Dec 19, 2008 6:10 pm US/Central
Chicagoans Weigh Blagojevich's Words
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Governor Rod Blagojevich's first public statement turned out to be riveting TV around the country especially in Chicago. CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports.
When the governor finally spoke, most customers at Harry Caray's Restaurant stopped eating, stopped talking and glued their eyes to the tube.
Blagojevich's strong words prompted some to immediately react by snickering or shaking their heads. Most listened intently to the short speech before weighing in on the governor's vows to fight the charges.
"The tapes are saying he is guilty. So, it'll be interesting to see when the whole thing comes out. But unfortunately right now it looks like he's guilty," Mike Larmargo said.
Kevin Finger, a Chicago resident said, "It's pretty hard… his own words and that of his wife are on tape. Assuming that that's what is actually on the tape, it's hard to envision that he's got a defense to charges that have been brought against him."
News of the federal corruption charges against Blagojevich have spread around the country. Even tourists like Steve Bentley from Boston and Matt Yeatman from Jackson, Mississippi had an opinion.
"Everybody there seems to think that they pretty much got the proof they need, so I don't know what he's thinking he's gonna fight..seems like a pretty much foolish endeavor to me," Yeatman said.
"It's kind of hard to believe when there are actual transcripts where he's apparently soliciting bribes from someone. It's kind of hard to see where they have a case," Bentley said.
The clear consensus from the majority of the customers was against the governor. We found only one Chicagoan touched by his plea to give him a chance to prove his innocence.
"He hasn't been indicted yet, so these are charges. We haven't had access to the proof that was used to arrest him. So really he is innocent until proven guilty. As unpopular as it may sound, the man is innocent until proven guilty," Ray Casey said.
Customers at the restaurant also weighed in on whether the governor should resign.
Some people agreed that he should stay in office while he fights. Others questioned if he could effectively run the state while trying to defend himself against corruption charges.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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