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Jamie
Weinstein
Read Jamie's bio and previous columns
February 10, 2009
The Ballad of Rod
Blagojevich
In
trying to explain his plight to the world, former Illinois Gov. Rod
Blagojevich modestly compared his trials and tribulations to those of
Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Of course,
there is little comparison between the struggles of those men and the
struggles of Blagojevich. Blago's tempest is far greater.
For those of you who may have been living under a rock, Blagojevich's
most recent troubles began after the November presidential election when
he was tasked with the duty as Illinois governor of finding a
replacement to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat. The FBI had been
following Blago for some time and finally pounced when they thought they
had enough evidence to prove that he was trying to sell Obama's Senate
seat to the highest bidder.
"I've got
this thing and it's f***ing golden," Blago allegedly said in a phone
conversation the FBI recorded while tapping his phone. "I'm not giving
it up for f***ing nothing. I'm not gonna do it. And, and I can always
use it. I can parachute me there."
Instead of
parachuting himself into the Senate, it now appears that Blago may be
parachuting himself into prison. But for what?
At first
glance, this looks bad. Really bad. And that is because it does seem
pretty darn sleazy.
But few
were outraged when they learned of the supposed deal between Barack
Obama and Hillary Clinton where she would drop out of the Democratic
presidential primary in return for Obama asking his donors to retire
some of her campaign debt. Regardless of whether or not such a deal was
actually struck, no one in the media seemed to suggest that this was at
all improper when speculating about it. And how often do we hear of
political bargains where one politician will exit a presidential primary
in return for some position in the victor's cabinet should they get
elected? Or, alternatively, a prime speaking slot at the party
convention?
Now, sure,
the allegations are that Blago took this sort of thing to the next
level. I think, though, we should keep in mind it is not altogether
different from the type of political deal-making previously mentioned.
This is not to say that such activity is right. I'm just asking for
consistency.
Look. I am
not going to lie. I love Rod Blagojevich. I love him so much I joined
his fan page on Facebook. It was really love at first glimpse, but what
solidified my attachment to Blago was the recent New York City media
tour he engaged in both before and after his impeachment. It is hard not
to be captivated by a man who, despite all the evidence against him,
acted as if he couldn't fathom why he was in any trouble at all.
This whole
ordeal has inspired me to write a book which I have currently titled
Reflections on the Revolution in Illinois. In it, I plagiarize (or
is it paraphrase?) a certain 18th Century writer:
"I just saw Blago on
the tele, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere he just began to
move in; glittering like the morning star, full of life, and splendor,
and joy. Oh! What a revolution!. . . Little did I dream that I should
have lived to see such disasters fallen upon him in a state of gallant
men, in a state of men of honour and of cavaliers. I thought ten
thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards to avenge even a
look that threatened him with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone,
at least in Illinois."
Oh
for shame.
And how about Blago's courage? More courage in his body than King,
Gandhi and Mandela combined. Yes, King may have faced the cruel whip of
racism, Mandela the twisted policy of apartheid, but Blago endured the
ladies from The View. It's hard to top that.
Can we all agree, at the very least, that Blago was born for politics?
Look no further than his hair. What other profession would accept a head
of hair like that? Only politics. Now, his birthright has seemingly been
stripped from him. What injustice.
Americans like a great story. Blago's tale certainly has the makings of
an entertaining one. But for it to be a truly great American tale it
must include a third act where Blago is given an opportunity for
redemption.
If
the arc of the moral universe ultimately bends toward justice, as Dr.
King once preached, then Rod Blagojevich will get his chance at
redemption. Wouldn't it be something if that chance came in the form of
a quixotic primary challenge in 2012 against fellow Chicagoan, and
current White House occupant, Barack Obama?
Wow. Now we are talking about a story for the history books.
So let the draft Blago for 2012 campaign begin
here. Blago for America.
I can't say
he will get my vote, but I am a sucker for a great story.
© 2009
North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.
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