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* People try to sell their books. That’s no surprise at all. Reporters who write books often try to sell their books by disclosing never before heard “news.” That’s not new, either. But relying on Rod Blagojevich’s veracity about a rumor he’d heard about someone he despised is a new one on me…

An upcoming book about Rod Blagojevich says undercover recordings caught the former governor saying he had heard that convicted influence peddler Antoin “Tony” Rezko secretly channeled $25,000 in cash to Barack Obama, but federal authorities did not deem the claim credible.

The book, “Golden: How Rod Blagojevich Talked Himself Out of the Governor’s Office and Into Prison,” suggests Blagojevich was talking about an undisclosed payment to help Obama with his 2004 campaign for the U.S. Senate.

The book says that federal investigators pursued the claim but ultimately gave it little credence. “Never was Blagojevich seen as a credible threat to the incoming president,” says the book, an outside project by two Chicago Tribune reporters. […]

The disclosure of Blagojevich’s comments comes as the president is locked in a tight re-election campaign with Republican Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, who has sought to link Obama’s Chicago connections to the city’s culture of political corruption. […]

According to the book, Blagojevich was repeating “a story that (he) had heard that he believed” when he spoke of the $25,000 in cash from Rezko. Talking to his then-chief of staff John Harris shortly after Obama’s election, Blagojevich said he had heard that Rezko had given the cash to Bruce Washington, who has held jobs with the state, Cook County and the city school district.

Drudge linked to the Tribune’s story today and I’m sure it will gain traction on the blogs.

But, really, you use a recording of Rod Blagojevich repeating a rumor in order to sell books? Seriously? Rod Blagojevich? The most delusional man in America? You gotta be kidding me.

…Adding… Zorn…

The meat of this story — that Blagojevich claimed to have heard a unflattering story about Obama that he believed — is an unsubstantiated, uncorroborated third-hand rumor. Anyone want to argue for the relevance?

Agreed.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 12:44 pm

Comments

The Tribune editors who approved the story should be taken to task. Were the reporters who wrote the book Trib reporters?

Comment by Air-Is-Total Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 12:51 pm
Oh the humanity! Someone get me a fainting sofa!!!

Comment by phocion Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 12:53 pm
Tribbie story about on a book by Tribbie reporters.

Maybe the bosses are just throwing them a bone of free publicity to make up for Zell robbing their ESOP.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:01 pm
===Blagojevich was repeating “a story that (he) had heard that he believed”===

He also believed appointing Halle Barry would give him a shot at her romantic favors. He believed he was innocent and had done nothing wrong too. He probably believes he has a shot at a successful appeal.

And of course Drudge will run with this. It’s effin golden. Delusional, false, crazy beyond belief, but it fits the meme they’re creating so it’ll be viewed as fact before the weekend.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:04 pm
When I saw this story yesterday, I wondered would the book be presented as fiction or non-fiction.

Borrowing from Pelosi, maybe the Trib was thinking:

“Somebody told him! It’s a fact!”

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:09 pm
I anticipate this being a new Super PAC ad against Obama by the weekend.

Comment by Capitol View Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:11 pm
“Rod Blagojevich? The most delusional man in America?”

..and Pat Quinn says “I have the rest of my term to capture that title”!

Comment by WazUp Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:12 pm
Well, Rezko paid for the lot next door to The Presidents Hyde Park home, which some would consider a pay off too but the good people of Cook County don’t want to hear about that. Shortly after Obama became U.S. Senator Michelle got a position at University of Chicago Medical Center and salary went up to over 300,000 but no Quid pro quo there, right. President Obama is someone the Cook County Democratic Party can be really proud of. The President will probably win again because Dash Riprock Romney is not a great candidate and David Axelrod has a bunch of Chicago Style Campaign Tactics that He is waiting to unleash.

Comment by Dick Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:27 pm
The silly Tribune report just obscures things. It is a well established fact that Tony Rezko was a financial backer of Barack Obama, and a joint owner of Obama’s house. No one denied this before the 2008 election, and Obama was still elected, so I don’t see why it matters now.

Comment by JP Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:32 pm
The thing about Halley Barry is more interesting to me…

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:35 pm
===and a joint owner of Obama’s house===

Um, no.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:37 pm
@Dick:

Thanks for the ra-ra talking points. Any more trash not related to this story you want to bring up or are you all out of your campaign talking points for the day?

