Gov. Rod Blagojevich Says He's Blacker Than Barack Obama

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich tells Esquire magazine that he is "blacker than Barack Obama." The ousted governor is causing quite a stir with his comments, which will be featured in the February issue of Esquire. Blagojevich refers to himself as a real person in a political arena dominated by phonies, while referring to President Barack Obama as "this guy."

"I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived," Blagojevich said. "I saw it all growing up." "What the (expletive)? Everything he's saying's on the teleprompter," Blagojevich told the magazine.

So far, the White House has refused to comment on the matter.

Hmmm, very interesting, Rod. So you can say that you are blacker than President Obama because you shined shoes and lived in a five-room apartment? The problem with that analysis, my friend, is that you may have lived the poor experience, but not necessarily the black experience. While there are millions of African Americans who grow up poor, there are millions more who have everything they need. What is most problematic about Blagojevich's "blacker than Obama" statement is that even most black people can't define what it really means to be black. That's like asking what it really means to be white. Most white people don't know the answer to that question.

Finally, I must humbly submit that I don't think that owning a laundromat in a black neighborhood gives you a "black man license" either. Almost none of the businesses in black communities are actually owned by black people, so this would not make you unique.

Perhaps rather than having a "blacker than Obama" contest with the president, you can simply stand on your own merits as a genuine advocate for the black community. You can cite your record for doing things that support the issues that matter most for African Americans, evidenced by the fact that so many African Americans in Illinois stood by you during your difficult time.

Oh yeah, trying to present yourself as the only genuine politician in a world of phonies is an old trick. Every politician does it, including Barack Obama. I'll believe you're a genuine politician when you're no longer a politician. Then, my friend, I might consider you to be "blacker than Obama" (whatever that's supposed to mean).