Blagojevich’s tangled web unweaves a little
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* By now, you’ve already seen this quote from Rod Blagojevich in this month’s Esquire…
“I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived,” Blagojevich said. “I saw it all growing up.”
On Monday, Blagojevich said the comment was “stupid, stupid, stupid.”
He said it was meant as a metaphor for his disappointment with Obama, whom he accused of doing more to help Wall Street than Main Street.
I was going to do a post today about how his apology revealed more about his jury strategy than anything else, but Mark Brown beat me to it and is exactly right on the money…
What’s just as obvious is that Blagojevich was particularly worried he might have offended those in the African-American community he has worked so hard to cultivate since his arrest — Exhibit A being the appointment of Roland Burris to replace Obama — in hopes of getting at least one person on his jury who might take pity and vote to acquit.
And if this stuff about Attorney General Lisa Madigan is, indeed, on the federal wiretaps, jurors are gonna be horrified…
Playing cute with what he could say about the government wiretaps, Blagojevich let this drop to Esquire about the deal he says he proposed to send Lisa Madigan to the Senate:
“In conversations over the telephone, without me saying what’s on it, because I can’t, but I recall over and over I’m saying things like, ‘If I can get this, how much do I love the people of Illinois to make that [bleep] senator?”
The magazine didn’t bleep out the c-word, but Blago was caught off guard when reporters asked him about using it, admitting he hadn’t read the article yet.
“I don’t think I said that,” he offered, getting that worried look he gets in his beady little eyes when he’s been caught.
He better not have used that word because female jurors will revolt. Steve Brown, a spokesman for the AG’s father, gave his usual response…
“The former governor is a very confused and troubled human being,” said Steve Brown.
“If everyone looks up the word sociopath on Google I think they’ll have a better understanding of what’s going on.”
Read the entire article by clicking here.
- Bill - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:36 am:
Is it possible to volunteer for jury duty?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:48 am:
bill, I think your four-year defense of Rod on CapFax might disqualify you.
Besides, what would Dan Hynes do without you?
- Bill - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:50 am:
Win?
- Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:50 am:
I think he made the intial comments to the magazine to create controversy and keep himself in the spotlight. Blago’s bread and butter right now comes from keeping hinmself in the media and using that notoriety to get reality shows etc to pay him to appear.
I think he fully intended to create controversy, but after the fact he developed a little buyers remorse when somone mentioned to him the potential jury impact his comment might have.
I think Blago is trying to act outlandishly to cash in on the conduct, and may find some unintended consequnces from that strategy.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:51 am:
A funny thing happened on the way charming the jury pool, LOL. Now he knows why smart lawyers insist their clients dummy up.
The way he’s been yacking, you figured it was only a matter of time before the Jimmy Stewart facade dropped and the Real Rod revealed himself.
He has at least some chance to explain away the “Blacker than Obama” nonsense.
To me, the big one was the Lisa epithet. That is THE unforgiveable slur among women — case closed. Gee, they’re more than half the jury pool!
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:52 am:
um, I am speechless…
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:53 am:
Finally. lol
- Lefty Lefty - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:55 am:
Is the Bill in the article the same Bill here in CapFaxland?
- Really?? - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:00 am:
He used the c-word. Of all the words Esquire could have “made up” for that scenario, I’m guessing something that offensive isn’t it. He definitely used it. And women should be offended. I’m actually surprised that isn’t getting more media attention than it is, espcially on the local level.
- Redbright - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:04 am:
There’s a wonderful little book by Harvard Prof Martha Stout titled “The Sociopath Next Door” that explains Blago –and the rest of us– very clearly.
- Hoping for Rational Thought - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:11 am:
When does the downward spiral into insanity and delusion hit bottom? He continues to drift farther from reality. I wonder what he thinks of that Soldier for Stroger flyer?
- South Side Mike - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:11 am:
I hadn’t realized that he used the c-word. I assumed the blanks I had seen in articles was him calling her what Newt Gingrich called Hillary. The c-word is much, much worse.
I can’t wait to hear the full tapes. I just wonder whether the swearing will be above or below the level of a Richard Pryor routine.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:16 am:
Ok, I am going to turn into Bill for a second.
