Does our President Barack Obama Parse His Words?

How Clintonian. And there are tapes. How Nixonian.

Of course, as far as we know the president is not on any of them. But according to the unredacted subpoena by Blago's defense, there's a tape of a conversations between Blago and his chief of staff that a union official wants to discuss Obama's choice for the Senate seat. An Obama supporter is on tape at Blago's home with a fundraising offer if Valerie gets the nod.

Callers in to WLS' Don and Roma show this morning are wondering whether the president parsed his words when he said back in December 2008 (they played a tape on air) that no one from his office had anything to do with any deal on the Senate seat. Maybe it was just down the hall, just a certain something in the air, nudge, nudge, wink, wink. It appears that Valerie Jarrett had more interest in the open Obama Senate seat than previously known, and Rahmbo had ideas of his own. Then there's the fresh charge by Blago that the president talked to him in Philly, the city of brotherly love, at the national governor's meeting. Here's the Tribune, with handy guide to the now you see it now you don't subpoena, and this paragraph:

One week before Blagojevich's arrest, Obama and the Illinois governor attended a national meeting of governors in Philadelphia. The filing notes that the two spoke there and that two top aides to Blagojevich later discussed that conversation in a wiretapped phone call. But there's no indication in the filing that the Senate vacancy was discussed by Obama and Blagojevich when they met.

No big red indicator light flashing over that, no, no, no. Mere days later Blago was arrested, charged with scheming to sell the bleepin' Golden Senate seat.

But I especially like this bit in a side story, especially after the subpoena listed all the presidents who had been called to testify in court:

Washington attorney Robert S. Bennett, who represented President Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case, predicted the move would not succeed.

Clinton, in a legal dispute that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, was compelled to give a deposition in the Jones case. A major distinction: Clinton was the defendant in the case and Obama is not a litigant in Blagojevich's. That raises the bar much higher to compel Obama's testimony, Bennett said.

The judge probably will ask Blagojevich's lawyers to "show what unique and relevant testimony" the president would give, Bennett said, then ask if anyone else has the information or if there is any other means to obtain it.

Which brings Tony Rezko to mind.

One thing Blago has shown by this--our President Barack Obama may be almost as big a liar as Blago--but then a lot of us knew that already.

More. Let us note Tony Rezko is a convicted felon but has not yet been sentenced. John Kass: Blagojevich sends not-so-subtle message to Obama. Sun Times headline story here. Professor Jacobson, Legal Insurrection, My Blago's Back, Is Obama Gonna Be In Trouble?

Welcome back, professor.

P.S. A mixture of corruption and exertion of raw power. Yes We Can.

UPDATE: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) says he has been subpoenaed as well.