by Frank James
Continuing his media blitz on the day that his historic impeachment trial was set to began in the Illinois Senate, Gov. Rod Blagojevich appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday where he stuck to his story that he did nothing illegal was the victim of an unfair process that could lead to his ouster within a week's time.
In perhaps the only news, Blagojevich, in a response to a question from interviewer Diane Sawyer, confirmed that he considered appointing television superstar Oprah Winfrey to the Senate seat. He said the idea came to him "from a friend" but there were concerns it would seem like a "gimmick"
Asked by Sawyer if he did anything wrong, Blagojevich said: "Absolutely not and I'll have a chance in a criminal case to show evidence and bring witnesses. And this impeachment trial actually gives me an opportunity, if it was fair, if it allowed me to actually bring witnesses, to prove that the allegations are not true."
Blagojevich repeated what he has said earlier, that he wants to bring witnesses like Rahm Emanuel, President Barack Obama's White House chief of staff, who he believes would support his contention that he wasn't involved in a pay-to-play scheme to fill the Senate seat vacated by Obama..
Blagojevich told Sawyer he also wanted to call other Illinois Democrats as witnesses, including Valerie Jarrett, Obama's long-time friend and now a senior White House aide, and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr..
Sawyer persisted, reading some of the most damning complaints from the federal criminal complaint to Blagojevich in which he apppears to be attempting to auction off the Senate seat vacated by Obama to the highest bidder. But Blagojevich fended off her direct inquiries. "I can't get into the specifics of the case but I could say this. There's a process, a lot of discussions and ideas. And there was an underlying effort to end up in a place that did the most for the people of Illinois..."
"Did the most for the people of Illinois," repeated a skeptical Sawyer.
"They took snippets of conversations completely out of context... When the whole story comes out you'll see that the effort was to work for a senator who could best represent Illinois."
"Help me with context, help me with the context that explains: 'I got this thing and it's bleepin' golden. I'm just not giving it up for bleepin' nothing," Sawyer said.
Blagojevich repeated he couldn't go into details and that he wished the Illinois legislature's impeachment process would let him bring produce his exculpatory evidence and witnesses.
But Sawyer continued hammering the governor with questions that clearly indicated she wasn't buying his version.
"You say it's a political process but the Illinois House voted to impeach you, 117 to one I think the one was your sister in law. The president has said you should resign. The mayor of Chicago has said you're cuckoo," Sawyer said to Blagojevich who smiled at the mention of his possible mental instability. "Have you lost your political base? Is it gone?"
Blagojevich responded: "Here's the question I have to you, Mayor Daley and everyone else. Whatever happened to the presumption of innocence? How is it that you can make a couple of allegations, take some conversations completely out of context, the whole story's not told. And then ask somebody to admit to something that he didn't do and then to deny that person who's a sitting governor a chance to have due process and witnesses and to defend himself."
Sawyer stated the interview by noting that the governor was with her in New York doing rounds of media interviews instead of defending himself at his impeachment trial in Illinois. Blagojevich was scheduled to be on ABC's "The View" talk show later in the morning.
Sawyer asked Blagojevich for some names of those he considered for the Senate seat and the governor at first responded coyly, asking her what names she had. Sawyer said she heard Oprah had been mulled, which Blagojevich confirmed, saying "a friend" had offered up her name. It was unclear if the friend was his or Oprah's.
"She seemed to be someone who had helped Barack Obama in a significant way," Blagojevich said. He added that one of his concerns was that "she probably wouldn't take it." Another was, "if I offered it to her how do make sure it doesn't look like a gimmick."
At a press conference Friday, Blagojevich said Illinois lawmakers were "hanging" him in response to the federal criminal complaint that he tried to auction off Senate seat.
Sawyer asked Blagojevich what he's told his children. "It's a very difficult time for our family, as you could imagine... What I say to them is how I act which is 'I've done nothing wrong...' 'They should know that their father is not the person that they say he is."
Towards the end of the interview in what appeared to be a surprise to the governor, Sawyer introduced Illinois state Sen. Matt Murphy to confront Blagojevich. "It's another self-serving statement," he said of the governor's comments. Murphy added that the impeachment trial rules were fair and patterned on those used in the U.S. Senate trial of President Bill Clinton for his actions in covering up his affair with Monica Lewinsky and noted that Clinton was acquitted.
"That's an inaccurate statement. The fact is President Clinton could've called witnesses if he was allowed to and he did." Blagojevich then launched into a defense, warning that if "they can do it in Illinois, they can do it here in New York and in other states when governors fight for the people against lawmakers who thwart efforts to expand healthcare, who want to raise taxes on people, and who thwart efforts to be able to go out and create jobs..."