You would think for his own sanity Rod would have to truly belive that he is innocent. Otherwise there is no way he could fight it.
But the C word, dude….
- And I Approved This Message - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:19 am:
The “I’m blacker than Obama” remarks are kind of vintage, goofy Rod, in a Steve Martin in “The Jerk” kind of way. Calling Lisa the “c” word takes things to a whole different level. That’s war to more than half the population.
Clearly his lawyers and PR guy have crafted this yearlong public appearances strategy and they must have thought it’s been working. This interview was a bridge too far. They need to sit him down and shut him up or someone should charge them with malpractice.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:24 am:
When Mr. Blagojevich goes to trial, he will be a very hot topic during this upcoming campaign. If he wishes to unload on his former supporters running for office, this is the time for him to start doing it.
I always considered Rod Blagojevich to be a very mean vindicative man. I expect him to start making news by demonstrating that vindicativeness as the heat starts to bake him. There is no reason why Rod Blagojevich is doing to go quietly into the slammer.
This man will explode over everyone who ever did him a favor, just to see them dance and suffer as he is suffering. No political power for Rod, means no political power for the ones who turned away from him.
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:30 am:
Guess I must also be blacker than Obama because I grew up playing all kinds of sports with a bunch of black guys. Now that I think about it, I must be multi-racial because I also played with some Hispanic guys, two gentlemen from Japan, and those huge Samoans. Makes as much sense as Rod.
The C-word? The ‘my client is being forced to live under huge stress’ defense will come soon.
- paddyrolingstone - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:44 am:
As usual Mark Brown outshines the competition (Kass, et al). A great article.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:57 am:
There probably isn’t any profanity that RRB would have used only once in all the hours of tapes the feds made. (How many times did he say “effing” in just the few excerpts we have now?) I suspect that what he said about Lisa Madigan, he likely said multiple times, and perhaps not just about her, which will only compound the disgust of female jurors.
- George - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:59 am:
“Its like he’s thinking: I don’t know who you are, or where you are from… But I see that red light’s a blinkin’, and the mic is hot, and I’m thinkin’ let’s just rooolllll the dice.”
Daily Show - December 10, 2008
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:59 am:
The real question remains why Esquire would want to assign a writer and why the IL media fell all over themselves to “cover” this story.
No real justification for either just a sad statement on the state of what some call journalism.
hat tip to Capt Fax for avoiding this yesterday
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 12:02 pm:
Is Rod’s strategy to taint every last sentient adult in the state so that he can’t possibly get a fair trial?
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 12:16 pm:
-Boone-, It’s a Federal Trial, they’ll probably change the venue to Utah or maybe Montana? Then he’ll have to start the taint’n all over, LOL!
- Downstater - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 1:07 pm:
If these are the precious nuggets that he spews when he’s being interviewed, the taped phone conversations must be “ffffing golden”.
It will be Christmas in July!
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 1:23 pm:
rich, thanks for pointing out the c word comment. mass media tends to think sexism is not as serious a problem as racism. the comment that he has offended half the population should make people recognize that this is certainly not the case.
- Returning Dog - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 1:24 pm:
This calls for a little clip from Arrested Development regarding their boat, ‘The Seaward’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3y00wvzeQs
Blago equating shoeshining with ‘blackness’ pretty much destroys whatever cachet he got for appointing Burris. I can think of maybe 3 or 4 other negative black stereotype third-rails he could have hit, but that one has got to be up there in the top ten.
- Macbeth - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 1:34 pm:
I re-read the Esquire interview over lunch. I find the c-word stuff very troubling. It’s so over the top — and so beyond the pale — that you can’t help but wonder: who thinks like this?
He paints himself like a family man and hero. The overt, unabashed — and *unashamed* — sexism is troubling. You wonder what volcano of mental unfitness is going to erupt at the run up to the trial and at the trial itself.
As much as I’d love to be in that courtroom, I realized that I don’t want to be in that courtroom.
