Letterman Puts Blagojevich On The Hot Seat (VIDEO)

The Rod Blagojevich media tour rolled on Tuesday night with a surprisingly bracing stop at the "Late Show with David Letterman."

"Why exactly are you here, honest to God?" asked the late-night host.

"I've been wanting to be on your show in the worst way for the longest time," the disgraced former governor said upon taking his seat in the guest's chair.

"Well, you're on in the worst way, believe me," replied Letterman, setting the tone for the nearly 20-minute interview in which he never seemed to let Blagojevich get too comfortable.

After reading the names of Illinois governors who've served time in prison as Blagojevich smiled, Letterman told the ex-governor, who has been making the case for his innocence on nearly any show that would have him over the past few weeks, "The more you talked and the more you repeated your innocence, the more I thought, 'oh this guy's guilty.'"

Blagojevich offered little of substance in response.

"Well, let me say two things: one, that's the truth; and two, I'm glad you're not going to sit on that jury in Illinois."

The former governor reiterated his innocence, referring to his historic impeachment trial conviction as a "hijacking," but Letterman repeatedly challenged the claim.

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"You were not deprived of due process," Letterman said. "I don't believe you have been deprived of due process."

Asked if the criminal trial will clear his name and voters will think then that he should still be governor, Blagojevich didn't hesitate.

"Yes, I do believe that, and I believe it will be a historic result," Blagojevich, the first governor in Illinois history to be removed from office, said.

Blagojevich also used the appearance to associate his case with other Illinois politicians. The ex-governor said he first learned of an investigation into his administration when the government was probing "a friend." This "friend" is Tony Rezko and though Blagojevich did not mention his name, he did say "this friend is the friend who's very close to Barack Obama as well." Mayor Daley also received an unwelcome mention and new Gov. Pat Quinn, who took over as governor minutes after Blagojevich's conviction, was called on to "keep his promise not to raise taxes on people during a time of economic depression."

The appearance had its light moments, with the the cash-strapped ex-governor telling Letterman: "Well, I'm looking for work," and then asking "Are you hiring?" And Letterman got in a dig at Blagojevich's famous coif, asking if he uses an all-in-one shampoo and conditioner.

WATCH:

Read the full transcript at the Tribune's "The Watcher" blog.

Comments

[me again]

Why did Dave bother? This guy is yesterday's news and soon to be a close personal friend of an inmate named Bubba.

[Tugar]

WHAT DID BLAGOJEVICH DO...

For the life of me, I cannot see what Blagojevich did that was so wrong that the state of Illinois gov't wanted or had legal standing to throw him out of office for.

Now they are preparing some kind of nonsense to throw him in jail for. This is a disgrace. All I could find wrong was, he had a foul mouth. But no money was ever exchanged, he never got a dime from what I could tell. Even the situation about the so-called, hospital trade off situation. But for some strange and untold reason, the state of Illinois really wants this man not in, but under a jail,

And (Letterman, Leno, etc ): ALL THE STAND UP COMICS, AND TALKING HEADS, think the Blagojevich situation is something to have a good laugh about, WHEN IT REALLY IS NOT.

I've got a feeling that what just happened in Illinois, will again happen to someone else, that everyone will know and respect. And perhaps then, everyone will not find the BLAGOJEVICH situation so funny, but only look back and remember what was allowed to happen to BLAGOJEVICH.

THE MAN REALLY DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO BE THROWN OUT OF OFFICE, LET ALONE BE PUT IN JAIL FOR!

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

Have you been living in a cave during this whole drama?

Rod Blagojevich has been under investigation by the FBI since 2005 for corruption, of which both Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff John Harris were charged. They were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of soliciting bribes. The case involved sweeping pay to play and influence peddling allegations, including the alleged solicitation of personal benefit in exchange for an appointment to the United States Senate as a replacement for Barack Obama, who had resigned after being elected President of the United States.

NOW do you understand??

[bannorhill]

Blagojevich would have looked better in a stripped suit.......1" wide black & white vertical stripes.

[ProfessorGeorge]

You go Dave! He should be hosting Meet The Press. But Dave missed one big question: asking the Ex-Gov about alledged pictures taken with this lady!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA0TTfqFZg8

[Jeff Norman - Huffpost Blogger]

The HuffPo editors have it backwards. The onus is on Letterman to explain why he believes the ex-governor acted unlawfully. How is it possible for Blago to address unstated reasoning?

