Pols Press White House on Alleged Job Bribe to Stop Sestak's Run

Republicans and Democrats pressured the White House on Tuesday to disclose whether it offered a federal job to Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak if he would drop his Senate primary challenge against Democratic incumbent Arlen Specter.

Sestak has said repeatedly that he received an offer to join the Obama administration if he abandoned the race against Specter, who had switched from Republican to Democrat last year and was the White House’s preferred candidate. Republicans have criticized the offer, saying it was grossly inappropriate and demanding an explanation from the administration.

Sestak said he rejected the job offer. Last Tuesday, he defeated the five-term Specter, capturing the party nomination.

White House officials have insisted that “nothing inappropriate” took place. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs declined to say if Sestak was offered a job, but did say on Sunday that White House lawyers and others have looked into the matter.

Political adviser David Axelrod hinted that the White House might have more to say.

“I don't think that any questions will be left unanswered on this,” Axelrod said during a Monday appearance on CNN.

That hasn’t quieted the calls for the administration, which frequently says it is the most transparent in history, to make a full disclosure.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele urged supporters to take to Twitter to pressure the White House into answering questions.

“We have Joe Sestak telling us that the White House offered him a deal, offered him a job, offered him something if he didn't run for the United States Senate. The White House won't answer the question,” Steele said in a Web video.

Two top Democrats--party chief Tim Kaine and Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate--said the White House and Sestak need to address these questions.

“At some point, I think Congressman Sestak needs to make it clear what happened,” Durbin told CNN, adding that he was not pointing fingers at either party.

In Blue Bell, Pa., Republican candidate Pat Toomey said Tuesday that Sestak should clarify what job the White House offered him to drop a primary challenge. Toomey, a former Republican congressman who pushed Specter out of the Republican primary, said he prefers to focus on issues but “it would be helpful” if Sestak cleared the air about the job offer.

Sestak spokesman Jonathon Dworkin dismissed Toomey's rhetoric.

“If Congressman Toomey really wanted to focus on issues that matter to the working families of Pennsylvania, he wouldn't be bringing in the Republican establishment from Washington, D.C., to speak for him about political distractions,” Dworkin said.

Steele, campaigning for Toomey, noted Sestak was the one who first disclosed the job offer.

“Speaking of forthright, don't you just love Congressman Sestak right now?” Steele said. “Singing all kinds of tunes. White House is not happy.”

In the House, Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California suggested the White House was stonewalling.

“The chorus is growing louder from both Democrats and Republicans for both Joe Sestak and the White House to finally disclose what was said and who said it,” said Issa, who unsuccessfully sought a Justice Department investigation.

National Democrats have urged the White House to quickly dispatch with the nagging question and focus on the midterm elections, when voters will pick 36 senators, 37 governors and the entire 435-member House.