I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up. Rod Blagojevich More Quotes by Rod Blagojevich More Quotes From Rod Blagojevich A successful economic development strategy must focus on improving the skills of the area's workforce, reducing the cost of doing business and making available the resources business needs to compete and thrive in today's global economy. Rod Blagojevich focus skills successful One of the greatest challenges in collecting child support is that deadbeat dads move from job to job and state to state. it's hard to keep track of them. Rod Blagojevich dad jobs children Biofuels are the future of energy in this nation and around the world Rod Blagojevich biofuels energy world Our children's health and well-being are dependent on our commitment to promoting food access and good eating habits at home, at school and in the community. Rod Blagojevich home children school Health care is not a privilege. It's a right. It's a right as fundamental as civil rights. It's a right as fundamental as giving every child a chance to get a public education. Rod Blagojevich rights giving children Each proposed B-2 stealth bomber costs three times more than it would if every part of the plane were made from solid gold. The cost is $2.3 billion each. Rod Blagojevich bombers three gold I don't believe there's any cloud that hangs over me. I think there's nothing but sunshine hanging over me. Rod Blagojevich sunshine believe thinking For the same reason we don't allow kids to buy pornography, for the same reason we don't allow kids to buy cigarettes, for the same reason we don't allow kids to buy alcohol, we shouldn't allow them to go to stores and buy video games. Rod Blagojevich alcohol games kids Ask any woman and she'll tell you: health care for women is more expensive than it is for men. In fact, during their reproductive years, women spend 68% more on health care than men do. Rod Blagojevich care men years We have to be sure [students] understand that racial, national, ethnic, and religious hatred can lead to horrible tragedies. Rod Blagojevich hatred tragedy religious A successful economic development strategy must focus on improving the skills of the area's workforce. Rod Blagojevich focus skills successful If you don't take enough math classes or science classes or writing intensive classes, you're not going to be prepared to compete in college or the workplace -- no matter what your diploma says. Rod Blagojevich college math writing Part of protecting our homeland means being less dependent on foreign countries for our energy. Rod Blagojevich energy mean country I think the most important thing is [to] restore a sense of idealism and end the cynicism in state government. Bring to the job a desire to really make things happen and help people and give confidence back to the public. Rod Blagojevich government jobs thinking Parents don't need government to raise their kids. That's their job. But government can help them protect their children from influences they may not want their kids exposed to Rod Blagojevich jobs kids children Kids today are technologically sophisticated. In many families, they are far ahead of their parents Rod Blagojevich parent today kids I should say if anybody wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead, feel free to do it. I appreciate anybody who wants to tape me openly and notoriously, and those who feel like they want to sneakily, and wear taping devices, I would remind them that it kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate. Rod Blagojevich tape smell appreciate We will meet our challenges head on and we will do it by rejecting the politics of mediocrity and corruption. You voted for change; I intend to deliver it. ... I will govern as a reformer. Rod Blagojevich mediocrity corruption challenges I've been wanting to be on your show in the worst way for the longest time, well, you're on in the worst way, believe me. Rod Blagojevich politics I know each fund has its supporters, and that some will not want to see the surplus go to schools. But, in tough times, you have to set priorities. And our priority is education. Rod Blagojevich you tough-times tough education