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:39 pm
–Dash Riprock Romney–

Would that be “The Beverly Hillbillies” Dash Riprock or “Flinstones” Dash Riprock? Big difference.

I’m sure you don’t mean the smoking rockers out of New Orleans. Check them out, though.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:46 pm
Paging Don and Roma

Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:48 pm
I can’t be the Flintstones Dash Riprock. Wasn’t he a cool dude that, whenever he walked, jazz guitar music played?

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 1:58 pm
This is the first time I’ve heard of this, so your post is actually spreading the word about something you’re saying shouldn’t be publicized! Just saying. I enjoy the blog by the way. Have a good one Rich.

Comment by With all due respect Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 2:07 pm
Wow, Dick. If I say what I’m thinking, Rich will ban me.

Comment by Cheryl Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 2:19 pm
He’s so delusional that Obama endorsed him for re-election!

Comment by Cronkite Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 2:24 pm
–This is the first time I’ve heard of this, so your post is actually spreading the word about something you’re saying shouldn’t be publicized!–

Rip, it was in the Trib and on Drudge. I’m sure Rich is flattered that when you rise from your slumber you check him out first, but it’s already out there.

It’s a good thing to call BS on BS stories.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 2:27 pm
–…David Axelrod has a bunch of Chicago Style Campaign Tactics that He is waiting to unleash.–

That’s a sheep-like talking point making the rounds in certain circle these days.

I wonder what it means? Daley was Axelrod’s biggest client, and I’d guess there can’t be Chicago-style politics without Daley.

Does Chicago-style campaign tactics mean not changing your name and submitting nominating petitions? Because that’s about all those two did to get elected time and again.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 2:32 pm
I’ll believe this when I hear Senator Harry Reid confirm this story from the well of the Senate.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:02 pm
I agree with the first part of Dick’s post, and disagree with the second.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:09 pm
1. Walking around $ is not exactly rare in Illinois history.

2. Rezko already on record as willing to give Obama special help (house).

3. This is Illinois.

4. This is Chicago.

The rumor Blago heard isn’t exactly far-fetched.

Comment by Cronkite Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:25 pm
===The rumor Blago heard isn’t exactly far-fetched. ===

Except the feds looked into it.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:35 pm
Well, due to Chicago Style politics, we here in Chicago will be voting at least twice to more than offset the votes of anyone who believe’s Dick’s tripe.

Oh, by the way, perfect nickname, Dick.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:37 pm
By my count Anon there are three parts in Dick’s post and they’re all nonsense. 1) the Kenwood stuff 2) the “quid pro quo” 3) Axelrod/Romney

And, I’m not sure Dick actually knows what quid pro quo actually means.

Comment by Aaron Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:42 pm
“…and David Axelrod has a bunch of Chicago Style Campaign Tactics that He is waiting to unleash.”

Yeah, like knocking African-Americans off the voters rolls in dozens of states. Oh wait, that’s not David Axelrod.

Comment by wishbone Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:45 pm
===because Dash Riprock Romney is not a great candidate ===

Kinda early for excusing failure isn’t it?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:48 pm
In the context of the prez race let’s look at a BIG contrast here.

In this instance, a book by a journalist (perhaps a lousy book and not a very good journalist, I grant you) makes an unsubstantiated claim about Obama, but one that, given the nature of politics, could conceivably be true.

On the other hand, Harry Reid uses the Seante floor to flog an equally outlandish story and Democrats defend this outlandish tactic. Then an Obama SuperPAC, run by senior Dem operatives closely tied to the DNC, run an ad that is a blatant lie, that accuses Romney of killing some poor woman, and it’s just the rough and tumble of politics.

Obama has played this game in as bare-knuckled a manner as anyone in this state, but his self-righteous posing has passed its “sell by” date. He and his close allies can peddle all the sleezy distractions possible and then get all huffy when his sanctity is questioned, and not even by his opponent in this case.

It is all he can do with so miserable a record of broken promises and disappointed hope.

Comment by Adam Smith Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:53 pm
I don’t know about this strategy. People will click on any article, but they won’t buy any book. And the more they make me think about Blago, the less I want to buy that one.

Comment by Dan Bureaucrat Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 4:08 pm
===because Dash Riprock Romney is not a great candidate ===

Kinda early for excusing failure isn’t it?

Romney will get the same treatment that Blair Hull and Jack Ryan got when they ran for the Senate seat. Romney will be afraid to get pipe hitting with campaign rhetoric and tactics and will look weak. Most of you people are in the game here locally so you should not try to make excuses for Obama, just say He is from Chicago, I’m from Chicago so I will Vote/support him. Don’t drink the Kool Aid, be honest why you support him.