Blagojevich also noted that there were murmurings of impeachment before U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald unveiled his criminal complaint in December because of the governor's practice of doing end-runs around the legislature to advance his agenda.
To this, Murphy said: "First, let's try to work through that red herring he served us all for breakfast. The suggestion that this is somehow unfair to the governor is the most self-serving, ludicrous statement I have heard in my life. It couldn't be fairer for this guy."
Sawyer gave Blagojevich a chance to respond. "The fix is in and has more to do with the fact that my fellow Democrats in the legislature want me out of the way because they want a big income tax increase on the people of Illinois and, mark my words, that's coming before Memorial Day," Blagojevich said.
Comments
It would have been beautiful if Oprah took the job! Anything to get her out of Chicago and off TV.
Posted by: Denny Crane | January 26, 2009 9:25 AM
I can see why his lawyers quit...
Blago is no longer a political persona, his scandal no longer strictly political fodder. He is truly insane and has managed to turn himself into a media circus. That may be what he wanted, but are the voters of Illinois pleased that he's doing it on their time and their dime?
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | January 26, 2009 9:26 AM
It was genius for GMA to bring on State Sen. Matt Murphy as a "rebuttal witness". Until now, Blagojevich has enjoyed playing his side of the story relentlessly; now he has to deal with a show and an interviewer (Sawyer) who dared to show someone to refute what the governor has been trying to propagandize. Then, when asked to respond, all he can say is "the fix is in, the fix is in." He's so pathetic. I only hope that Larry King does the same thing (we know that won't happen on "The View").
Posted by: Michael B | January 26, 2009 9:40 AM
You neglected to mention that he recited more poetry to Diane... classic Blago.
The folks at SNL are crazy if they don't offer for him to come on the show - he's insane enough to do it and doesn't get that he's the butt of the jokes.
Posted by: Wildcat Steve | January 26, 2009 9:53 AM
I'm beginning to think Blago is a black man trapped in a white man's body.. hey Blago, stop using the black community as a shield to try and improve your image, it's getting old and it's pretty weak. btw, I have a Senate seat for sale if you're interested, half price, no one seems to want to buy them anymore, oh and enjoy your impeachment.
Posted by: Democrats 4 Ever | January 26, 2009 10:08 AM
Senator Oprah Winfrey?????
That money loving opiniated excuse of a entertainer would never take the job. It doesn't pay enough, unless she would approach it in the "Chicago Democrat Ward Healer Mode"
I agree with a previous comment, IF she did accepot the appointment, it would clear the airways from her invective voice.
Posted by: Leon Pudlo | January 26, 2009 10:16 AM
I can't undersatnd why the media keeps giving this dodo a forum. I turn off any show that has him on or reports on what he has said. If he really cared about the people who elected him he would GO.
Posted by: Lee | January 26, 2009 10:20 AM
all government officials are cuckoo,especially His honor, the Mayor of Chicago,the template for idiocy.
Posted by: Jim Feely | January 26, 2009 10:23 AM
Blago is exhibiting all the characteristics of a fascist (unstable) personality.
It is a testament to our political system that truly sociopathic personalities tend to get `found out' and dumped.
I am tempted to include `dubbaya' in this but arrogant ignorance is not the same as malice and psychopathology.
- a psychologist
Posted by: Dan | January 26, 2009 10:25 AM
NYC just wants to see crazy up close and personal. He is OUT OF HIS MIND.
Posted by: cb | January 26, 2009 10:29 AM
"It would have been beautiful if Oprah took the job! Anything to get her out of Chicago and off TV."
Especially, thanks to racism, the senate seat is now a "black" one.
Posted by: bdd | January 26, 2009 11:30 AM
Matt: As a citizen of Illinois (who never voted for Blago) I can assure you the man has wasted more time and dimes trying to avoid doing his job and he's been quite successful at being a do-nothing Govenor. The only other thing he is successful at is jogging and making a fool of himself.
Posted by: vla | January 26, 2009 11:35 AM
Love to see Rahm and Valire dragged into the case and get some real truth.
Agree get Opraha out of Chicago as Ambassador to Somalia would be excellant.
Posted by: Inky | January 26, 2009 11:49 AM
Don't ya just get that Hardball "tingle" thinking about that trial when the federal subpoenas go out to the Chicago gang. Bet they try to quash them or claim executive privilege or we can not be distracted from the serious problems facing our country. He start leaking his secret tapes soon. Go get'em Rod, you the man!
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 26, 2009 11:58 AM
All that Blago can hope to do with this media blitz is to somehow monetize his position and turn it into a book deal or even a screenplay someday. The clown is about to be fired by the circus and, especially since his wife just lost her $100K no-show job, he desperately needs a big payday. That legal team isn't working pro bono either.
Perhaps he can go to work for Ron Popiel and hawk useless appliances on late night cable tv. Crazy works well there.
