Roland Burris changes his tune on Blago

[ProSense]

Roland Burris changes his tune on Blago

by Jed L
Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 08:30:03 AM PST

Here's video of of Burris on Blago, before the appointment...and after (h/t: Progress Illinois for finding the "before" video):

(http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/12/30/213246/11/655/678719">Burris on Blago: Before...and after)

What a difference two weeks and a senatorial appointment makes, eh?

On December 13, Roland Burris said Blago should be forced from office, calling the governor's actions "appalling" and "reprehensible."

But now Burris has abandoned his call for Blago to be booted from office, and has completely dropped his condemnations of the governor. Burris now simply says that Blago hasn't been convicted of anything, and that he doesn't "have an opinion on the governor's problems" other than to say that the governor is "innocent until proven guilty."

That is of course correct, but it is a standard of evidence meant for meting out justice in a court of law. The question here is not whether Blago should be behind bars, it's whether or not he has any business appointing a United States Senator after seeking to sell that very same seat.

Anyone appointed by Blago would be tainted, but the fact that Burris has reversed course on his condemnations of Blago only makes the appearance of taint all the more severe.

Roland Burris is never going to be a U.S. Senator. At this point, the right thing for him to do is step aside, unless he wants to be forever linked to to Rod Blagojevich.

[firedupdem]

1. That was a pretty quick turnaround. The whole thing stinks. n/t

[Dennis Donovan]

2. It's sad - it appears Burris is willing to stain his decent reputation for a Senate seat.

[olkaz]

3. THAT is hilarious. Wow. Unbelievable.

He's at least incredibly self-serving to change his tune that quickly. Amazing.

[izzybeans]

4. I watched two or three interviews with Burris and those quotes about

him "innocent before proven guilty" are taken out of context. He was asked directly about that in relation to his appointment and he said speaking as a former attorney general that the letter of the law was being followed. The governor despite his legal jeopardy is still constitutionally required to fulfill his obligations - until such time as he is proven guilty in a court of law or trial by impeachment (whatever the correct legal term may be).

he's a good Democrat, don't bring him down with this blood lust for Blago.

Burris ran against Blago for governor, btw. This is about as good as we in Illinois could hope for. An able bodied democrat will need to be there to save face come 2010. Should we sit and wait for a special election while democrats are vulnerable to losing this seat? Should we sit and wait to find out if this is even constitutional to hold a special election for this seat?

The seat has been vacant for over a month.

[ProSense]

5. No one is trying to "bring him down."

Burris should withdraw from this scandal. He should not have enabled Blagojevich by accepting this appointment.

[izzybeans]

7. What would you like us in Illinois to do? meanwhile we have to forego an acceptable

choice in favor of losing half our representation in the Senate.

Blago will go down, but he will fight the entire way. It can't be an all or nothing thing. This is the middle road for now. We can't afford to sit and wait for our governor and legislature to end yet another fight.

Someone will have to step up and take the nomination. Otherwise there is no end to this that will be good for us as a state or as a state party. it might make for better camera time to say no and allow the media narrative to continue the drum beat, but it doesn't do the citizen's of Illinois any favors to let this be the hang up. Over the senate seat. That's the least of Blagojevich's crimes.

I'm glad Blagojevich isn't stepping down, because we need this to come to public trial so that all those with stained hands can have their misdeeds entered into the public record. In the mean time, the business of state must continue. This is part of that business like it or not.

[ProSense]

9. "Blago will go down, but he will fight the entire way."

That's good, and a reason to let him have his way? He can fight it out of office. Right now he's just being a arrogant, self-serving and vindictive idiot. He needs to resign yesterday.

[olkaz]

6. Burris running a lame campaign against Blago way back when means nothing.

Burris worked fundraisers for Blagojevich since then. Any sore feelings since then have obviously been worked out.

And this Illinoisian would rather have only one senator than two including a Blagojevich appointee, whoever it is.

You seem to have omitted the far more pressing issue for us in Illinois, that we've essentially dealt without a governor.

[izzybeans]

8. And we will be dealing with that since he isn't going anywhere.

But wouldn't you rather a public trial happen that outs all dirty hands than just cuts off the most public one. We won't know the true nature of the corruption in our state if we let him resign and walk away.

Blago is unwittingly setting that up, I hope.

[olkaz]

10. I'm missing something.

The investigation can go on after he resigns, what are you talking about? What makes you think he walks if he resigns?

As for Burris, it just doesn't work. Anybody appointed by Blagojevich, even with this crazy racial strong-arming by Bobby Rush, will never been seen as legitimate.

I just don't see how this gets resolved without Pat Quinn appointing the senator.

[izzybeans]

11. How much did we learn from the Ryan conviction?

[comrade snarky]

12. What's that stuff on Burris?

Oh, it's the taint of corruption and payback!

Seriously, is this the best we can do?

[ProSense]

13. I don't think this is going to help Burris' case. n/t