White House Caught Trying to Manipulate 2010 Race
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Joe Sestak, a Pennsylvania Democratic candidate who is challenging incumbent Arlen Specter for a U.S. Senate seat in 2010, told the press the White House tried to convince him to drop out of the race by offering him a lucrative federal job instead.
FoxNews.com is reporting that Sestak made the revelation yesterday during the taping of Sunday talk show. He said the White House offered him a deal last summer just before he announced his intentions to enter the Senate race. Although he declined to reveal the identity of the person who made the deal, or the details of the job offered, he did say that it was a high ranking position. Sestak, 58, a retired admiral in the U.S. Navy, said he would never leave the Senate race for a deal.
"I'm not going to say who or how and what was offered," Sestak said. "I don't feel it's appropriate to go beyond what I said," because the conversation was confidential.
The White House is denying Sestak’s accusations and told Fox News that the candidate is expected to “clarify” the allegation.
Sestak is offering no such thing, however, and is standing by his statement.
"I was asked a direct question yesterday and I answered it honestly," Sestak told Fox. "There's nothing more to go into. I'm in this race now."
Apparently, the White House was making deals in other races during the same time period. They played an active role in helping to clear the way for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the New York primary with President Obama persuading Rep. Steve Israel not to challenge her.
According to Fox, Harold Ford, who is considering a challenge against Gillibrand, has warned the White House not to bully him.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com