. The effort made to back a sure loser. Specter's age and health made victory unlikely. nt

[No Elephants]

42. And his naked opportunism, plus 40 years as a Rethug

[tavalon]

11. A month ago, this would have been a story

My priorities have changed.

[Captain Hilts]

4. The HUGE effort the White House made for sure loser Specter is amazing. nt

[Unvanguard]

9. He wasn't a "sure loser", it looked like he was going to win for most of the primary.

Unless you mean in the general election?

[Captain Hilts]

10. In the general. nt

[Winterblues]

6. Maybe they could Impeach Clinton all over again along with Obama

:shrug: Talk about grasping at straws. Republicans have nothing...NOTHING....to offer America except division and abuse.

[clarence swinney]

30. DO NOTHING

Clinton got same treatment
Newts 73 new Barbarians in the House fought all Clinton proposals.
In Clinton first two years with a Democratic Congress he had second best record of any in getting his legislation passed.
In his third year he had worst record with Newt's Barbarians.

Obama is one of "nicest" presidents in history
He is a Professor. He Teaches. He is a Philosopher.
He walked into an Erupting Volano with no quick or easy solutions.
America must make Top 20% sacrifice to redistribute Income/Wealth into Middle Class. Via Tax Policies.

He has worked hard in his life to help the less fortunate.
When he grad fron Law School he could have taken big paying jobs
He returned to Chicago to head a Social organzation for less than $20,000 per year and an old Civic Honda.

Like the Clintons who turned down big bucks to go home and help Arkansas. Bill said his primary goal in life was to help Arkansas improve Economy and Education.He did great things in both.
Hillary took a one year leave from her Law firm and visted each school district to learn and to help. That is why he served for 12
years as Governor.

They could have been millionaires.

America should honor such contributions by devoted people who devote selves to lesser amongsth thee.
Many thousands do but are not recognized.
My Dad was one of those.

olduglymeanhonest

[Zenlitened]

8. The key here is UNPAID position, no?

From the NYT:

"Representative Joe Sestak was reportedly offered an unpaid advisory position in exchange for ending his Senate race. "

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/white-house-used-bill-clinton-to-ask-sestak-to-drop-out-of-race/?hp

[No Elephants]

43. Money is not the only possibe benefit (or motivation).

[WeekendWarrior]

12. Why is this even a story? nt

[havocmom]

14. because it disproves the sudden talking points that Obama was not pushing for Specter

It is damned relevant to better understanding of Obama's agenda. He wanted the GOP turned DEM just so he could get re-elected candidate.

Add to that the meme that this isn't a story, and even MORE of the story becomes apparent.

[Iliyah]

16. This

isn't a story but total bullshit pursued by the tea baggers/gop and the corporate media. If the gop keep pursuing I know some of their dirty laundry will come out, and they will cut this witch hunt short - LOL

Since day one the gop have been trying to impleach Pres O, and they will never stop, thats how hateful they are.

They are so concerned about getting rid of this Black man than they have any concerns about the America people or the country.

[havocmom]

33. ah, again someone here equates legitimate questions/critical thought with teabaggers

:puke: on the crap tactic, modified only slightly, from bush's 'yer either with us or with the terrarists'.

I am tickled pink that we have a President who is black. But it doesn't make me turn a blind eye to any of his (self predicted) "missteps". I don't ignore details and errors of white presidents. To ignore same for a black president would be, in a word, racist.

[WeekendWarrior]

50. Still not a story.

[dennis4868]

31. It's a story because....

a Dem is in the WH and they must follow the letter of the law in every material way. If you are republican, you can start illegal wars, send young men and women to their deaths in Iraq based on a lie, trash the constitution by illegal wiretapping US citizens, tortue people, billions missing from teasury, no bid contracts to Cheney's company, lying to congress,, etc, etc., etc., this is all okay with the repubs, the media and even most Dems (Nancy Pelosi saying she will not even think about impeachment).

[No Elephants]

44. Republicans are claiming some legal or ethical violation. I don't see it myself.

But media love stirring pots.

[groundloop]

18. "Offered a Job" is way different than "feel out whether he'd be open to other alternatives"

Of course the tea baggers and right wingers will stop at nothing to harrass President Obama, just as they did Clinton. There are many reasons for them to keep this in the news as long as possible, foremost it may possibly raise doubts amongst independant voters come November.

[bvar22]

26. No, "Offering a job"...

is a way to Clear the Field, and install the "Centrist's" pet Republican in the Senate, moving the Democratic Party even further to The Right.

[Iowa]

40. +1

[mdmc]

19. WH used Clinton to get Sestak out of Pa. race

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – The White House used former President Bill Clinton to offer an unpaid advisory position to Rep. Joe Sestak in hopes of persuading him to drop his Pennsylvania Senate primary challenge to President Barack Obama's favored candidate, according to an internal report issued Friday.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100528/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_pennsylvania_senate

---

I don't believe..