Posted by: johng | January 26, 2009 11:59 AM
I love to see our legal system's underlying principle honored so strictly: Innocent, until proven guilty !!
Let's save some money and not even bother to impeach or try Governor Blagojevich !! Let's just spirit him off to the dungeons and throw away the key !!! It's great to see democracy in action !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 26, 2009 12:18 PM
If he does have a criminal trial, he'll complain that there are no unbiased witnessess because they all saw him on TV! The man is a scheming pshcyo.
Posted by: Mary Ann | January 26, 2009 12:30 PM
Blago is not been treated fairl,what happen"innocence(SP)untill proved guilty"
Posted by: savoy | January 26, 2009 12:42 PM
Though it be madness,
yet there's method to his madness.
It only takes 1 juror to hang up a jury.
I think it is possible that Rod's fevered brain conjured up Oprah as a possible beneficiary of his senatorial nod.
She certainly has enough $$$ to set up a foundation for him to chair, or some such.
She would never go along with such a scheme, however.
She's about the most ethical and careful people in the media.
Posted by: ornery | January 26, 2009 1:38 PM
Yeeesh. While Rod is on his publicity stunt campaign, will at least one responsible journalist or tv commentator let everyone know that the impeachment proceedings are NOT unfair to him. He would have been allowed to bring statements from all the "witnesses" he claims to have. There is no hearsay rule in these proceedings. The panel cannot bring witnesses. They will (if Rod and/or his lawyers are not present) issue a "not guilty" plea for him. He has been misrepresenting the facts to push public sentiment for him. Something is truly "wrong" with that guy.
I pray for him, but especially for his family. It would have been best for all had he resigned.
Posted by: katman | January 26, 2009 1:45 PM
If the legislators will not give him a way out he will turn on all of them and they know that they are just as guilty of political corruption and a self serving attitudes. As a citizen of this state I don't get this why is the government un willing or unable to prosecute Blogojevich before the state impeach him. It seems like they have decided to put the cart before the horse and they wonder why he does not answer their question. This impeachment procedure is not like the one set up for President Clinton. He was tried first right! Then with the facts presented and the conviction the Senate proceeded to impeach him. It seems that someone had a false start. I'm not a fan of the governor but, lets fair he is innocent until proven guilty. Don't tell me he has been Bushefied : To be found guilty until they can proof that they are not guilty or to be held without assistance of council. I thought council was for the defense not the handmade of the prosecution. If what you say about his recent lawyers they he is better off without them in the long run. Corruption in this state will only end when the whole den of vipers are clean forthwith. Starting with Lisa Madigan, Michael Madigan, Emanuel they all talk with Blogojevich and he is aware they are out to get them and the only why to fix it is to go public with these 3rd rate crooks. The federal prosecutor should be fired for incompetence don't even think twice he should be out of here. After 5 years this is all he can show for all the cash he has wasted!!! No he most go today !
Posted by: Dal | January 26, 2009 4:35 PM
What is one of the most troubling aspects of the Blagojevich " railroading ", is the deafening silence from the citadels of Justice, both practical and scholastic. They are fully aware of the " railroading " that is going on and yet, they have choose to be silent. It is that same silence that was heard around the world, from Germany, while the Jewish slaughter was ongoing. The silence from the German people was inexcusable, just as those people who are supposed to be safeguarding our rights, are now trampling on an elected officials constitutional rights. Where is Lady Justice ? Obviously, she has been silenced !! Meanwhile, the citizens of Illinois do not seem to care about Mr. Blagojevich's constitutional rights. Their concerns seem, much more, to be, in removing him from office, than to allow him his day in court. It is wrong, we, of Illinois, know it is wrong and yet, we are supposed to take serious, these rigged impeachment procedures. Why haven't we heard from former President Clinton, on Governor Blagojevich's behalf, after all, he was a victim of the same corrupt mindset. No, he is silent. There are many others that should be speaking out against the trampling of a citizen's constitutional rights, yet, they are silent, too. This particular " railroading " of a sitting Governor is about as unjust an act, as I have ever witnessed, even for Illinois politics. All of you cheerleaders, will come to be haunted, by this blatant power grab in the, supposed, land of Lincoln, the not so great state of Illinois.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 26, 2009 5:39 PM
On Larry King Live he was asked how he will pay for his defense, and he mentioned campaign funds.
That will REALLY take the cake if he is able to use those monies for his defense.
Posted by: Lynne | January 26, 2009 10:19 PM
Is this headline in proper English? I know that you can mull something, as in "he mulled over the possibility of choosing Oprah," and you can mull wine, but that's a cooking term. I don't think you can mull Oprah directly, you can only mull the choice of Oprah.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 27, 2009 12:34 AM