Game-legislating Illinois Guv Busted on Corruption Charge
Game-legislating Illinois Guv Busted on Corruption Charge
December 9, 2008
He claimed to be incensed about the content of the Grand Theft Auto series of crime games, but federal prosecutors allege that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was himself a criminal.
Blagojevich and his closest advisor are in FBI custody today, reports CNN:
Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois.
Federal prosecutors say Blagojevich, Harris and others conspired to gain financial benefits in appointing President-elect Barack Obama's Senate replacement, according to the statement.
Blagojevich, Harris and others are also alleged to have withheld state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field. The statement says this was done to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members who were critical of Blagojevich.
The Chicago Tribune cites remarks by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald:
The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering. They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism.
GamePolitics readers will recall that it was Blagojevich who championed his state's 2005 video game sales law. The statute, however, was ruled unconstitutional before the year was out. Ultimately the failed legislation would force Illinois taxpayers to reimburse the video game industry more than a half-million dollars in legal fees.
In 2004, Blagojevich lobbied to to have ads for GTA San Andreas removed from Chicago Transit Authority buses.
GP: Naturally, we're adding Blagojevich to our list of anti-game hypocrites.
Big thanks to: GP readers Norm and BlindJustice15 for the tip!
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Posted 11/20/09 at 05:42pm
ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:17pm
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:01pm
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:59pm
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:49pm
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:46pm
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:44pm
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:42pm
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:33pm
JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:25pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:07pm
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:56pm
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:49pm
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:47pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I know they are intimate friends of yours...
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I know they are intimate friends of yours...
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:44pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Neil and Bob?
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Neil and Bob?
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Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
dun dun dun, and another one bites the dust... :)
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I am a signature virus, please copy and paste me into your signature to help me propagate.
You're telling me, I just saw the video of him saying record everything I say, "I have nothing to hide. I am an honest person, and believe everyone should be honest." haha. That is some great stuff. You know most politicians are like that guy though, doing dirty deeds and getting away with it most of the time.
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Saddest thing is this... this will be the second straight governor we've had in prison. I just have to question if Illinois politicians have ever been decent human beings. I can't find any before Capones time.
Wall of Text Simulation- Insert coin to continue.
You can have Mitch Daniels if you want him. Many people in Indiana wouldn't mind.
Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
Has this happened enough for us to say there is a direct link between trying to legislate games and corruption?
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
I'd say it's no worse than the rationale used to link games and violence.
It may be a very good example to use. If they deny it, then use the exact same excuse to deny their supposed link.
100% agree. It´s just too much coincidence...
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
I think a better theory is that there is a link between trying to control speech and corruption.
Ultimately the failed legislation would force Illinois taxpayers to reimburse the video game industry more than a half-million dollars in legal fees.
More corruption, This proves he's a double agent working in the interests of lawyers!
At this rate, our next IL Gov will be arrested just after taking office. You'd think they would learn by now. I'm just going to go ahead and start voting for the canidate I want to see most in jail, not office.
IL should enact a law saying that any local senator convicted of corruption should be loaded into a catapult and launched over the horizon.
Speaking of, hows the LT gov?
Pat Quinn is more than capable of using his head. That's a nice side-effect of Blago getting arrested.
Is it sad that I live in Illinois and didn't know about this till I read it on this site? I hope the Tribune company comes out ok from this. They gave me my first job delivering papers.
Tribune is hurting
How about we haz a solid link between crime and poltiains nowz!
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Pirates,Shearers,Lenders and downloaders are not a market that can be taped by the mainstream.
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I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Grand Theft Auto must have influenced him to do this. That is the only reasonable explanation.
Oh yeah, that 'Bribe a Politician' minigame you play right after the one where you have to rape prostitutes...
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
No it is the whole become a politician and accept bribes mission. This mission comes directly after the serial rapist mission which comes directly after the shoot up the police station mission.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
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But is it before or after the 'string up the housecat' mission? (Which btw I'm still looking for, no sign of it yet. :P)
300 Episodes and counting: http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/
You need a patch off the net for that one...
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
But once you have it unlocked it is part of how you become a politician.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
Corruption in the Illinois government? That's umpossible!
I can see his defense, "I learned it by playing GTA, alright?"
http://www.popularculturegaming.com
Maybe he's calling up Jack right now to defend him. Boy, he's in for a little surprise.
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde
Wow, this guy isn't just corrupt - he makes a lot of characters from GTA look decent by comparison.
Sell the vacant senate seat - sure!
Try to intimidate the media - OK!
Ask for and accept multiple bribes - Why not?
Sound like a thug on wire taps - F*ck yeah!
This guy is a real piece of work and a true con artist. Rockstar really needs to parody this guy in the next GTA - they don't even need to exagerate...at all.
There's a press conference on this right now, this is incredible.
Apparently he was selling to the highest bidder the appointment to Obama's open Senate Seat.
He was promising people he could lean on Obama and get him to appoint the highest bidder to a Cabinet position.
He was pressuring the Tribune to fire an editor.
He was going to pull back an $8 million grant from a CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL because the director wouldn't give him a contribution.