[mdmc]

20. imho the story is not true

seems like very nice cover if Sestak goes along with it..

[Autumn]

23. Did not the Whitehouse issue the report?

I wouldn't think they would lie, but I'm not sure what the problem is or why it's even a big deal.

[mdmc]

25. yes Miss, they did issue the report

imho to cover their ass..
in time the truth will come out, if needed..

[Autumn]

28. Thank you. So is this a possible

investigation? I don't see how it can be too bad, it's not like they were selling the job. Other than them selling us out to get the old rat bastard on their side it seems like a non-issue.

[karynnj]

34. They would not have brought Bill Clinton's name into a fake story

They could have said the same thing using Rendell or Emmanuel which would have not have been as big a story.

[Captain Hilts]

21. But, but DUers said the prez didn't really want Specter to win - it was all chess! Link here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4401891&mesg_id=4401989

[LakeSamish706]

22. "unpaid advisory position" Interesting spin, but not believable. n/t

[Frances]

24. Completely believable to me

The White House had promised to be loyal to Spector if he switched from Repub to Dem. Along comes a very attractive Dem candidate. The White HOuse doesn't want to go back on its word to support Spector but feels it also owes something to Sestek so they offer him something with prestige but not illegal. As I understand it, they also wanted Sestek to keep his seat in the House.

[Demeter]

27. Having Watched the Rahmbo White House in Action for Over a Year Now

I believe all this and more.

Specter is Obama's twisted idea of "bipartisanship", no doubt.

[Inuca]

37. Twisted?

Specter's vote brought us health care (which you probably think it's worse than nothing, but I don't), the stimulus package, and probably more. And he is behaving very decently now and saying that he will support Sestak and introduced him to the Senate dem caucus. Hats off to him, he kept his side of the bargain like a true gentleman.

[kpete]

29. KPETE UPDATE:

WH Replies:
UPDATE, 12:02 p.m.: Here's the official response from the White House counsel on what happened. The White House says, as noted above, that it asked Clinton to suggest to Sestak an unpaid advisory board position.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/Sestak%20Memorandum.pdf

[tomm2thumbs]

36. official response

again, disappointing

[gauguin57]

32. Unfortunately, Sestak is mainly attractive "on paper." When he's asked to speak extemporaneously ...

... he sounds like kind of a goofball. A little Kenneth-the-Page-esque. I voted for him in the primary (after much soul-searching). But Yikes.

He's fine with a prepared text. But listening to some of the interviews, here in the Keystone State, before the primary .... Yikes.

A little scary. Pat Toomey is scary on a whole other level, of course.

[No Elephants]

45. Apart from working his aides

hard, maybe too hard (but not as hard as he himself works, he sounds good to me. Liberal voting record plus an appeal to the center and to the right via his military service and rank. However, people allegedly on the left, like Ed Shultz, have been atacking him, even though he's our candidate, bc they think he made Obama look bad. So frustrating.

[kpete]

35. Sestak's Response

Rep. Joe Sestak released this statement on Friday after the White House issued a memo outlining its offer, through former President Bill Clinton, of an advisory position to him:

“Last summer, I received a phone call from President Clinton. During the course of the conversation, he expressed concern over my prospects if I were to enter the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the value of having me stay in the House of Representatives because of my military background. He said that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had spoken with him about my being on a Presidential Board while remaining in the House of Representatives. I said no. I told President Clinton that my only consideration in getting into the Senate race or not was whether it was the right thing to do for Pennsylvania working families and not any offer. The former President said he knew I'd say that, and the conversation moved on to other subjects.

“There are many important challenges facing Pennsylvania and the rest of the country. I intend to remain focused on those issues and continue my fight on behalf of working families.”

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7018820012

[msanthrope]

38. Don't fuck with the Big Dog, pukes. He'll kick your

asses. You guys really don't want a committee hearing with Bill and rahm.

[bvar22]

39. Sounds like Sestak told the "Big Dog"...

...to take a hike.
Thanks, but No Thanks.
You guys want to carry water for that Republican Specter, thats your problem.
See Ya!
:hi:


I have some compassion for the Old Dog now.
His title of "Best Republican President Ever" is in jeopardy.

[No Elephants]

46. LOL

[PassingFair]

41. That DLC dog will hunt where ever he is sent.

Here he is lining up his new retrieval:







:puke:

[No Elephants]

48. "I have no dog in this hunt"...so vote for Blanche Lincoln because she

voted for health care (unsaid: before she voted against the final version).

Ah, yes, the honesty and integrity just rolls off the Teflon former President.

[No Elephants]

49. "Ah don't care what the WH says. Ah never tried to fuck that man, Admiral Sestak.

Ah only made him a proposition, knowing he'd say no."

Leave it to the Teflon President to make sure he was covered both ways: "I knew you'd say that."

Who should pick candidates, Party bosses, or primary voters? That is the question for both major Parties