President-elect just announced Tom Daschel as his Secretary of Health and Human Services and head of the new White House Office of Health Reform.  However, the main interest was the Pres.-elect’s response to Governor Rod A. Blagojevich arrest and developments. 

Obama initial statement on Blago situation: “I am as appalled and disappointed as  anyone and I have never spoken to the governor on this subject[senate seat]. I am confident that no representative of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat.”   Obama also stated that he has asked his team to gather more facts as to who from his team has contacted the Governor’s office so that we can share them with the public over the next couple of days.

UPDATE: Questions included what kind of communications took place between Obama’s staff and Blagojevich;  was the Pres. elect or any of his staff contacted by the federal athorities;  when where they contacted; who from your team talked to Blagojevich.

Pres. elect said that we need to reclaim a tradition of politics for public service that is about people and their lives, instead of what’s in it for me.  Reiterated that Blago should resign.  Pres. elect Obama emphatically stated that he is certain that he “did not speak to the Governor about these issues [senate seat].”  He also emphatically stated that “no rep had anything to do with any dealmaking around my senate seat.”  Such an act ”would be a violation of everything that this campaign has been about.”   Pres. elect also said that he has not been contacted by the federal authorities, nor has he or any of his staff been interviewed by such atthorities. The President- elect also restated his committment to transparency in government and more specifically within his administration.