Is anyone watching the US attorney's press conference on Blagojevich? This guy is beyond hypocritical. He is an unlawful, anti-constitutional piece of crap. Not only on games, but according to the US attorneys, he tried to extort the Chicago Tribune.
Are all these anti-game politicians corrupt? It seems like a great way to find out who's a corrupt politician: just find the ones that are bashing videogames and theres a good chance that therye commiting crimes, real ones.
I just want to add though that often these left wing politicians go after video games because they are weak on real crime. Im not sure if thats the case with this Blago guy or not, but they seem to think that being tough on fantasy violence makes up for being weak on the real thing and will fool voters. Unfortunately, I think it does sometimes. They also are offended by guns or by the use of force. So its something that personally offends them and goes against their left-wing political ideology as well. Its the same as the religious right trying to censor tv for anything sexy. Its them trying to force their ideology on everybody else, and censor ideas that they think are the opposite of theirs.
Its compensation. You know how the guy with the smallest $%&# always buys the biggest truck? Its the same with politicians. The more corrupt they are, they more vocal they are about crimes in video games.
We don't have a left wing in this country. We have right and further right. We don't have socialists, communists, or idealists either. Any illussion to the contrary is a lie.
Wall of Text Simulation- Insert coin to continue.
The saying goes, "sinners pray loudest". The more somebody rails against something (homosexuality, corruption, violence, etc), the more likely it is that they are doing just what they claim to hate.
good riddance
http://www.eliteownage.com/nice
He said alot of bad words when he was wiretapped
Another hypocrite gets busted for corruption. How ironic as a Democrat whines about video games "corrupting young minds" when they're the one who are corrupt.
Let's see, Blagojevich joins Eliot Spitzer and Leland Yee at least. I'm pretty sure Kathleen Blanco(former Louisiana governor) was also corrupt.
Geaux Saints, Geaux Tigers, Geaux Hornets, Jack Thompson can geaux chase a chupacabra.
When was there a corruption issue with Yee? I don't remember seeing that.
Give you that one, though I do consider him corrupt since he voted against banning lead(a poisonous substance) in children's toys.
Geaux Saints, Geaux Tigers, Geaux Hornets, Jack Thompson can geaux chase a chupacabra.
At the risk of sounding like a certain person who seems to be been vanquished, I'm not the least bit surprised that someone like Blagobitch is more corrupt than the Ephors from 300. Especially since the Spitzer prostitute incident.
The Spitzer thing absolutely pales in comparison to this. The worst Spitzer did was be a hypocrite, and pay for sex. When it came to light, he had the decency to resign quickly in the face of an outcry.
Blagojevich on the other hand is charged with pretty massive corruption in terms of stuff along the lines of bribes and kickbacks. Somehow I doubt he'll resign and play nice with the investigators like Spitzer did.
-Gray17
Damn! This guy's just as bad (if not worse) than Maurice Duplessis.
Karma's a bitch and a half, aint it?
The hypocrisy list just keeps getting longer and longer, doesn't it?
Wow, what's with my state and sleazy politics? This guy used to be cool to a lot of people. But on the other hand, local politics don't interest me as much as national politics.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1209081rod1.html
Since my dad is from Cicero, I am glad that Illinois won't have to endure this ****** anymore.
Libertarian Republican from Mesa Arizona: MySpace http://profile.myspace.com/32118614 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1441642492&ref=name
Here is the motivational...
(sorry, I can´t upload the image directly)
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
It's Chicago, is this really a surprise?
Good riddance! I live in Chicago so I'm used to this but this man has destroyed our state. It's funny that he was claiming to be a great father and trying to protect me and all the other kids of IL from violent video games(I was 14 when he tried to pass that law) and yet at the same time was engaging in illegal and corrupt behaviour including trying to auction off Obama's Senate seat and trying to Extort the Tribune. Great Father?! What kind of message are you sending to your daughter when your breaking the law for your own greed. Before you start trying to protect all the kids of IL you should start being a good role model to your own child! I feel bad for his daughter actually espicially considering that his wife may also be indicted. It's already bad enough knowing one of your parents is likely gonna go to jail but both has to be traumatic for her. I hope they throw the book at him though for this though, what he did makes Ryan look like a Catholic School boy. It's funny how everyone who claims to be "protecting the children" from being corrupted by Grand Theft Auto and other violent games seem to all have ethical problems of thier own.
Rob Blogojevich: Arrested on corruption charges
Elliot Spitzer: Hired a prostitute and cheated on his wife
Leland Yee: Voted against banning lead in children's toys(a poisonous substance I might add)
Kathleen Blanco: Left New Orleans to drown durring Katrina
Jack Thompson: Disbarred on misconduct charges
In conclusion trying to "protect children" from violent video games makes you corrupt, incopetent, unethical, and a douche bag(And I think there is a bigger case for this then violent video games making kids violent)
News like this makes me want to break into song:
Sorry, Nicky, human nature-
Nothing I can do!
It's... Schadenfreude!
Making me feel glad that I'm not you.
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.