* Except for the very last sentence in this excerpt, I doubt much will come of Roland Burris’ testimony today…
Illinois Republicans are promising tough questions today for Senate-appointee Roland Burris on why he accepted a position offered by disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich and whether he promised the governor anything in return. […]
“I would like to specifically ask, under oath, if there was any quid pro quo for the appointment,” said Rep. Mike Bost, a Republican member of the Illinois House committee considering Blagojevich’s impeachment.
Lawmakers also plan to ask Burris about contributions to the governor’s campaign, how Blagojevich’s wife got a job with a group affiliated with Burris’ business partner and why the governor’s criminal lawyer approached Burris about the Senate instead of a staff member.
Burris didn’t need to offer anything in return for a Blagojevich appointment because the governor was so desperate to create a diversion that he’d appoint just about any African-American who accepted the appointment. Also, Burris’ magnificent ego overrode any reservations he may have had. I’ll let Pat Gauen underscore this point…
For Burris, a man of so many failed political aspirations, the Senate appointment was too much temptation to refuse. He doesn’t seem to grasp the dilemma, that what many people think disqualifies him for the job is his willingness to take the job.
The Sam Adam, Jr. thing will be interesting, however. We’ll see if Mr. Adam shows up today. He skipped yesterday’s hearing.
* More likely committee topics from the Sun-Times…
• $1.2 million in loans Burris, as a 2002 candidate for governor, received from a firm owned by Tinley Park broadcasting magnate Joseph Stroud. Burris closed out his campaign fund with no sign the loans were repaid to Stroud, who also donated $100,000 through the same company to Blagojevich in 2006.
• • $20,296 in cash and services that Burris, his lobbying firm and a law firm he’s associated with gave to Blagojevich’s campaign fund, and whether the donations might have swayed the governor.
• • Burris’ lobbying clients, who have given $107,690 to Blagojevich’s campaign and were under contract with the state for $3.09 million while Burris represented them.
• • A contract that Burris’ lobbying/consulting firm had with the state transportation department under Blagojevich — a deal that paid the firm $294,546.
• • $30,000 in lobbying payments to Burris that are linked to a $10 billion pension bond deal Blagojevich orchestrated in 2003.
• • The role one of Blagojevich’s criminal-defense lawyers, Sam Adam Jr., played in recruiting Burris.
• • Burris’ statement Wednesday that he “don’t have no money.” His state government pension is about $118,200 a year.
* I agree with just about every word in Mary Mitchell’s column today…
As a lifelong Chicagoan, I’m familiar with dirty politics and political drama.
But black leaders should have learned how to play this game without throwing black politicians like White under the bus.
Many of the activists who are agitating for Burris to be seated in the U.S. Senate should still remember the bitter battle that was waged between now-Chief Judge Timothy Evans and the late Eugene Sawyer, when Mayor Harold Washington suddenly died.
Although Sawyer prevailed in that fight, the seat was ultimately won by Mayor Daley in 1989, and a viable black challenger has yet to emerge.
Twenty years later, black leaders are making the same mistakes.
Blagojevich should not have been able to divert attention from his own scandal by pitting one black man against another.
[Secretary of State Jesse White], who was among the leaders calling for Blagojevich to stand down, didn’t have much of a choice in this one.
Cutting White some slack will go a long way toward making sure history doesn’t repeat itself.
* Related…
* Rush says ‘let’s all get along’: “Politics ain’t beanbag,” said Rush over the top of his Sean Jean glasses, which seem constantly to be sliding down to the end of his nose. “For those whose toes I might have stepped on, I ask for their understanding. Once Burris is sworn in, my motto is, ‘Let’s all get along.’ ”
* Burris practiced in political arts: A closer examination reveals a prototypical Illinois politician, who put a relative on the public payroll, steered legal business to political supporters and sought to trade on his ties when he became a lobbyist.
* Senate should not give in on Burris
* Formula for Burris: Two and through
* Let Burris take his seat, then boot him in ‘10
* Roland Burris will get Barack Obama’s Senate seat, but he’ll be challenged soon enough anyway
* Brown: Burris backers help sell out state’s voters
* Schoenburg: Burris invokes the Lord – or Abe — as the case may be
* Burris Announces Fund Raising Need
* Burris’ wife talks
* Burris spectacle could have been avoided, Illinois Republicans say
* Secretary of state feels heat in Burris flap
* Race not relevant in Burris debate: Rev. Jackson
* Lou Ransom: Democrats and the Black vote
* Britt: Cartoon about Rod Blagojevich and Roland Burris
* Selling a Senate seat is penny-ante corruption
* Patrick Buchanan: Somebody has got to be lying
- Estebn - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:39 am:
Per your earlier post, my understanding is that
Blago is the only person who can convene the
new Senate next week so if he simply doesn’t
show up to do it, what happens next?
- Concerned Observer - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:42 am:
Mitchell was on WGN-AM this morning, and said something that probably surprised me more than it should have.
