Rahm Emanuel Can't Answer Questions Because His Children Are Eight Years Old

UPDATE: The Chicago Tribune (12-13-08) reports:

Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Barack Obama's pick to be White House chief of staff, had conversations with Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration about who would replace Obama in the U.S. Senate, the Tribune has learned.

The revelation does not suggest Obama's new gatekeeper was involved in any talk of dealmaking involving the seat. But it does help fill in the gaps surrounding a question that Obama was unable or unwilling to answer this week: Did anyone on his staff have contact with Blagojevich about his choice for the Senate seat? [Full text]

Rahm Emanuel is President-elect Obama's Chief of Staff. He holds the Illinois Congressional seat formerly held by the Governor of Illinois, Milorad "Ron" Blagojevich, who was just arrested by the FBI.

According to Wikipedia:

In his first term, Rahm Emanuel was a founding member and the Co-Chair of the Congressional Serbian Caucus.

A 9-28-08 press release from Emanuel's office states:

Emanuel to Co-Chair Congressional Serbian Caucus

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel has become the co-chair of the Congressional Serbian Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators dedicated to maintaining and strengthening the historical alliance between the United States and Serbia.

The Congressional Serbian Caucus will seek to raise awareness and increase friendly relations between the United States and Serbia. The Caucus will educate Members of Congress on the issues affecting the present political, economical and security climate in Serbia and the Balkans.

“In this time of transition in Serbia, the United States needs to maintain a strong alliance with the pro-democratic forces,” Emanuel said. “We should take an international lead in supporting Serbia as they look to stabilize their young government.”

In April 2003, the House passed Emanuel’s resolution (H. Res. 149) honoring the life of slain Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, who was tragically assassinated outside his office in Belgrade on March 12, 2003. In July 2004, Emanuel met with Serbia’s recently elected President, Boris Tadic, during his visit to Washington, D.C.

“Our nations share a mutual admiration for democracy, which is never a guarantee or foregone conclusion,” Emanuel said on the House floor. “The Serbian people are our fellow countrymen and allies because they embrace the value of democracy and freedom.”

The Congressional Serbian Caucus is co-chaired by Representative Dan Burton (R-IN).

Perhaps Emanuel c0-founded this organization because many people in the 5th Congressional District that he inherited from Blagojevich have Serbian roots.

The Chicago Sun-Times (12-11-08) reports:

President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, refused to take questions from reporters this morning about whether he was the Obama “advisor” named in the criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The complaint states Blagojevich wanted a promise of a high-level appointment or some other reward for Blagojevich in exchange for Blagojevich naming Obama’s friend Valerie Jarrett to replace him in the U.S. Senate.

Emanuel was uncharacteristically absent from Obama’s news conference this morning. He was spotted two hours later in the lobby of Chicago’s City Hall. He was there to listen to his two children performing in a concert with their school, Anshe Emet.

A Sun-Times reporter pressed him to comment about whether he was the emissary named in the criminal complaint.

“You’re wasting your time,” Emanuel said. “I’m not going to say a word to you. I’m going to do this with my children. Don't do that. I’m a father. I have two kids. I’m not going to do it.”

...Blagojevch was caught on tape saying that he wanted the Obama advisor in question to know what Blagojevich wanted in exchange for the Jarrett appointment.

Blagojevich said, “He asks me for the fifth CD thing, I want it to be in his head.” Emanuel represents the 5th Congressional District in Illinois. [Full text]

It seems to me that Rahm Emanuel should respond to this question in spite of the fact that he has children.

President-elect Obama also refuses to answer questions about his associations by claiming that he was only eight when the terrorist Bill Ayers was on his bombing spree. Of couse, Obama was a student at Columbia when the Weather Underground was involved in a Brinks truck robbery that claimed three lives just outside New York City.

According to the journalist Jack Cashill, the terrorist Bill Ayers had a hand in President-elect Obama's autobiography Dreams of My Father. Search Cashill on this site to see some background or see the list of Cashill's articles on this topic.