Patrick Fitzgerald: Senator Pay-to-Play

Posted by admin on Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Patrick Fitzgerald Money Quote saying now jailed Governor Rob Blagojevich attempts to sell a U.S. Senate Seat in Illinois after Barack Obama vacated the seat to run for President. Patrick Fitzgerald said:
 

 

“Blagojevich put a ‘for sale’ sign on the naming of a [U.S.] Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target” — Patrick Fitzgerald

 

 

In this quote, Patrick Fitzgerald is strongly criticizing then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for corrupt actions related to his appointment of a replacement for President Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat.

When Fitzgerald says Blagojevich put the seat “for sale” and urgently pursued “pay-to-play schemes” like a salesman needing to hit a quota, he’s asserting that Blagojevich treated choosing a new Senator as a transactional opportunity for personal gain rather than a responsibility of public office.

Fitzgerald portrays Blagojevich as viewing the high-level position almost like a commodity to be sold off to the highest bidder for political donations, and doing so with salesperson-like urgency, suggesting corrupt self-interest took priority over duty.

The quote presents a scathing indictment of Blagojevich abusing his office for financial benefit.