She said that the vast majority of the African-American community (that she’s spoken to) doesn’t want to see Blagojevich impeached. That’s because people are “innocent until proven guilty” and because “people have been set up before.”
They’re also, as she pointed out in her column, out for Jesse White’s head becuase he didn’t sign the Burris letter.
It’s probably because I’m a white guy who lives in the suburbs, but I simply don’t understand the logic. I want to understand that opinion, those feelings, but I don’t. One guy (Blago) is certainly a crook. Another guy (White) was largely hung out to dry by many, many politicians, mostly white.
I wouldn’t be supporting the crook, and frankly, I’d be angry at the politicians who turned their backs on supporting a black elected official.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:43 am:
===She said that the vast majority of the African-American community (that she’s spoken to) doesn’t want to see Blagojevich impeached.===
She’s wrong and I have the poll numbers to prove it.
- Jim in Chicago - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:45 am:
You skipped over the best line of Mary Mitchell’s column, showing what a pathetic hypocrite Bobby Rush is:
“Rush must have forgotten that when Obama ran for the seat, Rush supported the wealthy white candidate.”
- Lurker - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:45 am:
Very interesting, Concerned, but I’d like to see the numbers.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:48 am:
===I’d like to see the numbers===
Subscribe. lol
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:48 am:
It is in the best interest to grill Burris, regardless of party. Grill him enough and the Democrats win by giving Reid, Obama and Durbin enough amunition to publically question Burris’ purity. Grill him enough and if the Democrats still cave and seat him, the damage sustained by the grilling will assist the GOP in 2010.
Whoever wants to win that Congressional Seat being vacated by Emanuel, can use today’s appearance by Burris to win that seat. Are there any tanned Committee members also campaigning for it? Hmmmmm.
- what the heck - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:50 am:
We should just seat Burris and move on in 13 months we will have a democratic primary and anybody who wants to run can run. Harry Reid has simply thrown this in Jesse White’s lap and he should sign and move on. Jesse white says his signature doesn’t matter then why is he takeing this hardline, he comes off as in idiot!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:51 am:
Jesse White got thrown under the bus.
Once Obama flipped and removed his cover, Reid and Durbin lost their nerves. What else could it be? Tough talkers.
- Concerned Observer - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:52 am:
I’d like to see numbers too (one more reason to get that check over to Rich). That’s why I was surprised.
Mitchell said that of the callers to her Sunday radio show, maybe one out of every eight wanted the Governor gone. Now, I am well aware of how unscientific that information is. But she threw it out there and it bewildered me (and John Williams, who had her repeat it after the traffic).
- Bill - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:53 am:
When it comes to measuring sentiment in the African American community polls are notoriously inaccurate for a variety of reasons. That being said, I don’t think Mitchell exactly has her finger on the pulse of the community either. Either way Rod is probably toast. If, however, he fails to convene and swear in the new Senate this could drag on for a while. No Senate, no trial. In the meantime, flush the state further down the toilet as the money runs out in March. As far as White is concerned he is invunerable politically. None of this will rub off on him either way.
- Levois - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:53 am:
“Blagojevich has been accused of holding up Medicaid payments to a hospital that black folks depend upon in a shakedown attempt for political contributions, and White’s the bad guy?”
Eh? Is she referring to the Children’s Hospital? I think I need to read that criminal complaint again!
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 10:53 am:
Yeah -
Let’s suppose that you are a candidate for office within the, say, next few months, and you want to cleanly and publically escape any possible taint of being associated with Illinois government. It would be great if you had an opportunity to denounce this corrupted government, pay to play politics, and the entire mess…
If Burris’ seat doesn’t get hot this afternoon, this state is experiencing a political coma, as well as an utter meltdown.
Let’s hope someone makes some hay today!
- Fan of the Game - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 11:02 am:
Even if the seat gets hot today, Burris can still come out looking better than he did when he entered. Just because he gets “grilled” doesn’t mean he’s “done.”
- Ghost - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 11:02 am:
=== and whether he promised the governor anything in return.====
This is a giant red herring! The point is not whetehr Burriss promised something additional for he appointment! They need to ask if he contributed money to the campaign; and if his chief of staff gave patti a job.
The idea that the payment needs to be forthcoming, as opposed to already made, is ridiculous. That Blago excluded any canidate who had not paid him and found a job for him or his wife still makes the appointment improper. That Burris already paid for the appointment should not get him off the hook.
An would the national media please stop refering to him as an elder statesman.
- Bill - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 11:03 am:
No one is going to make any hay. Burris is clean on this issue. Why did he accept the appointment? Because I wanted to serve the people of Illinois and I always wanted to be a senator. Besides I still have room on my tombstone. What did he give to the governor for the appointment? Nothing. What about his political contributions? That was small potatoes compared to others. It doesn’t even meet the $25K price for a non-paying board appointment. What about his lobbying activities? Well, a guy’s got to make a living. Was there any quid pro quo for his contributions? Of course not. Did his partner get Patti a job? I don’t know. Ask him.
