PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama was “saddened and sobered” that his old political ally, disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was arrested yesterday on charges he tried to sell Obama’s old Senate seat to the highest bidder.
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Saddened? Sobered? Is he kidding?
This, from the guy who championed himself as the very face of ethical reform in Washington?
This, from the great orator who once opined that the rising seas would recede after his election?
This, from the guy who promises to kick the lobbyists out the door and down the street?
That’s not to say Obama’s hands are dirty here. Clearly, he and Blagojevich appear to be cut from a different cloth.
At the very least, Obama is not a crude dope with a runny mouth who doesn’t shut up even after everyone knows he’s being watched by the feds. And most likely wiretapped.
More importantly, there has never been evidence that Obama is involved in the sale of his own seat or any of the other big-time rancid corruption that dominates his home town of Chicago.
Obama probably should be commended for crawling out of that stinking swamp smelling as rosy as he does.
Still, it’s a little alarming that he stuck with and supported Blagojevich even after many fellow Democrats, including his top aide, David Axelrod, washed their hands of him.
Obama also opens himself up to harsh criticism that maybe he’s not the great reformer he makes himself out to be.
His reaction was “insufficient at best,” Republican National Chairman Mike Duncan said yesterday. “Given the president-elect’s history of supporting and advising Governor Blagojevich, he has a responsibility to speak out and fully address the issue.”
And Obama has about used up his favorite excuse for all his friends in low places – that they were mere acquaintances.
He tried that with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and wore it out with the unrepentant Chicago terrorist Bill Ayers.
The real problem here is that his home state’s government is under siege and the appointment to his old Senate seat is in the hands of a common criminal.
Blagojevich could appoint himself to the Senate tomorrow and start drawing his $170,000 salary from federal taxpayers right away.
And Obama’s standing around all sad and sober? This is no time for sadness or sobriety.
He’s on the verge of becoming the most powerful man in the free world and his political sway today carries the force of lightning.
It’s time for Obama to take charge.
At the very least, Obama should announce right away that he won’t replace federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald until he gets to the very bottom of this crime in Chicago – however long that takes.
churt@nypost.com