Blagojevich: 'I'm blacker than Barack Obama'

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he's "blacker than Barack Obama" and tells Esquire magazine that he was a real person in a political arena dominated by phonies.

Blagojevich, referring to the president as "this guy," says Obama was elected based simply on hope.

"What the (expletive)? Everything he's saying's on the teleprompter," Blagojevich told the magazine for a story in its February issue, which hits newsstands Jan. 19.

"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."

The White House refused to comment.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/01/10/national/a210332S29.DTL&tsp=1

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. "Everything he's saying's on the teleprompter" ????

What is up with this teleprompter insult? Like Obama is the FIRST politician ever to use a teleprompter?

[The Backlash Cometh]

25. This is pettiness.

Unfortunately, it works.

[frazzled]

2. He shined shoes?

Oy vey. This was my governor. I do believe he's mentally ill, actually. Honestly. I think he should plead insanity at his trial.

[CoffeeCat]

3. Maybe Kiwi shoe polish...

...contains brain-damaging fumes?

Blaggo's comments are bizarre, aren't they?

[Chisox08]

9. No it was whatever he put in his hair caused the brain damage

[gkhouston]

41. I'd say they were full of Shinola. n/t

[No Elephants]

8. Maybe this is Blago laying the groundwork that will make an insanity plea believable.

Alltough, IMO, he had already done that.

[treestar]

36. This is the most likely explanation

This guy is an attention seeker too.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

22. He was my gov too

and I am very proud to say I never voted for him. He is most definitely mentally incompetent.

[frazzled]

37. I voted against him in the primaries ...

But, given that I was new here when he was going for his second term ... I couldn't bring myself to vote for his opponent in the general, the equally nutsy Republican Judy Baar Topinka.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

39. I sat out that election

I couldnt bring myself to vote for Blago and I definitely wasn't going to vote for Topinka, she is just as crazy as Blago.

[mopinko]

33. i think he is, too.

what a great example it would set for him to seek the help he so obviously needs in a public way. it is clear as day. and i think he could be helped. do something positive with that spotlight, rod.

[No Elephants]

4. When did "black" and "grew up poor" become synonyms?

I feel so bad that my parents died without ever knowing they were black.

then again, maybe Blago is only confusing dollars with genes. Not an easy thing to do, but I have confidence that he can take confusion and delusion to new levels.

[tavalon]

19. When did black and shining shoes become synonyms?

Fuck, that man really needs a dose of STFU!

[marshall]

46. He's talking about economic class rather than race

It's true that Obama didn't grow up in the "hood". He didn't have the background that most African Americans had in this country. He is not descended from former slaves (at least not United States slaves), and he grew up in a state that has one of the lowest demographics of black citizens.

As with many awkward and obnoxious comments there is a thread of truth that certainly warrants recognition and discussion, but as usual Blago took the ham fisted direction.

[truthisfreedom]

5. Dude's a trainwreck.

He's not doing himself any favors.

[Initech]

6. Blago is fucking off his rocker.

:wow:

[bluestateguy]

7. Disgusting

Despicable.

[Kurt Remarque]

10. is he still relevant in any way?

[tavalon]

20. Relevant in some way

Otherwise, no ink. Wait, that doesn't follow in this atmosphere............

[Drum]

11. Wow...must have some agent, to have sold this to Esquire...

Or, maybe not? Haven't read it in forever.

Or was it a you-don't-have-to-pay-me-I-just-have-an-ax-to-grind kinda thing?

Sheesh!

[Blue_Tires]

14. sadly, they used to be more intellectual than this

"GQ", too...but sadly in the late 90s they saw the runaway success of "Maxim" and the copycat publications, so they dumbed down a lot of their content and added some sensationalism and a LOT more cheesecake...

Blago is just trying to attention whore himself back into the news...

[Ed76638]

12. I agree.

Even as corrupt as he is, I bet Blagojevich would throw down for the public option.