A lot of people think Roland is a dummy. He has been around a long time. Nothing Bost or Black will say is going to fluster him or trip him up. He’ll be in the Senate in the next few days.
- The Doc - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 11:04 am:
Agree with VM - this is perhaps the last best opportunity to expose Burris as a ne’er-do-well who is less than squeaky clean. The voters have already rejected him several times for varying positions - what makes him all of a sudden qualified other than as a Blagojevich shill?
- Bill - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 11:09 am:
He lost in Dem primaries. He could still beat anyone the Rupublicans have.
- The Doc - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 11:15 am:
===He lost in Dem primaries. He could still beat anyone the Rupublicans have.===
The Dem primary is typically more competitive in IL than the general, and certainly so of recent vintage. If you get KO’d in round 1, you don’t get to participate in round 2, Bill.
- True Observer - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 11:18 am:
Reality Check;
Burris is going to be a U.S. Senator for at least 2 and probably 8 plus years (provided his health holds).
Is any Dem on the Committee going to be crazy enough to give him a hard time. NO.
How about the Republicans? NO.
- oldengrey - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 11:26 am:
True Observer - What makes you believe that he’d survive a primary in 2010? Do you think the incumbency will be sufficient to protect him from all the folks angry about the way he came to office? I think it’s the Peter Principle at work here and he’s now risen at least one level too high.
I think it’s just a matter of time before the Dem wannabes start declaring for 2010 Gov and Senate. Incumbency will not hold off any challenges.
- Macoupin County Kid - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 11:31 am:
What’s the biggest thing coming out of Hot Rod’s insane political move of appointing a replacement Senator? The spotlight seems to have been removed from Rahm…..
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 12:06 pm:
There’s a delicate line here re the grilling of Burris. I think he has demonstrated recently that folks underestimate him at their peril. He has a firm grasp of the leitmotifs of the great American novel. He will not hesitate to use the their picking on the confused old man card.
There’s also no there there as far as corruption. He has given money to Rod. Yes, and so have many, many others are they all tainted, too? Burris is certainly not one of Rod’s go-to guys for money! I mean, what was it 14K? That’s not even coffee & donuts money for Pete’s sake.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 12:30 pm:
The fact that he has to answer questions like the ones he will have to be asked, will tarnish him. He will be completely married to Blagojevich after today and fully dipped in the same slime pit the Governor enjoys.
Clean or not before today - unclean definately after today.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 12:34 pm:
VM-
A man can dream, but your fantasies about a Burris meltdown or tarring & feathering are getting a little extreme. He will be seated, and nothing more is going to stick to him than has already. at least for the near future.
- Cecil - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 12:35 pm:
I hope the committee drills Burris on how he was awarded the IDOT contract. A good question would be why he didn’t pursue more contracts with IDOT after the previous one terminated.
- LOL - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 12:37 pm:
Rich,
does anyone realize that two of the committee members have accepted contributions from Burris?
Jack Franks accepted 2 separate $250 contributions and Lou Land $500? Can we just impeach the Governor without making the state look any worse?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 12:51 pm:
In case anyone was wondering whether Bobby Rush had a sliver of credibility or shame any longer, this is from the Trib story today:
–But Rep. Bobby Rush, the South Side congressman who has injected racially charged language into the appointment, said on MSNBC that the sight of Burris holding a news conference in the rain after being refused admittance to the Senate floor Tuesday was akin to “the dogs being sicced on children in Birmingham, Ala.”–
Just like that.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 1:13 pm:
I watched that segment, and yes, that comment was a bit over the top, however, he did state that he had never lived in a post-racial America, and I feel that is an honest statement coming from him. Rep. Rush has a history that gives him cause to be skeptical of the existence of such an America, and maybe, as Obama has suggested in another context, he’s mistaken or living in the past, but I can’t argue with Rush’s experience.
Online, I found a post someone had made regarding the pic of Burris in the rain that ran on the NYT main page the other day, that compared it to the Little Rock school history. Mainly because of the guards and the look of concern on Burris’s face. These images and analogies are threads in the tapestry of our nation and it’s easy to see repeating patterns.
- Black Ivy - Thursday, Jan 8, 09 @ 3:03 pm:
Just as Mary Mitchell is a proud Black woman, so am I. I am also a recovering left-leaning liberal (who supported Hillary yClinton) and have become far more independent in thought in recent weeks. Ever since Mitchell lost all sense of objectivity in her column in covering Obama’s election, she has been summarily dismissed by me.
Jesse White is an UNINTENDED scape goat in the Burris replacement process. Prominent Black clergy, politicians, lawyers, etc. were disappointed that he felt compelled to disregard Illinois law to play to the politics of the day. As the only statewide Black constitutional officer, he should under stand the import of ushering in the ONLY possibility for an African-American to be seated in the U.S. Senate.
White’s complicitness in all the self-righteous indignation is unfortuante and now he must feel the burn. Mitchell is simply trying to do what she does best - protect Obama at ALL costs.
Whatever happened to objective journalism?!?!?