Originally published by San Diego News Room: May, 2010

By now, most people are familiar with Rep. Joe Sestak’s claim that the White House tried to bribe him with an important job if he would only stand aside and let Arlen Specter win the Democratic primary for senator in Pennsylvania.

If such bribery really happened it would be a violation of Section 18 USC 211, which says you are not allowed to accept any kind of favor in return for hiring somebody.

For quite some time now, we have anxiously awaited an official response from the Obama administration. The long wait is understandable. I’m sure all his attorneys needed time to rehearse their verbal gymnastics and make sure that some kind of arguably legal loophole could explain to us that nothing unethical took place.

Well, as it turns out, their currier was the man who wrote the book on ethics, former President, Bill Clinton.

According to The Washington Times, May 28, 2010:

“In a two-page report, White House lawyer Robert F. Bauer said the job offered was a non-paying, advisory board position in the executive branch and that allegations of improper conduct by the administration “rest on factual error and lack a basis in the law.”

Mr. Specter, a five-term incumbent, was backed by the White House in his re-election bid, but he was soundly defeated by Mr. Sestak in the May 18 primary.

The administration report also stated the White House had no contact with Mr. Sestak, but that Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel “enlisted the support” of Mr. Clinton, who spoke with Mr. Sestak in June and July 2009.”

The idea seems to be that the Obama administration is free from any culpability, because Clinton actually did the talking. True, he talked on behalf of the Obama administration, but it was informal and not official.

One must marvel that President Obama thinks our country is stupid enough to accept this explanation. But then, he remembers how this same country voted him into office, so perhaps his perception is accurate.

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