Incroyable! This is my instant reaction to the breaking news that the White House enlisted Bill Clinton to offer Rep Sestak a job to stay out of the Senate primary against Arlen Specter, whose vote was desperately needed to pass Obamacare.

The White House:
Efforts were made in June and July of 2009 to determine whether Congressman Sestak would be interested in service on a Presidential or other Senior Executive Branch Advisory Board, which would avoid a divisive Senate primary....The White House Chief of Staff enlisted the support of former President Clinton who agreed to raise with Congressman Sestak options of service on a Presidential or other Senior Executive Branch Advisory Board.

18 U.S.C. § 600 : US Code - Section 600: Promise of employment or other benefit for political activity:

Whoever, directly or indirectly, promises any employment,
position, compensation, contract, appointment, or other benefit,
provided for or made possible in whole or in part by any Act of
Congress, or any special consideration in obtaining any such
benefit, to any person as consideration, favor, or reward for any
political activity or for the support of or opposition to any
candidate or any political party in connection with any general or
special election to any political office, or in connection with any
primary election or political convention or caucus held to select
candidates for any political office, shall be fined under this
title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

My comment:

1. It doesn't matter whether the position was compensated or not. If it did matter, then the statute would prohibit "compensated position" not "position, compensation, contract, appointment, or other benefit". Clearly the Chief of Staff and the former President thought they were offering something of benefit to Sestak, else why bother?

2. This is far more cut and dried than Watergate, Plamegate or cigargate. The statute is clear.

3. This puts Obama and Clinton in the frame. I guess the defence will be "It depends on the meaning of 'or'".

4. They are all probably lying by omission anyway. Sestak said he was offered a high-ranking federal job.

5. REVENGE!!!!