[struggle4progress]

13. Blagojevich named Time magazine's No. 2 Elvis impersonator

... Rod Blagojevich just earned the distinction of being named the news magazine's No. 2 Elvis Presley impersonator. The disgraced former governor finished behind Johnny Cash but ahead of Andy Kaufman ... "The governor is honored to have been named to this list by TIME," said publicist Glenn Selig, spokesman for Gov. Blagojevich ... http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1981199,blagojevich-time-magazine-elvis-list-010910.article

[struggle4progress]

17. Donald Trump predicts former gov Rod Blagojevich will be 'Celebrity Apprentice 3's' breakout star

BY DAILY NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 5th 2010, 4:00 AM

... "Celebrity Apprentice 3" executive producer and head honcho Donald Trump is claiming that this season's cast "blows 'Dancing With the Stars' away" ... Blagojevich, who had hoped to appear on NBC's "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here" but was replaced by his wife, Patti, after a federal judge would not let him leave the country, said he plans to use his "skill and know-how to get things accomplished" on the series. Trump praised Blagojevich's "tremendous courage and guts" and predicted he may be one of the show's breakout stars ... http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/01/05/2010-01-05_untitled__inn05tv.html

[struggle4progress]

18. In time for trial, a celebrity makeover for ex-gov Blagojevich

Illinois' ousted governor is all over the media, boosting his star power. Will that help Blagojevich when his corruption trial starts in June? It might, some analysts now say.

By Mark Guarino Staff writer / January 8, 2010

... “I think it really is a strategy to influence a jury pool, and I think it’s become more and more likely <to have an effect> than even in the beginning,” says Elizabeth Brackett, a Chicago PBS anchor and author of “Pay to Play: How Rod Blagojevich Turned Political Corruption Into a National Sideshow."

The list of talk-show hosts Blagojevich has not talked to has dwindled as he has served couch time with everyone from Howard Stern to Jimmy Kimmel to David Letterman. Along the way he wrote a book and sang Elvis Presley tunes at a block party. He also hosts a weekly radio show on WLS-AM in Chicago.

The latest venture is his pending star turn on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” the Donald Trump vehicle on NBC pitting the former governor against cohorts Sharon Osbourne, the wife of Ozzy, and comedian Sinbad. The show is perfectly timed to end with the opening week of his trial, notes Ms. Brackett.

“He would just have been on a national show … how can you find a juror who has not heard about this?” she asks ...

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0108/In-time-for-trial-a-celebrity-makeover-for-ex-gov-Blagojevich

[Ed76638]

15. I'm from the Jessie Jackson camp.

Level of blackness is directly proportional to commitment to reforming our bullshit healthcare system.

[jmondine]

16. Yeah, but is he balder than Michael Steele?

[BumRushDaShow]

21. Yawn.

The media is trying to string along a series of Democratic gaffes to get eyeballs... How juvenile. :boring:

[Rebubula]

23. Blago = Palin

Sadly, he is our Palin...the open mouth that never fails to say ridiculous shit.

[stlsaxman]

24. Watch- this interview will be blasted all over FOX and its Liberal Bureau- NPR...

Inskeep will of course ask Juan Williams about it in the morning to get the GOP talking points.

[Dorian Gray]

26. He is the biggest idiot

I can't believe that he hasn't been advised to just shut the F--- up!

[jberryhill]

27. Why Should He?

He's been thrown out of office and pretty much convicted without a trial.

What's he got to lose?

[Dorian Gray]

45. I guess he's already

lost his dignity, so really... nothing.

[IsItJustMe]

28. From reading most of these comments, I guess the bandwagon thing to do here is call the man mentally

il and dismiss him. Sometimes you can learn a lot though, listening to these so called mentally il people.

[Odin2005]

29. LOL, whatever Blago!

:rofl:

[wordpix]

30. don't worry, this idiot will put out a book a la Sister Sarah, & make lots of $$

[Dappleganger]

31. Blagojevich: "I'm hipper than Elvis!"

[mackdaddy]

32. What move begins: "I was born a poor black child" ?

Oh yea, that's right "The Jerk".

[Raschel]

34. On a cold and gray Chicago morn, little baby Rodney Blago was born....

:rofl:

[mikekohr]

35. I am Reminded of the Native American Concept Of Duality When Comparing President Obama and

our most recently impeached Governor of Illinois. Out of our state of Illinois came Obama the Good, and Blagojevich the Bad.

mike kohr

[rocktivity]

38. Esquire's half right

Blagojevich a real phony.


rocktivity

[Brother Buzz]

40. "I'll sell you a Senate seat, too, Honest injun"

[Mad_Dem_X]

42. Shining shoes makes a person black?

WTF is this asshole talking about? Go away, moron.

[MaineDem]

43. And Blagojevich is an ass!

What a racist, stupid thing to say.

[Hardrada]

44. Wash him in the water where you wash your darling daughter

And then he shall be whiter than the whitewash on the wall!

[Doctor_J]

47. He's also dumber than Palin

Looks like Blago is auditioning for a job on hate radio or Fox "News"