 Blagojevich had long ruled out the South Side Chicago congressman to
replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.But according to a
wiretap conversation presented in court Thursday, he had warmed to
the idea since Raghu Nayak, a politically connected fundraiser,
pledged $1.5 million in campaign contributions to the governor for a
Jackson Jr. appointment -- an offer he initially described as
"pay-to-play" in an Oct. 31 wiretap. His change of heart surprised
his advisers, who had long known the bitterness between the two.
Fred Yang, a pollster, asked Blagojevich why he would appoint
Jackson Jr.
"Tangible political support, you know, specifics and everything,"
Blagojevich said in a Dec. 4 wiretap. "Not all of it is achievable,
but there is something upfront."
The governor's attitude worried Yang and Bob Greenlee, former
Illinois deputy governor, who was also on the call. The three had
agreed in earlier conversations that Illinois Attorney General Lisa
Madigan would be the best possible appointment.
The plan, according to Blagojevich, was to appoint Illinois' top
attorney in order to win favor with her father, Illinois House
Speaker Michael Madigan. Blagojevich had said in previous calls that
he wanted Madigan to pass health care legislation along with a
capital bill and pledge not to raise taxes, in exchange for his
daughter's appointment.
"I'm going to drive a hard bargain, and if I don't get what I
want (then I'll appoint Jackson Jr.)," Blagojevich said.
The "hard bargain" was made intentionally impossible, according
to previous testimony from former Chief of Staff John Harris. He
said Blagojevich knew Madigan would not agree with the tax pledge.
He was leaving himself room to go straight to "Plan B" or appoint
himself to the position.
Blagojevich and his defense team are arguing that he meant every
word.
The governor reiterated to Greenlee in a later conversation that
Madigan was his top pick. Blagojevich said he was only raising the
possibility of appointing Jackson Jr. in order to scare national
Democrats, like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who opposed the
congressman as a Senate pick. He thought he could turn their dislike
of Jackson into a show of support for him in his struggle with
Madigan. Blagojevich confessed he found the power struggle with
Madigan "repugnant."
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Greenlee, however, said he was disingenuous about his intentions.
"I did not believe him," he testified. "It didn't make sense. ...
He had done nothing to get the Lisa Madigan deal done."
It was not the first time Greenlee questioned Blagojevich's
intentions. Blagojevich had agreed to increase Medicaid
reimbursement rates for Children's Memorial Hospital but soon got
cold feet, according to Greenlee.
"We could pull it back if we needed to -- budgetary concerns,
right," he said to Greenlee in a Nov. 12 wiretap.
Greenlee told Blagojevich he had discretion to do so but did not
buy his explanation.
"There were far more significant budget issues," Greenlee
testified. "I don't know what stopped this from moving forward, but
I know it wasn't budget issues."
The prosecution alleges Blagojevich wanted to cut off assistance
to the hospital after it fired his friend, lobbyist John Wyma.
Little did Blagojevich know Wyma would become a government witness
against him. Wyma is expected to take the stand early next week.
The prosecution will continue to question Greenlee on Monday, but
it expects to wrap up its case up by Tuesday. The defense is
expected to begin its case on Wednesday or Thursday. Blagojevich's
attorneys will have until Monday to finalize their witness list and
tapes.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BILL McMORRIS]
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