Politics is s a funny sport. The same people who ‘zooms’ you up in high esteem are usually the same people who gladly orchestrate your demise. Case in point:- Senator Roland Burris. Just a month ago, he was a hero in some circles in Illinois because he wanted (so badly) to be an Illinois Senator taking over Obama’s vacated seat, and the rest of the Democratic Party pleaded with him to take a chill pill. The reasoning was fairly simple, the ousted and crooked former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was the sole reason why Burris had to wait in line. After the eventual shake up, due process takes its course, and Roland Burris could have been seated as a senator without any political clout. Oh no! Roland Burris was in a hurry to secure his seat (which he probably had paid lots of cash for), and logical persuasion fell on deaf ears. Furthermore, community activists, clergy embers, respected politicians all jumped on the bandwagon to cry foul. I vividly remember the afternoon that Congressman Bobby Rush showed up on CNN to remind us of the color scheme in Washington, and asked that we separate the “appointor” from the “appointee”. We did just that. Sorry sir, the appointee may be just as crooked as the “appointor”. I will be glued to my television all week praying for Bobby Rush to make his case in reverse.
I don’t have any ambitions on becoming a public official, but if I were to do so, I definitely will not want an endorsement from one of the most ‘shiesty’ politician of the century, and that is allegedly what Roland Burris did. A man going down in flames is the last person you want to ask for water, but now it all makes sense. The Ethics Committee has launched an investigation of Burris in the wake of disclosures that he spoke with Blagojevich's brother about possibly raising money for the former governor.
What adds salt to injury, Burris told reporters that he informed Blagojevich's brother Robert in November that no one was willing to give money to the governor and that it would be inappropriate to raise money because he was interested in being appointed to the Senate. During his testimony under oath in Blagojevich's impeachment trial, however, Burris failed to mention any such conversations when asked about contacts with the governor's office. Did I hear someone say ‘perjury’?
Where are all Burris supporters who claimed that Roland Burris’ character was being questioned because of his skin color, at least now we all know better. The state of Illinois just sank political sandals to an all time low, and whether or nor Roland Burris resigns will not change the facts, at least in my mind. I am sure Barack Obama is sitting somewhere in the White House wishing he could have been a senator from Vermont or Idaho somewhere. Disgrace often has a long trail, and I had a sneaky suspicion that Rod Blagojevich wasn’t going down alone.The amusing twist in all this mess, Roland Burris has "no plans to resign" and intends to "let the process work itself out”. What process? Wow, the same scripts from the Blagojevich rule book. This is usually where I find politician’s blatant disregard for common sense and arrogance absolutely repulsive. Roland Burris may be innocent (I didn’t take him for a shady politician) but the devil is always in the details, apparently.
I don’t want to call for Burris’ head too soon, but I don’t often have any sympathies for dishonest politicians who spend eternity telling us how saintly they are.
