Sit-Ins And Denials Make It A Busy Day For Blago

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Dec 8, 2008 8:40PM

Governor Rod Blagojevich, who has enough on his mind already, hit the ground running on Monday, ordering all state agencies to cease work with Bank of America in a bid to pressure the bank into negotiating with workers at the Republic Windows and Doors where workers are in a fourth day of a sit-in. Of course, Blago isn't alone on showing support for the workers: President-Elect Obama and a gaggle of Chicago aldermen have jumped into the fray on behalf of the workers.

When not defending factory workers, Blago has spent the last couple of days denying the report that close friend John Wyma wore a wire - a report Wyma also denies. In a conversation with reporters, he gave a rambling, Daley-esque answer:

"I should say if anybody wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead, feel free to do it. I appreciate anybody who wants to tape me openly and notoriously, and those who feel like they want to sneakily and wear taping devices, I would remind them that it kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate," Blagojevich said.

"But I don't care whether you tape me privately or publicly, I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful and the things I'm interested in are always lawful and if there are any things out there like that, what you'll hear is a governor who tirelessly and endlessly figures out ways to help average, ordinary working people," Blagojevich said.

"You might hear a couple of words that you might not hear publicly, but those are only adjectives to describe maybe some of you," he told reporters.

"There are probably a lot of discussions about the Cubs and some of my ideas on what they ought to do in the off season, but you know, this is America, you know, and I appreciate if you want to tape my conversations, give me a heads up and let me know," Blagojevich said.

Asked if he felt a "cloud" hung over him regarding his pick to replace Obama in the U.S. Senate, Blago gave us this nugget: "I don't believe there's any cloud that hangs over me, I think there's nothing but sunshine hanging over me." Channeling John Denver? Nice move, Guv.

AP Photo/M. Spencer Green