Letterman is free to mock Blago’s PR strategy, but let’s not pretend the comedian mentioned any incriminating evidence. He said Blagojevich seems guilty because the former governor keeps proclaiming his innocence in interviews. What exactly do the editors expect Blagojevich to say “of substance” in response?

Letterman played a recorded phone conversation in which Blagojevich sounds eager to receive some sort of a payment. As nothing in the recording suggests Blagojevich would do anything in exchange for the desired money, it’s unfair to blame him for “failing” to address whatever Letterman sees as nefarious. It’s not the ex-governor’s fault that Letterman can't explain how the recording indicates criminality. Blago did his part; he said the recording suggests no criminal behavior. Letterman has no argument.

Letterman doesn’t understand that the the principles of due process apply outside of a criminal trial. Whether we hate or love Blagojevich, we should all be able to see that he’s been severely punished by Illinois legislators. As such, Letterman really misses the point when he says that the likelihood of a fair criminal trial somehow refutes Blago’s contention that his impeachment trial wasn't conducted fairly.

It is Letterman – not Blago – who failed to offer anything of substance. The same goes for the rest of the media lynch mob. Evidence matters.

[MartiWilkinson]

In regards to the criminal allegations against Blagojevich - I would say that it's up to the court system to decide if he did, or did not, break the law. As you pointed out evidence does matter and we have only heard bits and pieces of the evidence.

I will share my perspective as someone who lives in Illinois. Whoever handles the public relations for the former governor is doing a poor job. His refusal to live in the governors mansion was seen as being disrespectful towards the people of Illinois. What would you think of someone who accepted a job where relocation is expected - then see him/her turn around and insist on telecommuting instead?

From the time he took office there were questions raised by his wife's real estate dealings and the association with Tony Rezko did much to damage the Blago's reputation. Fair or unfair, public opinion tends to judge people based on association.

The best thing that Blago could have done after his arrest would have been to resign. His refusal to quit and the appointment of Roland Burris was seen as his extending the middle finger to his constituents. Blago didn't even bother to appear at his own impeachment hearing until the last day. He's actively participated in the media circus that has surrounded him.

Finally, you can criticize the media for taking on the role of lynch mob, but Blago also needs to take responsibility for the rope he handed them.

[Promisin1]

"His refusal to live in the governors mansion was seen as being disrespectful towards the people of Illinois. What would you think of someone who accepted a job where relocation is expected - then see him/her turn around and insist on telecommuting instead?"

As I recall, and I'm no Palin fan, didn't Sarah Palin pretty much do the same thing? Also, it didn't seem at that time to affect her popularity. She had one of the highest approval ratings of any Governor. By the way, I know Blago had one of the lowest of any sitting Governor, ever. I don't think it had anything to do with his telecommuting.

[bluegreenred]

Did allow him witnesses?
The "railroad" runs right through Illinois.

[Taughtology]

Blago was *OBVIOUSLY* setting Letterman with the "in the worst way" line. Here's my proof:

1) Blago quotes Kipling from memory. Even though it was a stunt, the guy is able to read.
2) Blago must know something about Lincoln to get ahead in Illinois politics.
3) A famous Lincoln anecdote, relayed by his wife: "He saw me across the room and approached me. He said he wanted to dance with me in the worst way. And so he did."

Anyway, I think that particular line was a set-up designed to control the tenor of the humor and hostility.

[inorbit]

I wish this guy would just go away.

[panurse]

another 1 way ticket to Alaska

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

LOL

[lilacluvr]

What other choice did Blagojevich have? He is now impeached and has no recourse to get his old job back. He is facing a criminal trial and his best bet is to try to get at least one juror to go with 'reasonable doubt'. Like it or not, this is what the justice system has become - media perception has alot to do with the outcome of many trials.

[BailUsOut]

From Wikipedia:
Blagojevich threatened to halt the state’s dealings with Bank of America Corp. over a shut-down factory in Chicago. On December 8, 2008 (the day before his arrest), all state agencies were ordered to stop conducting business with Bank of America to pressure the company to make the loans. Blagojevich said the biggest U.S. retail bank would not get any more state business unless it restored credit to Republic Windows and Doors, whose workers were staging a sit-in.

[JohnTalbutt]

Allowing citizens of Illinois access to Canadian drugs was actually among the impeachment charges.

