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Blagojevich: 'I'm Blacker Than Barack Obama'
Rachel Slajda | January 11, 2010, 8:58AM
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL)
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In a new interview with Esquire, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- who's under indictment for federal corruption charges -- takes issue with President Obama's image.
It's such a cynical business, and most of the people in the business are full of shit and phonies, but I was real, man -- and am real. This guy, he was catapulted in on hope and change, what we hope the guy is. What the fuck? Everything he's saying's on the teleprompter. 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. I saw it all growing up.
Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell Obama's Senate seat for anything he could get, including a cushy job for himself or his wife, but maintains his innocence.
Late update: Blagojevich apologized today in an interview with a local radio station.
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monet768
January 11, 2010 9:11 AM
Must be the hair!
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CityGuy
January 11, 2010 9:27 AM in reply to monet768
Yep, his hair IS blacker me thinks.
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aarrgghhv2
January 11, 2010 9:18 AM
i haven't seen his free throw, so ... who knows?
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Marinus van der Lubbe
January 11, 2010 9:45 PM in reply to aarrgghhv2
He's going for the Pistol Pete Marovich homage look...
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RedMolly
January 11, 2010 9:32 AM
He "shined shoes"?!?!
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jenesq
January 11, 2010 9:34 AM
I think "narcissist" is the word he's really looking for.
Blago will never forgive Obama for having the good sense not to get tangled up with him, or even talk to him any more than he absolutely had to. Hence the wingnut "teleprompter" talking points and the "I'm blacker than you" (really, wtf?) diatribe. Blago is c-ra-zy....
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Silence
January 11, 2010 9:44 AM
This guy is such a nut.
There is no one blacker than Bill Clinton.
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sj
January 11, 2010 9:57 AM
Now go home and get your f*****g shine box, Blago!
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Dorn76
January 11, 2010 9:58 AM
Is every politician in this country insane?
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Dorn76
January 11, 2010 9:59 AM in reply to Dorn76
When the name Barack Obama comes up, they sure act like it.
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Schmed- ley
January 11, 2010 10:04 AM in reply to Dorn76
No, but most are as clueless about racism is as Blago. See Harry Reid for details.
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calbearinillinois
January 11, 2010 10:17 AM in reply to Dorn76
Just any who want to be governor of Illinois. Seriously, the field for both parties this year is nuttier than a legion of squirrels.
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VivaAmerica!
January 11, 2010 10:03 AM
Oh I see. If you grow up poor and lived/worked near or around Black people, then you are Black. Oh and he keeps it real, yup, definitely Black.
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docrocktex
January 11, 2010 10:05 AM in reply to VivaAmerica!
Thank you! I was thinking the same thing.
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docrocktex
January 11, 2010 10:07 AM
Gee and all this time I thought I was Black even though I grew up in an upper class white suburb, both of my parents worked and had great jobs, and I went on to college and medical school as I'd always hoped. According to Blago though I can't possibly be Black.
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calbearinillinois
January 11, 2010 10:24 AM in reply to docrocktex
No, you are just a burnt cracker in Blago's book.
No idea what Blago'd call me, since I grew up the child of an Eastern European immigrant and a WASP living among middleclass Asians, Hispanics and whites and went on to the most diverse schools in the US. I guess tannish (at least during summer).
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calbearinillinois
January 11, 2010 10:13 AM
"I was born a poor, black child."
People - don't feed the hair. He already publicly claimed that Obama only got the D nomination by paying off Hilary's debt (which is demonstrably false) as a way of saying trading the seat was nothing unusual. Blago thought when he won the Governorship in 2002 he was going to be President one day - and most of the establishment in Illinois thought so, too (or at least that he had the best shot). Still thought that until Obama totally eclipsed him with the national party in 2004 and beyond - and Blago's been a whiny little brat about it ever since.
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_agave_
January 11, 2010 10:59 AM
A 5 room apartment?
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Schmed- ley
January 11, 2010 11:25 AM in reply to _agave_
Well, of course, we had it tough. We used to 'ave to get up out of shoebox at twelve o'clock at night and lick road clean wit' tongue. We had two bits of cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at mill for sixpence every four years, and when we got home our Dad would slice us in two wit' bread knife.
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writergal
January 11, 2010 11:29 AM in reply to Schmed- ley
And we LIKED it!
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hotspur
January 11, 2010 1:48 PM in reply to _agave_
Seriously. I live in a 2-room apartment. What race does that make me?
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jana47
January 11, 2010 11:20 AM
We already know the guys an IDIOT, must be a slow news day. Why we give people like him air play is a mystery!
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Economides
January 11, 2010 12:09 PM
This dickwad's political career was entirely the making of his father-in-law, Dick Mell, and old style alderman, ward boss, what ever you wanna call it. Mell also happened to be one of the all-white faction of aldermen opposing Harold Washington when he was elected mayor, not that this means anything for good old Rod. The two had a falling out a few years ago when Rod forgot to funnel money to one of Dick's kickback schemes.
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Jack of All Tirades
January 11, 2010 1:34 PM
As an Illinois resident, I can't wait for this guy to do some serious time - what a complete jerk.
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midnight rambler
January 11, 2010 2:34 PM
Blago is blacker because of all the mud he's covered in.
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Jeff
January 12, 2010 7:08 AM
Other than being obviously black - it isn't exactly like Barack Obama grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Oh well
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