Evening Buzz: Governor's Fighting Words
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/12/19/blagojevich.speaks/art.blagojevich.wgn.jpg caption="Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich spoke to reporters at a news conference Friday but did not take questions."] Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Just days ago, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich vowed to tell his side of the story. Today, a defiant governor stepped up to a microphone and vowed to fight the corruption charges against him.
"I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing," Blagojevich said at a news conference in Chicago.
Federal prosecutors accuse the governor of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's now vacant Senate seat.
"I will fight until I take my last breath," he said.
The governor said he was "not going to quit the job the people have hired me to do."
"I am dying to answer these charges. I am dying to show you how innocent I am," the governor said. "I intend to answer every allegation that comes my way. However, I intend to answer them in the appropriate forum," he added.
"I have on my side the most powerful ally there is, and it's the truth. And besides, I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong," said Blagojevich.
He took no questions from reporters.
One of Blagojevich's attorneys, Sam Adam Jr., told reporters after the governor spoke that the U.S. attorney's office hasn't given them the tapes mentioned in the criminal complaint filed 10 days ago - the day Blagojevich was arrested.
On the tapes are phone calls involving the governor's alleged efforts to sell the Senate seat.
"It is conduct that would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald last week when announcing the charges against Blagoveich.
Do you think the governor is innocent?
Is he the victim of a "political lynch mob" as he suggested today?
Please share your thoughts.
We'll have the latest on this developing story and tonight's other headlines starting at 10pm E.T.
Hope you can join us!
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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LOL Everytime my ex lied, he'd lick his lips. Good ole' Rod didn't fail to lick his lips every single time he made a statement about him NOT telling a lie.
I dont know if its arrogance or iggnorance. Most would of tucked thier tail by now.
Blagojevich is relatively young and good looking, so if history is any judge, a jury mostly made up of women would be unlikely to convict him.
Perhaps Blagojevich follows the MO of the bigger the lie, the more likely the public will believe it. Deny it, deny it, deny it!
In his press conference Blagojevich really didn't say much except for repeating in several variations that he was innocent. He didn't give an alternate explanation for the taped conversations – nor did he answer questions. I don't know if he is really innocent or just self-delusional and so narcissistic that in his mind he can do no wrong. This will be an interesting case to follow.
Annie Kate
Birmingham AL
While Blagojevich's talk about trading the Senate seat for campaign contributions are disgraceful, I am not sure why there is no outrage about Gov. Paterson leaning toward Caroline Kennedy in New York, since she will almost certainly unleash the formidable Kennedy fundraising machine for him when he runs his next race; or when the Governor of Delaware appoints a placeholder for Sen. Biden's son while he is in Iraq. Isn't every political donation in this country illegal by the standard that there is a quid pro quo involved?
Maybe all the outrage is because Gov. Blagojevich was stupid enough to say on tape what some politicians just say in private or others use a wink and a nod to convey.
I know he's guilty. He has rich-boy syndrome and thinks it will all work out. He's always gotten away with it, why should it change now?. He's the pretty boy frat boy who cheated his way through college, why should it change now?
Flashback of Nixon saying,
I'm not a crook.
He will lie
He will lie
He will lie
He will lie until the truth is blown to pieces.
Deny everything. That a an old Joey Bishop schtick.
Is the man innocent? I don't see how he can be. The comments that were released are very damning.
I work with individuals with developmental disabilities, and I have one individual diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Blagojevich is like a mirror image of this individual. They both focus on themselves, and not what is best for anyone else. It is maddening, but it is the nature of the disorder. Those closest to him will be able to shed a lot of light on the way he thinks, and I think it will all come out soon.
Fascinating...
Obama the White Sox Fan, is going to the White House.
Blagojevich the Cub Fan, is going to the Big House.
It never ends......
Mike, Lombard Illinois
His demeamor has Guilty written all over it!!! mark my words....
Is this Elliot Spitzer on steroids?
Maybe this kinda thing has been going on for years and when he was appointed office the person before him and the person before him and so on ..handed down the ways of the coreupt politician ways
Rod Blagojevich is one of the most crooked politicians to come out of Illinois. George Ryan had nothing on him. I moved to Florida in March of this year from Illinois and those who know of Blagojevich know he has been a criminal for years and this couldn't have happened to a "nicer" guy – finally, he's going to get what's coming to him after all of this time – a nice LONG jail sentence!
"I will fight until I take my last breath." Here's hoping it's a real short fight or the ref stops it early.
I can just hear Howard Cosell now: "down goes Blagojevich."