Blagojevich Mania Sad Sign of the Times

Published Friday, September 18th, 2009 in Culture & Society

Call it a sign of the times. When a corrupted politician achieves rock star status, you know the world is heading to hell in the proverbial hand basket.

I received a press release about Blagojevich mania. You may remember Rod Blagojevich, the governor of Illinois who lost his job and was indicted on federal corruption charges for allegedly attempting to sell President Barack Obama’s Senate seat.

Now, Blagojevich – and his likeness – is all the rage. From a chair autographed by the disgraced governor on the set of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to a Blagojevich bobblehead and even collectible tiles, Blagojevich has become big business on eBay.

“They’ve just taken off,” says Kos Ballis of Edison Clay Company in Fort Myers, Fla.  The company created a ceramic tile featuring the former governor’s likeness to commemorate this unusual time in history. “It’s affordable art and it’s commentary on our culture.”

A commentary on our culture, indeed. A sad one, and one with a PR machine behind it.

“He’s got rock star qualities about him,” says Glenn Selig, whose PR firm, The Publicity Agency, represents the governor and his wife Patti. “He has a dynamic personality.  He is swarmed for his autograph and for photos just like actors and other larger-than-life celebrities. People like him and believe he’s telling the truth.”

Blagojevich has steadfastly and very publicly denied all the charges against him including the allegation that he tried to sell then President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat. Blagojevich’s book “The Governor” hit store shelves last week. In it, he says his accusers are lying.

The hot eBay merchandise includes a Blagojevich-autographed baseball from Wrigley Field that’s currently going for $99 and a limited-edition Blagojevich bobblehead doll that sell for $10 apiece. 

The high bid for the chair autographed by Blagojevich after a taping of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ is currently at $5,700.  There are 43 bidders and the auction ends at 1:00am Friday. The money raised will help put unemployed people to work. It probably isn’t enough to buy a Senate seat.

It doesn’t take a prophet to see that there’s something wrong with this picture, does it?