Will Jurors Vote Blagojevich Off the Island? Fact and Fiction Blur in Media Spotlight
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich didn’t retreat after his indictment on charges of political corruption, appearing on Celebrity Apprentice, making the rounds of the talk shows and signing autographs for his fans.
The media barnstorming is creating confusion and blurring reality, the Chicago Tribune suggests, quoting university professors and other observers. According to the newspaper, Blagojevich has “behaved in a way that effectively dumped fact and fiction in a blender and hit ‘frappe.’ “
The result may be that the wall separating the serious from the frivolous is crumbling, the story says. And Blagojevich may benefit, since his defense is arguing that his talk of rewards for favors was more fiction than fact. Jurors continued their 10th day of deliberations Tuesday, the Tribune reported in a separate story.
Is Blagojevich crazy like a fox? University of Chicago political science professor Charles Lipson says he believes the former governor is trying to be more like Bugs Bunny, and hoping the jury will play along as Elmer Fudd. “Bugs is always playing tricks on Elmer, but he’s not truly malicious, he’s just kind of a trickster,” Lipson told the Tribune. “I think that’s how Rod is trying to play himself. I think he’s got a strategy—I’m a lovable rogue.”
