Whether or not Rod Blagojevich was the “anti-Obama,” as Alexi Giannoulias once called him, testimony in the former governor’s trial Wednesday indicated that he was consumed by his jealousy and disdain for the man who became president.
With former Blagojevich aide Doug Scofield on the stand, the prosecution continued to play a taped phone conversation from Nov. 5, 2008, in which the men talked about what Blagojevich would do following Barack Obama’s election.
Blagojevich couldn’t control his resentment toward the President-elect, who he referred to as a “f—ing demigod.” Blagojevich cast Obama’s success as having cost him an opportunity to run for president one day.
As the conversation proceeded, Scofield and Blagojevich discussed whether or not there was any way in which Blagojevich could have entered the race, reaching the obvious conclusion.
“We all agree that there was no play there,” Blagojevich says. “And let’s say I did, am I better or worse off than I am now?”
Blagojevich continues: “My upward mobility doesn’t look so great right now, but it’s a funny business.”
He acknowledges that despite his disregard for Obama, it’s likely better that he beat Republican Sen. John McCain in the race.
“There is a bright side,” Scofield tells him.
In testimony, Scofield spoke of a “level of jealousy and anger” Blagojevich had for the current President, “even outside the context of the presidential election.”
Blagojevich was very interested in appointing himself to the Senate seat, Scofield told the jury, a move he said he tried to dissuade Blagojevich from making.
“He was quite interested in appointing himself and did not like the advice I was giving him,” Scofield said.