Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been arrested and charged with corruption. Initial signs are appallingly bad.
Wiretap recordings indicate that Blagojevich was actively working to sell or trade Obama’s old seat in the Senate to the highest bidder, “I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I’m saying. And if I don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll just take the Senate seat myself.”
Wow.
In exchange for the Senate seat Blagojevich asked for “a substantial salary” at a non-profit or labor union for himself, substantial meaning $250,000 to $300,000 a year. For his wife he sought memberships on corporate boards that would amount to $150,000 a year.
Apparently there was at least one candidate engaged in the bidding, “Candidate 5.” Blagojevich said that he received an offer of $500,000 from Candidate 5 in exchange for the seat.
In the very best possible light this evidence looks terrible. Again we appear to have found a politician engaged in the most offensive sort of political corruption. There is a temptation to think that we’ve found just one more bad apple but the truth is that our system is a bad apple factory.
Blagojevich may be one of the worst offenders but his actions are evidence of a more pervasive culture of corruption. A systemic addiction to money. Every political party is afflicted and each politician plays a part.
It is time for the people to raise their voices and insist on change. Blagojevich can become a catalyst for that change – take two minutes to pester your representatives and tell them that you’re mad as hell and not going to take it any more.
(Cross posted from http://change-congress.org/blog/2008/12/09/senate-seat-sale)