During yesterday's press conference, President Barack Obama was asked about allegations that someone in the White House offered US Representative Joe Sestak (D-Pennsylvania) a job if he would bow out of a Democratic primary race against Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pennsylvania), His response was that there will be an official response "shortly". So we now have the answer to the question 'How long does it take to tell the truth?' It's ninety-eight days and a "shortly".

Continued...

For those unfamiliar with what the president termed "the Sestak issue," on February 18, Mr. Sestak appeared on a Philadelphia news program and said the Obama administration offered him a high-ranking federal job if he would drop his primary challenge to Senator Specter. Mr. Sestak refused to elaborate other than to say he would not drop out of the race. (source) He didn't drop out and he managed to win despite the president's strong endorsement of his opponent. Through it all whenever he was asked if that offer was made back in February, he confirmed that it had been but refused to provide any further details.

Since Mr. Sestak's victory, this under-reported story has gotten a little more press attention; attention White House officials tried to dismiss with vague assurances such as "nothing inappropriate" occurred. (source)

Which brings us back to that pesky question at yesterday's presidential press conference. President Obama's complete answer: "There will be an official response shortly on the Sestak issue, which I hope will answer your questions. You will get it from my administration. And it will be coming out, when I say shortly, I mean shortly. I don't mean weeks or months." (source) Ninety-eight days and a "shortly". It must take that long for this administration and their legal advisors to devise a truth that they hope the American people will believe.

Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans want a special prosecutor named to probe Mr. Sestak's allegation since, if it is true, a federal law was broken at the highest level of government. Mr. Sestak still declines to provide further information telling reporters after yesterday's press conference, "All this will come out I think as soon as the White House decides to speak." He also said he believed the White House statement could come as early as today. (source)

That's not surprising as today marks the beginning of a holiday weekend - the traditional timing for politicians to release uncomfortable truths in the hope that the media (and by extension the American people) won't notice. Stay tuned!