function hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); bubble.style.display = "none"; } function hide_user_promo_bubble() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 0 } }, 1, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); setTimeout("hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage()", 1100); } function handle_promo_username(params) { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var img = $("user_promo_bubble_image"); var anchor = $("user_promo_bubble_link"); if (params.has_photo == "true") { img.src = "http://images.huffingtonpost.com/profiles/" + params.user_id + "-tiny.png"; } else { img.style.display = "none"; Dom.addClass(anchor, "wide"); } anchor.innerHTML = "Shared by " + params.user_name; anchor.href = "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/" + params.user_name; bubble.style.display = "block"; var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 1 } }, 2, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); } if (HuffPoUtil.getUrlVar("user_promo")) { YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { var parts = document.location.hash.split(","), shared_by = "", badge = "", i; if (parts.length < 2) return; for (i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) { if (parts[i].indexOf("sb=") !== -1) { shared_by = parts[i]; } if (parts[i].indexOf("b=") !== -1) { badge = parts[i]; } } if (shared_by == "" || badge == "") return; var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); if (!bubble) return; var entry_id = HuffPoUtil.GetEntryID(); if (!entry_id) return; var user_id = parseInt(shared_by.substr(shared_by.indexOf("sb=") + 3)); if (!user_id) return; var badge_type = badge.substr(badge.indexOf("b=") + 2); if (!badge_type) return; script = document.createElement("script"); script.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript"); bubble.appendChild(script); script.setAttribute("src", "/include/share_track.php?a=view&eid=" + entry_id + "&uid=" + user_id + "&b=" + badge_type + "&cb=handle_promo_username"); }); } Blago Apology: Blagojevich Sorry For 'Blacker Than Obama' Remarks (VIDEO)

Rod Blagojevich apologized Monday morning for his "stupid, stupid, stupid" comments, reported in Esquire magazine, that he's "blacker than Barack Obama."

Using the word "stupid" dozens of times in an ad hoc five-minute press conference, the former Illinois governor called his comments a "metaphor," but defended the spirit behind them. He claimed that his comments were expressing a frustration with Barack Obama's policies, bailing out the banks but leaving everyday people behind.

"This administration is bailing out the banks, bailing out Wall Street crooks...and ordinary people are not getting a fair shake," Blagojevich said. "So while I apologize for that stupid metaphor, the frustration that I expressed is very real.

"I'm very sorry if I offended anybody by saying it the way I said it."

While he took full responsibility for the Obama remarks, saying "I'm not going to blame anyone but me," he denied having made other incendiary statements in a href="http://www.esquire.com/features/people-who-matter-2010/rod-blagojevich-interview-0210" target="_hplink">the Esquire piece, specifically referring to Attorney General Lisa Madigan and her father, Speaker Mike Madigan.

Watch the apology:

Comments

[donbrown]

Good God...what a stupid man.

I can't believe he was elected governor of Illinois...what the h*ll is in the water in that state?

[PNOGUY]

Another Democrat shows his true colors. And it goes to show again that the Dems equate race with a certain set of policies. If people of color don't behave according to their policy, they are not black enough.

[kareemachan]

You just keep stupidly overgeneralizing all you want, dude.

[PNOGUY]

Let's start: Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice...shall I continue?

[crookedcountyillinois]

Why is this news?

[beansie]

He is frustrated about bailing out the big corporations.......all the while he has been stealing and lying and using his power for nothing but his own gain???? This whole "stupid" press conference was for some attention....we havent heard from for awhile...he didnt want us to forget about him....
I am guessing he is right however about the White House wouldnt be taking his call.....YOU THINK!!!!

[GenosseJoe]

It is not about publicity with Blago. He is fighting for his dare life - his corruption trial will start soon and he needs the most favorable opinion about him to avoid conviction or even to minimize the sentence.

Saying that, I still do not see why guy from Hawaii, son of white mother and colonial chieftain from Africa, who grew up exclusively in upper middle class white neighborhoods and attended prestigious schools can be seriously considered a representative of the US black community?

[kareemachan]

From Wikipedia:

After her divorce, Dunham married Indonesian student Lolo Soetoro, who was attending college in Hawaii... They lived in the Menteng area of Jakarta. From ages six to ten, Obama attended local schools in Jakarta, including Besuki Public School and St. Francis of Assisi School.

I don't call that 'exclusively in upper middle class white neighborhoods and ...prestigious schools'....

[Millie Lencioni]

This guy never tires of creating havoc. He finally issued an apology when he realized his statements may affect potential jurors. There will be no sympathy factor for this clown.

[jasev01]

I love Blago, I rather him than Harlod Ford any day even though he is from a flyover state.

[bannorhill]

Illinois politics at their finest.

[GenosseJoe]

Illinois politics at its finest can be observed daily in the White House.
Blago is in the junior league, comparing with Obama and Emmanuel.

[bannorhill]

Obama is better at lying!!!

[Littlewords]

Blago is st00pid because the mop atop his head is constrained and appeased by feeding off br.ain power. If Blago stops diverting br.ain power to his hair, the hair will revolt and then consume him revealing to the world that Blago is in deed, a Wookie.

[Grunty1]

Incredibly, mind-numbingly stupid. Are we sure that he didn't switch parties?

[Littlewords]

Technically he has not, but I hear his hair has, and the part continues to lean to the right.

[YoniBeavur]

This guy is so bad, he's good!

[ManWithBrain]

Seek attention much?

[RSKaz]

Stupid, yes. But here's Blago, making self-serving headlines...again.

[260Parkway]

When does this man go to PRISON? Hopefully soon so we can get rid of his hair as well as IGNORANT mouth! Come on Chi-Town get to work!!!!!

[blackhole2008]

This guy is the male Sarah Pailn.

[wonmean]

Scary.

[EducatedObserver]

First Harry Reid and now Rod Blagojevich - you would have thought this was National Apology Week.

These people ought to try avoiding making these volatile comments in the first place, to avoid debasing themselves with abject apoligies afterwards.

[Political Conservative]

Unfortunately, these people believe what they say or else they wouldn't say it. Would you ever utter those words? The answer probably is no, because you don't believe that they are appropriate.

[Grunty1]

Don't go comparing what Reid and Blago said. VERY different context and circumstances involved