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* 9:47 am - If you care, Rahm Emanuel is testifying at the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners about his residency case. Click here to watch. Live-blog in comments if you’d like.
* 11:13 am - The hearing has reconvened.
* From Carol Moseley Braun’s campaign…
“Rahm Emanuel has a long history of personally benefitting from special deals. From his patronage appointment to the Freddie Mac Board, to his election to Congress on the back of illegal city hiring, to making 20 million dollars in just two years greasing deals for investment bankers, it’s always a special deal for Rahm. Now Rahm wants a special deal from the Board of Elections. The reports of Rahm changing his tax returns raise many questions that he needs to answer. The main question is: was Rahm lying then, or is he lying now? Police and firemen must be residents of Chicago and they don’t get special deals. They live by the law, either they reside in Chicago or they are fired. Why should Rahm Emanuel be any different? It’s time for Rahm to quit asking for another special deal and start answering questions about his privileged past.”
* 2:07 pm - We’re into the weirdos now. The current person just asked Emanuel how often he worked at the White House “as a Senator… as a state Representative.” Sheesh.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 9:48 am
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Also CNN streaming Rahm residency hearing http://live.cnn.com/ h/t @benpolitico .
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:01 am
I know Rahm is above reproach. so I am sure this will be meaningless.
Comment by Living in Oklahoma Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:06 am
Perhaps the most ridiculous Chicago media event of recent years. It gives circuses a bad name.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:08 am
This is more likely to be decided by an appellate court than the Chicago Board of Elections. But still, we get wall to wall breathless preseason coverage. This is starting to make me miss news about Brett Favre.
Comment by Scooby Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:15 am
They’re starting to get under his skin.
Comment by Jeff Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:24 am
How long will it be before Rahm explodes and starts dropping f-bombs?
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:26 am
Burt Odelson has won an Illinois supreme court case concerning election law. He was hired by GW Bush in the Florida recount.
He wouldn’t waste his reputation and effort on this if he didn’t think he could prevail.
For those of us who are election law junkies this is a great opportunity to watch some of the best election lawyers in the country duke it out.
I hope it makes it to the Illinois supreme court.
Comment by Election Lawyer Battle Royale Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:27 am
This is from Cecil’s Adams Straight Dope Chicago:
Chapter 36, Section 3.2(a) of the Illinois Compiled Statutes includes the following provision:
A permanent abode is necessary to constitute a residence within the meaning of Section 3-1 [which says who’s allowed to vote in Illinois]. No elector or spouse shall be deemed to have lost his or her residence in any precinct or election district in this State by reason of his or her absence on business of the United States, or of this State.
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:36 am
I appreciate the big picture issues here, but this process is just goofy.
In the course of a couple months, the political investigative backgrounding process has discussed where Pat Quinn keeps his underwear, photographed the contents in Quinn’s refrigerator, and now shown a photo of Rahm’s closet and asked about the location of a suit coat. Unreal.
Who in their right mind would become a public servant and go through this? Who in their right mind would ask why we do not have “better people” in government? It is beyond surreal.
I can tell you right now, based on the condition of my closet and fridge, I am disqualified from running for public office!
Comment by Statewide Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:39 am
if real estate is location, location, location, politics is often perception, perception, perception. Rahm may well win the case, but facts coming out in evidence may be mudworthy.
also, the most obvious benefit for his opponents is that this delays Rahm from starting his machine to smash all others.
most of all, it’s just plain fun to watch Odelson putting in the record voter’s registration, tax records, getting Rahm to claim it was the CPA’s fault, in other words, Odelson doing his finest work.
so far, Rahm looks quite uncomfortable.
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:40 am
Bill, that might be a secondary, but still very important, goal of the Man Behind the Curtain pushing the objections.
Has Rahm ever had to stand up to extended, hostile, public questioning? He didn’t need to Senate confirmation for White House COS.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:40 am
The question and procedure is pretty mind-numbing, but there was just a flash of drama. The lawyer interrogating Emanuel just asked him where he was residing, during the years of 2009-2010. Emanuel’s lawyers flashed up and immediately yelled objection, claiming that would be a legal conclusion. Emanuel then stated where he was renting, during that time period. An interesting moment in a pretty stultifying process.
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:44 am
Cheryl44,
I didn’t see Cecil’s column, but if I did, I would have commented that he’s cited the correct statute for voter registration. Unfortunately, there is another hurdle to qualify as a candidate, and that is the question here.
In other words, yes, Rahm was a resident for voting purposes, but possibly not a resident for 365 days prior to the election, which is the additional burden candidates for mayor have to meet.
Does that make sense?
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:46 am
Another objection, sustained by the judge. Emanuel was asked if he considered serving in the military to be on the business of the United States.
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:46 am
Emanuel asked if he ever had a DC driver’s license, and he said he never did. Odelson has concluded his questioning. The judge is calling for a recess.
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:49 am
Cecil’s dope is seldom straight.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:52 am
lost the cnn stream, anyone else ?
Comment by bob Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:54 am
===so far, Rahm looks quite uncomfortable. ===
You may be seeing what you want to see.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:55 am
The Axelrod back-and-forth was interesting. I’m surprised it was allowed to go on so long.
