In typical Daily Show fashion, Jon Stewart held nothing back Thursday when he interviewed former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich appeared on the show to promote his new book The Governor and to proclaim his innocence.
Stewart poked fun at him from the start, reaching for the former governor’s infamously excessive hair as he sat down. “I hesitate to say this to a man that may be going to prison,” Stewart quipped, “but may I touch it?”
Blagojevich may be the least sympathetic political figure in recent memory to face prosecution. He’s shifty and rambling and superficial, steadfastly proclaiming his innocence in the face damning evidence; he’s like a car salesman trying to hawk a blue Pinto as a red Corvette.
As Stewart points out, any sane person would question Blagojevich’s claims versus the evidence released in the government’s secret wiretaps. On those recordings, Blagojevich clearly attempts to sell President Obama’s vacated senate seat in return for political favors and influence. Regardless, Blagojevich alleges that the prosecution has withheld passages from those recordings which prove his innocence; those passages, he claims, will vindicate him when released.
“If those tapes are released and it turns out you’re telling the truth,” Stewart said at one point, “I want you to come back so I can give you a hug and apologize.” He left no doubt, however, that he doesn’t believe anything Blagojevich says. Personally, listening to Blagojevich, my only thought is: "Wow, prison's gonna be hard on this guy." The complete interview—which was cut for broadcast—is embedded below.
Warning: These clips contain explicit language
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Exclusive - Rod Blagojevich Extended Interview Pt. 1 | ||||
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| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Exclusive - Rod Blagojevich Extended Interview Pt. 2 | ||||
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| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Exclusive - Rod Blagojevich Extended Interview Pt. 3 | ||||
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