CHICAGO, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich apologized Monday for saying during a magazine interview he was "blacker than Barack Obama."
Blagojevich said in front of his Chicago home Monday he chose his words poorly during an interview in the February issue of Esquire magazine, WMAQ-TV, Chicago, reported Monday.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Blagojevich said. "It was a stupid way of saying something. I apologize for being -- for saying that and for saying that in such a stupid way. It was a stupid metaphor expressing real frustration."
During the interview, the embattled former governor, who was ousted on accusations of attempting to sell Obama's seat in the U.S. Senate, expressed frustration with the president.
"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," he said.
