Uh Oh - Did The White House Illegally Offer A Job To Sestak?

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ABM

ABM

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011952408_politics26.html

WASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats pressured the White House on Tuesday to disclose whether it had offered a federal job to Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak if he would have dropped his Senate primary challenge against Democratic incumbent Arlen Specter.

Sestak has said repeatedly he received an offer to join the Obama administration if he abandoned the race against Specter, who had switched from Republican to Democrat last year and was the White House's preferred candidate. Sestak said he rejected the job offer. Last Tuesday, he defeated the five-term Specter, capturing the party nomination.

Whether the conversations might have been illegal is unclear without knowing what precisely was said. The law says an administration official cannot use his authority to interfere with the election of any candidate for office. The law also says no one can promise employment in exchange for political activity.

Even White House senior adviser David Axelrod, speaking Monday night on CNN, said such an offer would constitute a breach of the law. But he said the White House has looked into it and Sestak's claim is unfounded.

"We have Joe Sestak telling us that the White House offered him a deal, offered him a job, offered him something if he didn't run for the United States Senate. The White House won't answer the question," said Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

National Democrats have urged the White House to quickly dispatch with the nagging question and focus on the midterm elections, when voters will pick 36 senators, 37 governors and the entire 435-member House.

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., said on MSNBC that someone needs to say, "Here are the facts," so people aren't still "talking about this next week."
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It had to have been Emanuel offer him the job, and he didn't make that decision without approval. My guess is they find a fall person to make this go away.
 
Seems like there would have to be a smoking gun - a tape of A and B talking saying "let's offer Sestak a job to get him to pull out of the race". Otherwise, it's just a job offer. I'm pretty sure it isn't illegal to offer a job to a guy who happens to be running for office. You'd have to have evidence of intent, I'd think (disclaimers: not a lawyer, don't know the law that supposedly might have been violated).

It's an interesting story. I'm not sure why the White House would have been motivated to offer him a job (did they really want Spector to win? Why?) or why Sestak would be talking about it if it did happen.

But, I'm sure further details will be forthcoming.

barfo
 
What if they offered him a job because he was highly qualified and they didn't want to risk losing him to an election?
 
I don't see the problem here at all. So they offered him a job to drop out of a race. Big deal.
 
Why would the White House want to hire Bill Laimbeer?

EDIT: Oh, it's "Sestak," not "Sleestak."
 
BLAZER PROPHET said:
I don't see the problem here at all. So they offered him a job to drop out of a race. Big deal.
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Exactly. It's done all the time by every administration and is called "leading your party." Sestak is being a big baby by bragging that he turned them down. Not being a grown-up will cost him prestigious committee appointments. This is politics and he better get used to it.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
I got it. Tried to rep you for it. Funny stuff! I guess not too many knew the Laimbeer/Sigmond and the sea monster connection.
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I'll have to admit I didn't get it. With your hints i googled it and now I get it. Never saw that show. Sorry Wookee.

barfo
 
jlprk said:
Sestak is being a big baby by bragging that he turned them down..
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Wrong.

For quite awhile, he had been badgered by many press outlets at every turn prior to revealing anything regarding this issue.
 
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