Blagojevich Defends Scooter Libby On "Hardball" (VIDEO)

Disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich was a guest on "Hardball" as he continues to defend himself against charges that he tried to sell to the highest bidder the vacant Senate seat left behind by President Obama. He's also promoting his new book.

Matthews did his best to grill Blagojevich over the charges facing him but Blagojevich proved slippery prey and managed to dodge and hedge on most answers. One of the more interesting exchanges came during the discussion of his book, in which Blagojevich defends Scooter Libby. Matthews says the book implies that Libby was "railroaded" but Blagojevich, as usual, hedged:

He was scrutinized for a long time on a lot of other things that ultimately nothing came of and then they ultimately caught him unfortunately he didn't tell the truth. And that's what he ultimately was prosecuted on [...] The point I'm making in the book is there was a pursuit of him, in the substance of the things they were pursuing he didn't do those things wrong evidently. What he was ultimately held culpable for was not telling the truth and preventing the truth from being heard.

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Comments

[balancedsolution]

watching chris matthews interview ari fleisher, its' so apparent that ari fleisher is a schill.

he's a paid numbskull who believes the lies he was continuously fed and planted.

amazing to me how someone can hold a position so wrong and never deviate...­..

he surely has aged. i think that's what happens when you hold in the lies.

[redonrose]

chris matthews is one host that eally gets the answers out of his guests..he pushes and pushes till they answer one way or another...­he might be alittle goofy at times but he's good at playing hardball..­.

[jasev01]

Worst to be honest, is Blago is absolutely correct, federal prosecutors do use the tactic of making grand indictments and accusations to get the public upset and force the defendants to defend themselves then try to catch them with charges like perjury. Everyone knows Libby was the fall guy for Cheney and thats why Cheney was so mad when he was not pardoned. And look at other similar prosecutions its never for what people were charged with but its for a white collar crime. Why put a gag order on the actual tapes if the defendant has not requested it. Are they suggesting it will hurt the prosecution's case of the public heard the actual evidence I means seriously come on.

[jasev01]

Honestly Matthews is the worst host on TV. He doesn't listen to people then he makes up what people say. He thinks he is so smart and is catching people but all he does is talk over people. I can't stand him. I wish he would 1. let people finish their statements ( short ones at least) and 2. not try to twist people's words to meet his own goals. He is just as bad as certain politicians who just flat out lie then pretend like what they said is not on tape.

[jasev01]

Free Blago.

[mikebarden]

Sorry, couldn't follow what Mr. Blowabitch(?) said?