Blagojevich speaks to high school students at convention

Steve Schering:

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, speaking with high school students from around the Midwest, gave an inside look into his time in office and his recent trial for allegedly attempting to sell President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

Blagojevich was the keynote speaker Saturday at the Junior State of America's Spring State Convention at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Brook.

Students from Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota attended, asked questions of the impeached former governor and played a game of "Jeopardy!" with him to raise money for Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims.

"Some may say (I've) taken a hard fall and those who say that are true," Blagojevich said. "This is the nature of the political system today in America. It's all taken away because you are accused falsely of things you didn't do." The former governor, expected back in federal court April 20, spoke harshly about Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and state Senate President John Cullerton. Blagojevich criticized Quinn's tax hike, and Madigan and Cullerton for not calling a bill to make property taxes more affordable.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at April 4, 2011 1:31 AM
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