Blagojevich Busted

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich stepped out of seclusion and back into the spotlight Wednesday morning, taking on the airwaves and proclaiming that he was "hijacked" from office.

As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, Blagojevich filled in as the host of the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. block on WLS-AM 890 in the absence of Don Wade & Roma, even as a federal corruption indictment against the deposed governor is expected any day now. He took guests and phone calls.

Sometimes, Blagojevich seemed unsteady behind the microphone and clumsy with the mechanics of radio. He admitted that he was a novice.

"This is harder than being governor," he quipped.

While Blagojevich has stood or sat before microphones plenty of times before, this was his chance to choose all of the content, and he seemed to have no trouble conveying his message.

His argument? Springfield got him out of office so they could raise your taxes.

"I asked our new governor, Governor Quinn, to keep the promise we both made when we ran as a ticket. I kept it for six years. Pat Quinn took six weeks to break a promise and raise taxes," Blagojevich said. "Unfortunately, a prediction I made came true."

Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed a budget that calls for an increase the state income tax rate by 50 percent, from 3 percent to 4.5 percent.

Blagojevich says it's the worst thing Illinois could do because it would hurt small businesses. He took comment from callers who seemed to agree.

Blagojevich said Quinn should "reverse course and change his mind" about raising the income tax to try to plug an $11.5 billion deficit.

Quinn has said the state needs to raise the income tax to fix an $11.5 billion deficit.

In response, Quinn dismissed Blagojevich's comments and called the former governor "yesterday's tomatoes."

In the time between his arrest in December and his removal from office, Blagojevich claimed repeatedly that his impeachment was a "sham" and a plot by lawmakers to remove him in order to raise taxes.

Blagojevich was ousted from office after being accused of trying to sell President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat, among other things.

In two hours, the former governor talked about President Barack Obama, the economy and the Cubs. He took five phone calls, all of them supportive. He named double-dippers – elected officials who hold two taxpayer-supported jobs. And he said the politicians were out to get him.

"I was hijacked from office. I'm not allowed to bring witnesses and bring in evidence to show that I did nothing wrong," Blagojevich said on the air. "It was a political fix and I predicted that."

He got a healthy dose of sympathy from CNN's D.L. Hughley, who was a call-in guest on the show.

"I liked you right off. ... You didn't work out the way we wanted it to but I think you'll land on your feet and things will get better from here," Hughley said.

Blagojevich also hinted at his legal problems on air, saying he has some challenges ahead.

"I'm going to trust in the truth and as it says in the Bible, the truth shall set you free," he said.

Blagojevich was ousted from office after being accused of trying to sell President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat, among other things.

Blagojevich didn't miss the chance for self-promotion. He is writing a book that his agent promises will expose the seamier side of politics, but Blagojevich admitted it wasn't coming easily.

"I'm on page three," he joked.

Also appearing on the show were the stars of a Second City comedy spoof of his troubles. The show is called "Rod Blagojevich, Superstar," and pokes fun at Blagojevich, his wife Patti, and his family.

The actor who plays the governor, and another one who plays his father in law, Ald. Richard Mell (33rd), came to spar with Blagojevich. The pair said Blagojevich sells a lot of tickets.

Blagojevich said the broadcast made Chicago radio history. But Illinoisans say they've heard it all before.

"He is no longer the governor, and I think the less said the better," one man said.

"He's an embarrassment, and it's just reinforcing that he has any validity whatsoever," a woman said.

But not everyone was quite as dismissive.

"He's doing is best to stay in front of the public and give his side of the story," a man said.

Blagojevich left the radio studios still talking, and he repeated everything he said on the air to reporters gathered outside. But he would not comment on any legal developments.

Before Blagojevich was removed from office by Illinois legislators on Jan. 29, WLS offered him a regular radio show if he would resign. But he steadfastly refused to do so.

Since leaving office, Blagojevich has kept an active media schedule, with appearances on programs from Larry King to David Letterman. He has shown up on every network that has requested an interview for him.

CBS 2's Joanie Lum and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Editor's Picks

• Gay Celebrities
• Did You Know? Stars From Chicago!
• Celebs Who Lean To The Right
• Real Or Fake?