Comment by LakeviewJ Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:04 am
NBC link does not open up, any other working video links ?
Comment by bob Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:05 am
It’s working for me, but try CNN.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:14 am
WMAQ-TV’s 5.2 channel is broadcasting it live.
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:15 am
It’s all a waste of time. One way or another he will end up running, regardless of the laws. When big politics wants something, it just takes it.
Comment by cynical Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:19 am
Russ Stewart….what a find since his work, odd work, went online.
this line of questioning is interesting, that bit about Rahm coming to Chicago to speak at the invitation of the mayor.
and, yes, I do think Rahm looked uncomfortable, especially when Odelson asked about the tax switch and the CPA.
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:21 am
This hearing has gone seriously downhill since the break.
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:28 am
Ponder the race if he’s off the ballot. So many of us consider it over, who of the second tier really has “it” to be mayor. Rahm doesn’t run with the big dogs, he’s one of the biggest there is. If he’s off the ballot it’s a free for all. For that matter, where does Carol Mosley Braun live? I thought she was growing nuts somewhere. Give me a break.
Comment by frustrated GOP Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:35 am
I suppose Braun flew back and forth from DC to Chicago everyday while she was a Senator. And, does she really think it’s in her best interest to have tax filings scrutinized?
Comment by George Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:37 am
what is the point of this bank account line of questioning?
are there objectors who will intentionally muck up the record?
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:40 am
Rahm will be on the ballot, but if he isn’t, I think many of Rahm’s people would swarm to Chico.
Comment by Niles Township Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:40 am
It doesn’t matter what Carol did when she was a Senator or where her nut farm was. What matters is that, unlike Rahm, she lived in Chicago for the 12 months preceding the election.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:40 am
Rahm trying to be funny is the real “humor” here.
Comment by truthman Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:55 am
Actually if a Chicago firefighter let’s say went to NY after 9/11 for 3 months to help with the recovery, the firefighter would most certainly still be a Chicago resident for those 3 months even if he or she never came back here during that time.
Comment by just sayin' Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 1:48 pm
If the fire fighter rented his house for that time he would get fired.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 2:17 pm
People outside of Illinois must be looking at this Rahm spectacle with absolute wonder. A man who was adviser/chief of staff to TWO US presidents, someone who would immediately raise the profile of Chicago nationally through his business and media contacts, in addition to having been an elected congressman– being run through the wringer so some second and third tier candidates can vie to run a floundering Chicago.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 3:06 pm
Oh Man, this guy now is Realllllllllllllllllly bringing the crazy now………
Comment by I'm Just Saying Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 3:11 pm
Did you personally start the Ruby Ridge compound on fire?
Comment by Bill F. Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 3:15 pm
“Have you ever been a member… of the Communist Party?” LOL!
Comment by Jeff Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 3:51 pm
Ah, the dark underbelly of Chicago politics finally exposed!!!
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 3:53 pm
For the record, that question was withdrawn. According to many right-wingers, he should have been forced to answer the question after working for Obama.
All kidding aside, this is ridiculous. If all of these people would spend this much time and energy working for the candidate of their choice, maybe we would have a competitive race.
Comment by Jeff Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 3:58 pm
Jeff, there is no way that kind of bizarre energy can effectively be channeled into a relatively positive thing like a campaign.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:03 pm
Rahm is soooooooo patient in the face of all this nonsense. Geez….
Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:16 pm
Quite. His demeanor certainly undermines a whole lot of the common assumptions about him.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:18 pm
If anyone knows if this will be archived somewhere please post a link, thanks
Comment by bob Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:20 pm
NBC5 told me they will be posting several vids of the testimony. I specifically asked for the Sherman Skolnick fan.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:21 pm
Oh No! William Kelly is up now.
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:22 pm
Yee-haw.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:23 pm
@Cheryl
As someone stated, Rahm have been a voter under state law, that does not mean they are a qualified candidate. Also, since this is a municipal office, there is municipal law that also applies, specifically the one year prior residency requirement. Additionally, about voter registration and Emanuel, the Chicago Board of Elections did a canvass with nonforwardable mail and Emanuel was purged from the rolls and then magically reappeared back on them.
Comment by Aaron Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:25 pm
===Emanuel was purged from the rolls and then magically reappeared back on them. ===
Aaron, your facts are wrong. We’ve discussed this before. It’s you who believe in magic.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:28 pm
Q. Do you believe the Halpin’s are trespassing in your home?
A. Overuled
Q. Would you consider calling Tom Dart to have them evicted?
A. Overruled.
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:29 pm
Q. When was the last time you attended a Cubs game?
Judge: You may answer the question.
A. I attended in summer of 2009
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:31 pm
@Aaron, I’m pretty sure Rich has talked about this “purged from the rolls” issue about 100 times. That just isn’t true.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:31 pm
Q. If you were mayor, would you force police and firefighters and teachers to be residents
Judge. Overruled
Q. Do you know who Tom Hansen is?
A. I know the name
Kelly. What address do you live at?
Judge. Objection. Already stated
Kelly. But I wasn’t in the room!
