Why We Gave Rod Blagojevich a Book Deal

A lot has been said this week about Rod Blagojevich and about his book deal with Phoenix Books. It seems that the issue is the presumption of innocence is no longer with us. As a publisher who believes that there is more than one fascinating story here I am puzzled as to why we have been made part of the story.

When Harper Collins decided to pay $3 million to O.J. Simpson there was no public outcry until the book turned out to be a great hoax. Little Brown paid Paula Barbieri $3 million for having accomplished no more in her life than having had a fling with the same Mr. Simpson. There were no lessons learned, there were no compelling reasons. Mr. Blagojevich may or may not have committed a crime; that is for the courts to decide. However, the rush to judgment was a landslide seemingly aided by political lobbyists and those with their own agendas. It could appear that Mr. Blagojevich considered breaking the law, but whether he did or not is a decision for a jury and not the spectators to make.

His story is in large part the story of how the lobbyists in America work and how integrity can easily be lost. The casual free drink turns into a free lunch and is often followed by a paid speaking engagement for a trumped-up audience. These are followed by fact-finding trips to luxury vacation spots and a myriad of other temptations that seem to be, for many in government, part of the standard perks. If through Mr. Blagojevich's book we learn how the system works from someone who is as critical of himself as the system that he used, and perhaps abused, then this is a cautionary tale worth telling.

The effort to block his story from being told makes it all the more enticing. If Mr. Blagojevich is guilty, that guilt is shared by a myriad of public officials as well -- and the true victim of these excesses are you and I -- the American public.

I cannot recall a book that delineates the pitfalls and the failings of any governor. But if this book is well and honestly told, then it is one that should be a guidepost to all those who serve, or would serve, the American public, as well as to the lobbyists who have contributed to many of the problems in our system that have caused the present economic dilemma. While governor, Mr. Blagojevich took on the drug companies and many other lobbyists. It is not beyond the realm of possibilities that his swift ejection from power has something to do with the windmills he tilted and the transgressions that he made.

It is an open secret that exceptional pressure was exerted on publishing companies not to publish this book. The reasons why will become self-evident, and I only ask that the public at large give him a fairer trial than the railroad ride he was given out of his role as governor.

Whatever the verdict, this is not a black-and-white case, and we hope to at least show the full scope of the rainbow web behind these events.

Comments

[Crystal Smith]

I am ashamed of livin in IL... What the hecks wrong with the people that run this state... I think we need to clean house!! It is spring after all.. time for some SPRING CLEANIN!!

[NotMcCain]

Blagojevich may never be convicted of a crime, but we've all seen him LIE already.

The criticism is this:...."­Why richly reward a man for writing a book that won't even be true?"

Meanwhile, genuinely talented writers--people with something important to say--can't find ANYONE to publish their work.


Understand now?

[stephanemot]

Let me guess : for money ?

[privateman]

"the true victim of these excesses are you and I -- the American public."

Amazing use of the English language by a publisher of books.

(Singular subject form, plural verb form.)

[gulopartisan]

A publisher who justifies his avarice with appeals to O. J Simpson doesn't need criticism. I won't be buying any Phoenix Books for a long time.

[macohmz]

I look forward to Gov. Blaggojevich's book. I live in his state and I've hated Illinois politics for years. I want to see Illinois as the first state to elect a Green, an Independent, anyone but a Democrat or a Republican. That can't happen until the people are thoroughly disillusioned. Unfortunately the game of "left vs right" is still working its deceptive wonders.

[weatherwaxx]

If you want to see Green, you might consider geting the book at the library instead of giving money to that crook.

I wonder if they're going to edit out all the f***ing expletives­...

[DKLabRat]

"As a publisher who believes that there is more than one fascinating story here I am puzzled as to why we have been made part of the story."

Oh stop being so disingenuous. You're no naive innocent. You know full well how this society works and that this would cause a stink was publicity you were all too willing to get in the hopes that it would help sales of any book. A cynical market strategy. And now you have the audacity to pretend to be confused that it garnered attention and complain about it? Puh-lease.

[TaurusRose]

disingenuous is the word. And rationalization is another appropriate one. Viner evidently took a clue from being made part of the story, and quickly incorporated lobbyists as part of a story which promises only a rationale for greed, burdened with ubiquitous, gratuitous four letter expletives. Hey Mike! a smart guy like you should know The Blago Schtick only works on TV.
It HAS no literary value, bub, and no socially redeeming merit, so own up! It's PORNO.

[dmcnr]

Just a small comment. Since we're Chicago's publisher, we saw (and considered) the book as well and at no time was there pressure (extraordinary or otherwise) brought to bear to not publish this book. We chose not publish the book, as did other publishers, on its merits.

[TheSnarkingLot]

Isn't the answer to the question posted in your title simple enough?

It's the car crash principle, no?

When the book comes out, I will try (AND SUCCEED) at avoiding the temptation to give the highway wreck that is Blago any of my attention.

I beg the rest of you to do the same.

http://TheSnarkingLot.blogspot.com

[tbrnotb]

And you're "puzzled"?!?!?!?
Sheesh.

[Springbirdgirl]

Thanks, but I already know how to use curse words...

[Snuffleupagus]

You did this to make money. So you have much in common with Blago. Everything he did was for money too.
But I don't mind, really. I have enjoyed many books that people would ban or burn from authors like Mark Twain, Jim Fetzer, Leslie Cockburn, and Victor Ostrovsky.

You have every right to publish controversial stuff, but don't embarrass yourself by claiming it was done for any other reason than money.
To all you bookworms out there.....­..save your money and give the Blago pulp a big miss, and try one of the authors I mentioned above.

[endex05]

Mr. Viner: Maybe you can have the book launch in the federal pen; at least Blago will have a captive audience.

[peorgietirebiter]

"I cannot recall a book that delineates the pitfalls and the failings of any governor."

May I be the first to suggest Robert Penn Warren's, All The King's Men?

Either way, good luck with the whole book publishing thing, and remember, there is no presumption of innocence in the court of public opinion, just one of the reasons our verdicts are never enforced by a court of law.

[TheWanderer]

Excellent and literate reply. Thank you.

[DocManhattan]

"But IF THIS BOOK IS WELL AND HONESTLY TOLD, then it is one that should be a guidepost to all those who serve, or would serve, the American public," writes Michael.

Aye, there's the rub, because I don't believe a word that passes Blago's lips. Everything he's said in public has completely failed to address the damning recordings most of us have heard, while simply yelling over and over again about how everyone's out to get him. It's the old Rovian tactic of loudly repeating a lie until it's finally accepted as truth, and stinks of rancid bullshit.

[CeeCee]

The problem is, I wouldn't believe a word of his "book."

And I wouldn't put my heard-earned money in the pockets of greedy publishers.