- Some Guy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 1:45 pm:
“If the prosecutors would just release the tapes from my Esquire interview, you’ll see this is all just a misunderstanding. I want you to hear the WHOLE interview, not just a single, highly misogynistic swear word I would NEVER use around my wife or daughters, taken out of context. There’s easily 40 minutes of me talking about the Cubs and Bears that they never even USED in the article,for example. And all my quotes of Tennyson. And that I said I was also more stupidly destructive than Johnny Knoxville. RELEASE THE ESQUIRE TAPES! THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW I DID IT FOR THEM!!!”
-the sad part is this is probably a true quote, just a week early.
- Levois - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 1:57 pm:
*smh*
How can people continue to hang on every word he says?
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 2:17 pm:
===
Is it possible to volunteer for jury duty?
===
lol All CapFax bloggers maybe who have never heard of Blago?
- Belle - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 2:44 pm:
I loved the comment “I don’t think I said that,” he offered, getting that worried look he gets in his beady little eyes when he’s been caught.” It made my afternoon LOL. Thanks!
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 2:58 pm:
I thought the same thing, Belle! lol
- DzNuts - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 3:28 pm:
Gandhi he ain’t.
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 3:36 pm:
Almost as good as when (not if) he goes to the slammer would be first a change of venue and then a blackout of the trial - a win win win deal.
- Indeedy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 4:04 pm:
Ok, it’s vulgar, it’s unprofessional, it’s a whole lot of stupid, but the C-word from a guy –especially this guy– is, well, let’s just say powerful women hear it now and again, especially from knobs who are easily intimidated. But the assertion that Blago’s blacker than Obama? I think women may actually find that statement even more troubling. I sure do.
- MrJM - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 4:17 pm:
Is “candidate” the “c-word”?
– MrJM
http://twitter.com/misterjayem
- Mr.Clean - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 4:18 pm:
Fact is, Blago may be blacker than Obama and Lisa may be a ____.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 4:41 pm:
===
Is “candidate” the “c-word”?
===
Rich, can we say things like that on the internet?!!! lol
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 4:49 pm:
Indeedy, you most certainly do not speak for any woman I have
spoken with today on this issue. sexism and racism are both
equally troubling. fight against all of it.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 5:35 pm:
Here’s a limerick for ya:
A gov’nor who was thought a runt
Caused prosecutors to bring their brunt
He tried to charm all
And some thought him a doll
Till his latest little Esquire stunt.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 6:45 pm:
I just finished the Esquire article because to read it at work would have violated our internet policy, given the expletives. The “c” word–wait until his adult daughters read that one. Bring on the trial!
- Gregor - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 7:59 pm:
I heard Blago was also more Jewish than Anne Frank.
And that he’s more peaceful than Mother Theresa.
Oh, and that he’s a liar and a nutcase.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:20 pm:
===
…wait until his adult daughters read that one.
===
I can understand the sentiment 32nd and appreciate that you referred to them as adults. I’m fairly certain things will be devastating enough as it for them, so let’s hope they miss it or choose to ignore it.
- state employee - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 10:54 pm:
Sexual harassment and sexism at all levels of the state.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:13 pm:
Doesn’t the State deal with claims like that just as businesses do?
I don’t believe I’ve ever read anything about Blago in that regard aside from what’s coming up now. It would have been difficult to miss, I’d imagine, if a Department or Court ruled against him.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 11:16 pm:
I used to work in Employment & Labor. Some of the claims and suits filed would make you spit up pea soup while your head spins.
- Spfld Car Guy - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:27 am:
I thought this picture about it was lol funny.
- Spfld Car Guy - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:27 am:
sorry:
http://www.motivatedphotos.com/?id=63769
- Zora - Thursday, Jan 14, 10 @ 9:47 am:
Rod, I mean, Mr. Clean, please go away.
The rest of you: Um, isn’t this just part of his defense strategy? If the c-bomb drops for the first time at trial, every woman (and some men) on the jury would say “hang him.”
So you have to let it out early, and hope the reverb isn’t too bad.* And you have to dilute its effect, by including another audacious quote, about being blacker than Obama.
By happy accident, the latter is coming out just as the Democratic Party is forgiving Harry Reid for his own racial words. Blago caught a nice break there.
*Problem is, when it comes to the c-word, the reverb never goes away. Sorry dude. You’re toast.