Legal, Normal Political Dealing With Sestak Made Sleazy By Bill Clinton's Involvement

Ha ha, how'd that "White House investigation" go, Barack? Pretty good, we bet: "It has been suggested that the Administration may have offered Congressman Sestak the position of Secretary of the Navy in the hope that he would accept the offer and abandon a Senate candidacy. This is false." Hooray! But what about the other thing, the part everybody's actually jabbering about? "The White House Chief of Staff enlisted the support of former President Clinton who agreed to raise with Congressman Sestak options of service on a Presidential or other Senior Executive Branch Advisory Board. Congressman Sestak declined the suggested alternatives, remaining committed to his Senate candidacy." Who is reporting this made-up sleaze? Oh, the White House counsel? Okay.

Here's more from White House counsel Robert F. Bauer's report, which sure got finished fast after Obama wouldn't answer asimple fucking questionabout the Sestak offer, yesterday. AND NOTICE HOW IT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID OBAMA SHOULD'VE SAID YESTERDAY, NOTICE THAT:

 Relationship to Senate Campaign. It has been suggested that discussions of alternatives to the Senate campaign were improperly raised with the Congressman. There was no such impropriety. The Democratic Party leadership had a legitimate interest in averting a divisive primary fight and a similarly legitimate concern about the Congressman vacating his seat in the House. By virtue of his career in public service, including distinguished military service, Congressman Sestak was viewed to be highly qualified to hold a range of advisory positions in which he could, while holding his House seat, have additional responsibilities of considerable potential interest to him and value to the Executive Branch.

There have been numerous, reported instances in the past when prior Administrations -- both Democratic and Republican, and motivated by the same goals -- discussed alternative paths to service for qualified individuals also considering campaigns for public office. Such discussions are fully consistent with the relevant law and ethical requirements.

Eh, good enough for six or seven billable hours. [ White House ]