There is also something troubling about Sestak’s rather sparse response. Following release of the White House memo, Sestak released a memo of his own. Sestak stated that he had indeed been contacted by the former president and that the subject of a possible appointment to a presidential board was broached. Sestak continued that he responded, “No.” That’s it. No more details. The entire episode was rather benign and, in Sestak’s words, “nothing unusual.”
Cynics are indeed wondering what quid pro quo Sestak now accepted that he seems to be playing ball with the administration.
The congressman can’t have it both ways; he is either a man alone--a cowboy staring unflinchingly into the eyes of the powers that be--or he is a lying opportunist in the same mold as the senator whose seat he aspires to take.
If there was nothing untoward in the former president’s offer, why--when queried by Kane and the rest of the press--didn’t Sestak simply say: “A surrogate from the White House inquired about my commitment to running for the Senate. The president’s surrogate also suggested that I might be a good fit for this hokey commission that meets in the basement of the East Wing from time to time.” The answer can only be that in order to separate himself from the two-faced Arlen Specter, it was to his advantage to appear to be a valiant man of the people, whose honor, (to say nothing of his ambition), could not be purchased at any price.
But once the “powers that be” begin campaigning for Sestak, won’t that give the lie to his maverick persona? Once it becomes clear that Sestak was role playing, why would anyone except the most partisan vote for him?
Additionally, the administration clearly lied for three months and may be lying still. If Sestak proves to be the individualist he claimed to be, then someone in the administration broke the law. Shouldn’t we find out who that someone is? And shouldn’t that person then be prosecuted?
The answers are not good for this administration, which suggests, of course, that they are good for Americans.