To Gov. Rod Blagojevich: Americans have their own problems and do not need to hear yours

By Mary MacElveen
January 26, 2009

As the lone voice out here who has written column-after-column in support of the embattled governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, I must say at this point, he is looking pathetic. To me, a strong elected official faces the music so to speak by participating in it to show his or her constituents’ the lynch-mob that he or she believes it to be and not running from it. That to me his actions signify cowardice.

Governor Blagojevich and I will not use any pseudo-names for him like others have within the media has chosen to air his grievances with this process on shows such as ABC’s “Good Morning America, “The View” and CNN’s, “Larry King Live” He is quoted as saying, "I'm here in New York because I can't get a fair hearing in Illinois, the state Senate in Illinois," he went onto say, “They've decided, with rules that are fixed, that don't allow me as a governor the right to be able to bring in witnesses to prove that I've done nothing wrong." Allow me to say to this governor, that not all get the choice whether or not to face their music. I do not know what sympathetic ear you may have here in New York, but New Yorkers are known to be tough and the harshest of critics to boot. Try selling your story to anyone from Brooklyn or the Bronx and see how far it gets you. I am from Long Island and right now, my teeny-tiny violin played with my thumb and forefinger are playing right now for you.

There was a man who the system was stacked against and his name is Marty Tankleff where he was accused of killing his parents, was tried for it and ultimately convicted. I know it is a far different case, but still, he sat there during that trial and heard a case that was stacked against him. He showed to many what true character was all about. He even took an unjust punishment by going to prison for most of his adult life. People fought for his release for years and years and were ever faithful to his cause. At the end, he was let out of prison when it was decided the proceedings were stacked against him. He is now a free man. I was one of those ever faithful who stood beside this courageous man and cheered when he was released from prison. While he lost so much, namely his parents, what he gained was the respect of those who did stand by him year-after-year. Ultimately it was decided by the Suffolk County, D.A. not to retry this case and now he is forever free.

At this point, I can no longer stand in support of Governor Rod Blagojevich as he runs from these proceedings trying to garner whatever support he thinks he has by pleading his case on the shows mentioned above. Life isn’t always fair, Governor Blagojevich, but one must show it so by looking it square in the face instead of running with one’s tail between their legs.

I want to remind this governor of whom he is speaking to: They may be viewers who are huddled around those sets who have lost their jobs, their homes and are truly frightened of their futures. They are the ones who gain any sympathy from me. They have no one to air their grievances with as you think you have the right to, governor.

The economic deck was stacked against the workers at Caterpillar who announced today that 20,000 jobs will be cut. Do they have any place to run? Home Depot announced today that 7,000 people will lose their jobs today and the same question should be asked: Do they have any place to run?

As President Barack Obama, the Senate and House try and stave off a complete fiscal meltdown here in the United States, it was announced today that the government of Iceland “collapsed Monday, leaving the island nation in political turmoil amid a financial crisis that has pummeled its economy and required an international bailout to keep the country afloat.” You are but one person, governor as millions upon millions are facing such hardships.

In reading an AP article, the bile rose as I read, “He said that when he was arrested on federal corruption charges, he took solace from thinking of other jailed leaders — Nelson Mandela, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi.” Do not even go there, Governor Blagojevich. You do not measure up to those leaders who went through such suffering for years and years and where one namely, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was ultimately assassinated.

Lastly, to Governor Rod Blagojevich, go back to Illinois and face the music as any real man or elected leader would do. If you feel the system is corrupt do so from within and not from outside. Americans have their own set of problems to deal with and they do not include yours.

Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net