Gov, state rep on comedy show

Is politics getting more like entertainment, or is entertainment getting more political? Both, apparently, at least judging by Gov. Rod Blagojevich's recent appearance on the popular "Daily Show." A Associated Press story picked up Feb. 10 by The Chicago Sun-Times described him as he "sometimes looking befuddled and other times trying to sound witty himself," but he got a lot of free election-year publicity out of it. Here's how the AP wrote it up:

In a segment titled "Pill of Rights," interviewer Jason Jones' first jab was aimed at the governor's notoriously hard-to-pronounce name.

"I sat down with Gov. Blago, Blagaaaa . . . Gov. Smith," Jones said in a voiceover.

Blagojevich began the prerecorded interview by offering a straight-faced explanation of the order he issued requiring pharmacies to sell approved contraceptives such as the morning-after pill without delay.

As the governor began, "I think it's important for your listeners to know that we're not talking about medicine that terminates pregnancies, we're talking about . . . ," Jones interrupted, saying sternly, "I'll be in charge of what my listeners get to hear."

"Is he teasing me, or is that legit?" Blagojevich asked smiling as he looked toward someone off camera.

Also reaping publicity out of the show was state Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Greenville, whose interview was edited into a comedy skit featuring an exaggeratedly seductive blonde (it had to be a blonde!) who flounces into a pharmacy and says, "Hey, big boy. ... Here's my prescription for the morning-after pill."

In the skit as edited, Stephens states his opposition to morning-after pills while the blonde jiggles and flounces. In real life, Stephens owns two pharmacies, and he opposes Blagojevich on the issue. The story continues:

Stephens told The (Springfield) State Journal-Register Wednesday that he fully understood the "Daily Show" could end up ridiculing him by heavily editing the questions and answers. He said the interviews were taped at his office and a pharmacy.

"It was a chance to do a comedy show," he said. "It's not so much about the issue ... I take my issues very seriously, but I've never taken myself so seriously that I can't laugh at myself."

It wasn't great television, but it was good politics for both officials. And in a day when the boundaries between news, commentary and entertainment are increasingly blurred, it was certainly a sign of the times.