Obama's Call To Ethics Reform

Will Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's scandal dog Obama? No.

Just the facts. First via the NYT:

"Mr. Obama placed the call to his political mentor, Emil Jones Jr., president of the Illinois Senate. Mr. Jones was a critic of the [ethics] legislation, which sought to curb the influence of money in politics, as was Mr. Blagojevich, who had vetoed it. But after the call from Mr. Obama, the Senate overrode the veto, prompting the governor to press state contractors for campaign contributions before the law's restrictions could take effect on Jan. 1, prosecutors say."

Followed by The Washington Monthly's take:

"So, in an indirect way, Blagojevich's fiasco may not have come to pass were it not for Obama's commitment to ethics reform. Once Obama intervened and the bill became law, Blagojevich had to scramble to collect as many campaign contributions as possible before the law took effect. The governor's efforts generated the attention of federal investigators, who in turn tapped Blagojevich's phone, which in turn produced stunning evidence of brazen corruption."

Obama is not part of "the murky and insular world of Illinois politics". His commitment to ethics reform has allowed him to escape that world to become President.

Source: Steve Benen