[ILBucki]

The man is purely delusional. Listened to all of this and he sounds quite guilty. People fail to realize the impeachment standards are different than the normal court proceedings. Blago loved the IL State Constitution when it allowed him to give the proverbial middle finger to all Illini by appointing Roland Burris -- yet he loathes that same constitution when it set down rules for impeachment.
He was a crappy governor and should have been booted long ago. All this would have been unnecessary had the people willed out and gotten the ability to Recall.
Despite the posters claiming he is attempting to taint the jury pool, we all know it's a silly attempt. I am sure they will find the required amount of people to sit a jury. And from what I see of Illinois people, there are many, many bubbas who live in a cocoon who don't even know they have a governor!

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

He's a bad actor who has his lines memorized, but can't convincingly play the part.

GET OFF THE SET, BLAGO!

[BlueZoo]

I note Blago has not appeared on Jon Stewart or Colbert where he would be slivered and dispatched in moments. Letterman's comment to the "worst way" statement by Blago was priceless! I still believe that anyone who knows he's being investigated by the FBI and insists on conducting his monkey business on the telephone is a mental midget and deserves what he gets!

[Eric-in-the-Red]

As a citizen of Ilinois, all Blago deserves now is his 15 minutes of fame and a fair criminal trial. I don't see the fact that he was impeached as an indicator of criminal guilt, but I do see it as universal recognition that he was not capable of governing, which he wasn't. If I were his attorney, I would tell him to stay off TV and keep his mouth shut, as he is not the best witness. However, it is a thoiusand times better that he is on TV than in Illinois' statehouse.

[TribunusPlebis]

Letterman and every other media host who exploits the political train-wreck of Blagoyevich's corruption and impeachment is doing a huge disfavor to our system of justice, because it should be obvious that one reason Blago is waging a media campaign is to contaminate the jury pool for his eventual criminal trial. These media hosts are also helping Blago to magnify his media footprint, in order to be able later to sell a huge book contract. Having been perhaps the most corrupt U.S. governor since Huey Long, Blagoyevich is now morally corrupting the televised media (who are all too willing to be corrupted) and commercially exploiting his tousled black hair, bad boy image and story. But Blagoyevich is not some jilted lover of a Hollywood starlet -- he was impeached and thrown out of office by the unanimous vote of the legislature of one of the nation's largest states.

Every single media outlet that gives Blagoyevich a platform is an accomplice in his struggle against the U.S. Attorney who is trying to hold him accountable for his illegal acts as governor. That Letterman has fallen for this is a sad day in his career.

[JohnTalbutt]

It is Fitgerald who began trying his case in the media. He could have gtiven a reading of the indictment and told the FBI clown who talked about how corrupt a state Illinois is to confine himelf to the facts of the arrest and spare the public his global judgements.

.

[jsgaetano]

Maybe he should have been "fair and balanced", like Fox.

[truthyguy]

All it does is make finding an impartial jury a little more difficult because anyone who has seen and heard this jerk thinks he is guilty.

[toocoldout]

I like Blagojevich. Thank you Dave for having him on. It was a great show.

[therblig]

I know we're in the minority, but I'm a "Blago Booster" myself.

[RnR]

I also support Blago. Ralph Bellamy (man against crime) Fitzy let Karl Rove change his testimony 5 times in front of the grand jury thereby letting Rove walk. How much does something have to smell before people wake up????

[walruswheedchick]

I am too. I feel sorry for the man. Its like back to high school once again where the unattractive gets unfair treatment. There is scientific evidence that attractive people get lighter sentences in court.

[mecormany]

Count me in as a Blago admirer. People forget a few things. Fitzgerald all but tried and convicted him at his press conference and since that point he couldn't have gotten a fair trial in Illiniois or amongst that gang of hypocrites in Springfield no matter what. There's also the fact he saved a seat in the US Senate for the Democrats when the Democrats did everything they could to give it away to the GOP by wanting to hold a special election when the law stated otherwise, and then did everything they could to keep Burris, a qualified candidate from being seated. Blago sponsored bills for health care for poor kids, improvements for the elderly and drugcare and and was always for the worker. The writer above may have wanted to find out why the workers were sitting in -- they'd been fired without notice and without final pay and benefits. Obama, Durbin, Daley, Jackson all said they were on the worker's side but Blagojevich knew how to get them paid, and did it. Say what you want, the man is a fighter and I'd much rather see him in Pelosi or Reid's place than Pelosi or Reid. Meanwhile Fitzgerald keeps asking for more time to build his case.