Blagojevich farewell takes trappings of lonely campaign
In a surreal flameout to one of the most meteoric arcs in Illinois politics, Rod Blagojevich's departure from government Thursday played out more like a tiny campaign rally than a farewell.
As Blagojevich spoke to a line of television cameras and reporters outside his Chicago home, a crowd of perhaps two dozen supporters and on-lookers crowded around to get a glimpse of their neighbor and suddenly former governor.
When Blagojevich said, "I love the people of Illinois today now more than I ever did before," a woman in the crowd answered, "Love you, too!"
Though Blagojevich admitted no wrongdoing, a man told him, "We all make mistakes. We've got to forgive!"
And when he spoke for Spanish-language TV, Blagojevich spouted, "Si se puede!" a play off President Barack Obama's "Yes we can!" campaign theme.
Dressed in a blue sweater and dress coat, having taken off the suit coat and tie he wore for the speech at his impeachment hearing, Blagojevich maintained the chipper tone that he's struck since being indicted Dec. 9, but acknowledged the toll it's taken on his family.
"I'm not going to say that this is an easy time. This is a valley in our lives, but that's the way it is in everybody's life. There are tens of thousands of people across America just like me who are losing their jobs or lost their jobs. So I'm not looking for any pity, and I don't need anybody to sympathize or feel bad for me cause I'll be just fine.
"Patti and I will rebuild our lives, with our children Amy and Annie. We'll regroup, and I'm going to commit myself and focus on making sure that things are better for them as I continue to fight for the issues I believe deeply in."
Blagojevich had come home from Springfield early in the afternoon, spoke briefly to reporters and said he'd be back out soon for a jog that never happened.
Shortly before he came out to make his statement, his state security detail left a child's car seat in his garage and departed in a convoy of black cars and sport utility vehicles. His spokesman had left and he had none of his usual support staff.
Because of the media horde, Chicago police arrived to block traffic off the block in the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood on the Northwest Side.
As reporters waited outside the house for the governor to emerge, passers-by took advantage of the captive audience.
"Save Rod!" one driver yelled out his window. Another called out, "At last!"
Nine-year-old Liam Hudson, who'd occasionally played basketball with the governor in the alley, came out with a box over his head stating, "Alfred E. Newman for governor," referring to a Mad comics character whose motto is, "What? Me worry?"
An 81-year-old woman paraded by holding a sign proclaiming that mothers should thank Blagojevich for expanding health care coverage for children and seniors should thank him for free public transportation.
The scene played out on snow-packed sidewalks and slushy streets, as the Blagojevich family kept curtains drawn on the windows of their two-story brick home.
After his initial statement to reporters, Rod waded into a small crowd of supporters gathered in the yard of his corner lot, shaking hands, hugging well-wishers, and promising to play basketball with a child down the street.
"You guys live in the neighborhood?" he asked. "Sorry about all this. Soon it will all be over - I think."
But when a man called out, "Keep fighting Rod!" like a lifetime politician, Blagojevich answered, "I sure will. We're not done yet."
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=4&type=video&item=62">Blagojevich speaks to media, neighbors</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>