Unlike the general sentiment now it is entirely possible that Blagojovich is the most honest politician to have been in office. Now let us not confuse ethical with honest. Heck the upcoming trial may even show that he's the most honest politician to be convicted of a crime. Why do I say this? I say this because all over the news we see reports of congresspeople and senators and wannabes for both, raising funds for re-election. Every year these folks get money from all manner of lobbyists and special interests. These companies and organizations almost always get some kind of payback for their investment. You and I don't see it for a few reasons:
a) the recipient of these funds is careful to get the donation using "legal" and "understood" language.
b) It is never asked for but is rather understood that you pay to play.
Blagojovich understood how this system worked. But like me, he doesn't really like the shadiness of acting like you don't want or expect something for nothing. None of this beat around the bush and indirect talk. No Blagojovich apparently came to the table and said I need x, you want y? How do we proceed? Simple to the point. You want in, you pay. Oh sure it's crass. Oh sure it locks out the "little guy" who can't afford to pay up. But lets be real here. How many major contracts go out to the "little guy." Seriously folks. In many cases the favored party knows about the upcoming project long before any of the little guys.
Currently Jesse Jackson Jr. is under the spotlight because there is a thought that he agreed to raise funds for Blago in exchange for being appointed to the Senate seat vacated by Obama. People are calling this a bribe. Really? When companies are regularly asked to make donations to campaigns? Does the public really believe that there is no expectation of ANYTHING in return? Look, if there wasn't any kind of expectations or returns, these companies would not be lobbying and not donating to political parties and candidates.
Lets take this example: If you want to register a business in NJ there is a fee. If you want that expedited you pay an extra fee. Why? Why isn't everything expedited? Why do I have to pay a bribe to get my business registered quick? Also who gets put on the back burner when I pay up? Why are they, who may have submitted before me, thrown to the back of the line? Simple: they didn't pay up. This is nothing more than state sanctioned bribery.
Take the case of immigrants trying to get their green cards. It is pretty much known that if you don't have the cash to pay a lawyer, it's going to take forever. All manner of paperwork junk and slow moving stuff happens. But you get the right lawyer with the right connections? Green cards float down like leaves off a tree in fall.
So I give Blago some credit here. He doesn't smile in your face and say: "I'll see what I can do" and hope you get the picture. No sir. He gets on the phone and tells it like it is: "This thing is effin golden! I'm not giving it up for nothing!" Why should he, a whole lot of people getting rich off the Obama train. Trading up jobs, getting book deals. Banks getting bailed out. etc. etc.
Did Blago do some unethical stuff? Sure. I'm sure a lot of it will come out. But still it seems to me that if anything the man was honest even if we dislike on what he was honest about.
(17 years of informed commentary)
