Blagojevich

Illinois Governor Charged in Scheme to Sell Obama’s Seat

Its unclear to me that there is anything interesting, or to be surprised about, in elected official seeks personal benefit in making political appointee. It is, unfortunately, the way our system works. While there is obviously a legal distinction, I have a hard time finding a real ethical distinction between Blagojevich's wanting to appoint a qualified person to senate seat in exchange for the expectation of future fund raising, or even a future political job, and the thousands of political jobs the Obama transition team is doling out, in large part as reward for past support and in the exectation of future support.

To make the point starker: Jesse Jackson Jr is, arguably, by resume, far, far more qualified to be a senator then Obama's desire Valerie Jarrett. Is it really black and white as far as which is ethically more questionable, or more damaging to the public: A governer wanting to appoint a more qualified candidate in exchange for future political consideration or a President pushing for a less qualified long-time friend and mentor?