Comment by Dick Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 4:10 pm
===In the context of the prez race let’s look at a BIG contrast here.===

Adam, sometimes it helps to not see everything in the context of the presidential race. Tell me this: do you believe Rod Blagojevich is credible at all, on anything?

And it’s not the authors making unsubstantiated claims, they are reporting what Rod said that he (Rod) believed. The slimy part is that, by dropping this particular little morsel, they’ve injected their book into the Presidential campaign vortex in a shameless attempt to sell more books.

They got access to the FBI wiretapes and wrote a book about it. I’m just glad they had to subject themselves to listening to hours and hours of Rod’s twisted little fantasyland. That’s a lot of punishment for a book deal. I hope it was worth it.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 4:14 pm
The next time Patti Blagojevich gets in front of a microphone, perhaps the reporter holding the microphone should ask her about her husband wanting to trade political favors to get with Halle Berry.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 4:44 pm
The authors are jerks. Reporters who have never let the facts get in the way of a story. I know several people who worked at the Trib who said these two were bottom feeders.

Comment by anon Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 4:58 pm
‘bottom feeders’

And that is to be considered as credible as the books allegations? Sheesh

Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 5:32 pm
I talked with Chase about this book like 18 months ago and asked him how he was going to keep interest if it didn’t come out until long after the trial and long after Rod was even remotely hot or of interest. I guess they found a way.

It just sets a ridiculously low standard that I expect this book to live down to.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 6:37 pm
–Romney will get the same treatment that Blair Hull and Jack Ryan got when they ran for the Senate seat. Romney will be afraid to get pipe hitting with campaign rhetoric and tactics and will look weak.–

What is “pipe hitting,” in context of a campaign?
The imagination runs wild.

Dude, you’re way down on Romney to compare him to Blair Hull or Jack Ryan.

Blair Hull had more baggage than a Pullman Porter and was chumped by hands-out politicians and consultants who took his money.

Let’s see how the vetting went: I made my first fortune counting cards in Vegas, the next as a scandalous futures trader, did a lot of blow, got accused of smacking my wife around and they found a dead chick in my garage.

Hull: Is that a problem?

Consultants: No sir, Senator! Got the check?

Jack Ryan got hosed by the righest-of-right-wing Illinois Republicans who pushed the Trib and WLS to getting the naughty stuff out of the sealed divorce decree.

If you want to blame anyone for Obama’s amazing and improbable rise to the presidency, start with the folks who screwed Ryan and gave you Alan Keyes.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 6:51 pm
“On the other hand, Harry Reid uses the Seante floor to flog an equally outlandish story and Democrats defend this outlandish tactic.”

Of course, the real joke was Romney (who won’t release his taxes) saying “put up or shut up”. Mitt, you are the one who won’t “put up”.

Comment by wishbone Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 6:53 pm
== Romney will get the same treatment that Blair Hull and Jack Ryan got when they ran for the Senate seat. Romney will be afraid to get pipe hitting with campaign rhetoric and tactics and will look weak. Most of you people are in the game here locally so you should not try to make excuses for Obama, just say He is from Chicago, I’m from Chicago so I will Vote/support him. Don’t drink the Kool Aid, be honest why you support him. ==

Dick, Hull’s and Ryan’s campaigns tanked because they were bad candidates whose personal problems should have kept them from even considering runs for the U.S. Senate. If there is a sex/divorce-related scandal in your background, don’t think you can keep that secret in a race for high office. You can’t.
And I live in Chicago and in every single election, there are pols from Chicago who I don’t vote for. I voted for Obama and will again this year, not because of where he’s from, but because I’ve thought through the issues facing our country and concluded that Obama’s positions on those issues - from the economy to foreign policy to gay marriage to Supreme Court appointments, and on and on - are better than Romney’s.
In other words, sometimes people can think seriously about issues like that and come to far different conclusions than you. Life’s hard that way.

Comment by OldSmoky2 Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 8:11 pm
If the feds looked into it, doesn’t that mean there was some possible plausibility?

The very fact they did explore it is news.

And supposedly they didn’t find anything. But aren’t the “feds” a little conflicted because their guy is prez and AG is his friend?

Don’t get your point about this being trivial. It is new information.

Comment by Cronkite Friday, Aug 10, 12 @ 11:02 am