LAND OF LINCOLN?

Posted at 7:25 a.m. ET

Having worked in Illinois politics early in my career, the current scandal brings back memories.  I worked for a good guy, the incorruptible Senator Paul H. Douglas, whom President-elect Obama admirably identifies as one of his role models.  I recall Mr. Douglas, in 1960, showing me around New Salem, Illinois, where Lincoln grew up.  It was an incredible experience being taken through a historic site by a truly fine public servant.  As I glance to the right while writing this, I see on my bookshelf a copy of "Lincoln's New Salem," autographed by Senator Douglas. 

But there was the other side of Illinois politics, and we were well aware of it.  The Chicago machine, under Mayor Richard Daley, was in full power.  I was once introduced to man described to me as one of the most powerful men in the city.  He was the parking commissioner - controlled all those meters and those who attended and serviced them.   You wanted a job in the parking business?  He was the go-see guy.

The events of this week are therefore bittersweet.  We have, since the election, wished the president-elect well.  We hold no anger about the result.  As we said from the start, there's no point in being angry over an election.  The idea is to prepare for the next one.  We have praised some of the president-elect's appointments, and have been impressed by the poise an dignity with which he's pursued the transition.  But I just have a sense that the Illinois scandal surrounding Governor Rod Blagojevich is growing, and that it will inevitably touch Mr. Obama, or, more likely, key members of his staff.  It's been widely noted that incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel was missing from Mr. Obama's press conference yesterday.  Close adviser David Axelrod has done handstands in the last week to walk back some earlier comments asserting that Obama and the governor had spoken about filling Obama's Senate seat.

The Washington Post runs a semi-whitewash in today's edition, arguing that Obama has tried to distance himself from the governor, and some of the material is persuasive.  However, even the Post says:

But Obama and Blagojevich shared pieces of the Chicago political network, which is why this has been an uncomfortable week for Obama's presidential transition team. Senior adviser David Axelrod once advised Blagojevich. Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a developer who was convicted in June of fraud and money laundering, raised money for both men. Robert Blackwell Jr., a longtime Obama friend, served on Blagojevich's gubernatorial transition team. Blagojevich appointed one of Obama's closest confidants, Eric Whitaker, as director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The president-elect's connection to Blagojevich is emblematic of his political rise in Chicago. Obama had contact with corruption, but rarely firsthand. He relied on the establishment when he needed it, but he maintained enough distance to cast himself as an outsider.

Perception, they say, is everything in politics.  The American public has shown enormous good will toward the president-elect, and his approval ratings have risen since the election.  But he will be inaugurated in a bit more than a month, and he now has this scandal pushing at his team's door.  He's got to do more than he has to practice full disclosure, publish any embarrassing facts, and address legitimate concerns. 

Don't be shocked if some members of the Obama operation don't make it to the White House.  There is still space under the bus, and they'd be meeting many other former friends of the president-elect.

December 12, 2008.