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:34 pm
Maybe Emanuel should argue that the residency law as it pertains to candidates for public office is unfair because applicants for other city jobs aren’t required to live in the city for a year.
Comment by SR Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:34 pm
What lunacy. Besides the obvious strategy of trying to knock Rahm off the ballot, the secondary strategy of trying to rattle him so he’ll freak has failed.
He’s now a sympathetic figure with the all-day Looney Tune stuff.
The Man Behind the Curtain is slick, but not always smart, as his career has shown.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:37 pm
Correction: that should have read “aren’t required to have lived in the city for a year” (before applying for city jobs.) Point I’m trying to is the laws are different, sometimes for better or worse depending on the situation of the job seeker. City employees don’t have the “business of the United States” exception, but they don’t have to live in the city for a year before applying for a job like candidates for public office do.
Comment by SR Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:40 pm
Another person who has shown far more patience than he probably should have is the hearing officer.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:59 pm
I was there, I wouldn’t have left so early if I knew that William Kelly was going to be up next
I have to say that Joe Morris has shown an amazing amount of patience with all of the wactivists who have been up this afternoon…..
Mr. Black was yelling during testimony and the Chicago Police were moving to remove him…… Morris prevented Black from being removed……..
Comment by I'm Just Saying Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 6:40 pm
It ain’t over yet.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 6:43 pm
“He don’t know what’s in the basement! He said he didn’t put ‘em there, Amy did! Amy isn’t here! We don’t even know if Amy exists!”
Comment by Tim Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 6:49 pm
Ah, democracy.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 6:51 pm
Black: “Will you recuse yourself from all of these cases which you are presiding over unconstitutionally, criminally and immorally?”
Morris: “No.”
Black: “Understood.”
Comment by Tim Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:00 pm
Oh, man. Reexamination?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:18 pm
I can’t believe I’m still watching this.
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:28 pm
Yeah. Not exactly the Harold Washington replacement meeting, is it?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:30 pm
Shouted from the crowd: “Let the record show that Joe Moore is the 49th ward alderman.”
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:32 pm
I don’t understand why “Mr. Moore” is allowing re-answers to questions that have been asked and answered a billion times.
Comment by I Can't Stop Watching Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:36 pm
He’s bending over backwards to be a small “d” democrat here. He’s starting to get a bit peevish, however. He yelled at least once.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:38 pm
Lots of people apparently believed that they were smart enough to handle themselves in a forum like this. Apparently, they are the product of a society that prizes self esteem over achievement.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:39 pm
Yes, it was rhetorical. I’m amazed at the patience of everyone in this room. And nail on the head re: society.
Comment by I Can't Stop Watching Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:43 pm
Abdon has had an “I’m interested and I’m wide awake” look the whole time. He’s Iron Man as far as I’m concerned.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:44 pm
Sam H. was dying for a while there. Was tempted to text him a wake up call.
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:46 pm
“Are you a citizen of Israel?” Sheesh. “Are you a freedom fighter to the nation of Israel?” Here comes the Jew baiting.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 7:52 pm
Did RE say he’s going to Waveland Bowl after this? If so, I’m totally going to meet him there.
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:02 pm
Yes, Waveland Bowl
Comment by I Can't Stop Watching Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:03 pm
What’s with this Waco stuff? Is that even a real rumor? I suppose I should Google it just to see what the weirdos say, but I’m not really in the mood.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:05 pm
3 months ago, having a conversation with the President of the United States about, let’s say, the recession or Afghanistan or global warming. Today, having a conversation about adhesive.
Comment by I Can't Stop Watching Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:09 pm
Uh oh. I believe those pockets/sleeves are illegal. http://bit.ly/fhqiYw
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:12 pm
LOL. So, Rahm’s great crime is he improperly affixed his sticker to his windshield?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:13 pm
If the sticker’s in a pocket
Rahm gets kicked out the docket
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:14 pm
He’s going to have to get out in front of this one. and fast.
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:16 pm
==3 months ago, having a conversation with the President of the United States about, let’s say, the recession or Afghanistan or global warming. Today, having a conversation about adhesive.==
LOL. Now that he’s interacted with some of his potential constituents do you think maybe Rahm is reconsidering whether he really wants be the mayor after all!?
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:27 pm
Rahm doesn’t know his own evidence. There is an email exchange between his wife and the realtor about the sale language in the lease. Rahm’s wife made it abundantly clear that she had zero intention to sell the house.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:30 pm
That address change thing was the best question asked all day.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:36 pm
“Mr. Witness, you are excused.” Finally!
Comment by Tim Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:52 pm
Bowling time!
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 8:52 pm
you got that right
Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 9:03 pm
From what I gather, the realtor will testify about the email conversations with his wife re: not wanting to sell the house. I got the impression he was trying not to bring her up when possible because every time an issue arose that involved her (eg. the parking sticker) there were more calls to have her testify.
Comment by SR Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 10:11 pm
Interesting stuff. I want the best man or woman to be Mayor of Chicago. Love to see the candidates in a debate.
Comment by JBilla Wednesday, Dec 15, 10 @ 1:16 am