Guess what factor played into Burris’ seating?
posted at 1:30 pm on March 2, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Give Dick Durbin a modicum of credit for admitting what everyone in the free world had already recognized. Durbin told a Chicago radio station that the Senate got intimidated by Rep. Bobby Rush and his allegations that opposition to Roland Burris acting on Rod Blagojevich’s appointment amounted to racism:
Sen. Dick Durbin, who advised Sen. Roland Burris last week to step down from the Senate, acknowledged today that racial considerations were at play in the decision by majority Democrats to seat Burris.
Durbin, a fellow Democrat and Illinois’ senior senator, noted that Rep. Bobby Rush, a Chicago Democrat, appeared at Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s announcement of his appointment of Burris and used racially charged language to defend the appointment.
“My colleague from Illinois, Congressman Bobby Rush, made strong statements along those (racial) lines,” Durbin said on WGN-AM (720). “They were painful and hurtful, and it became part of this calculation.”
Durbin also said he would work with Burris despite the political isolation surrounding the state’s junior senator in Washington.
Er, didn’t Durbin tell Burris to resign a few days ago? Now he pledges to work with Burris on policy, but meanwhile basically calls his existence in the Senate an affirmative-action appointment. Durbin seems rather confused. No wonder Burris didn’t take his advice.
Of course, the other part of this is that the Senate had little choice in any case. Perhaps they could have kept Burris out even after his certification by Illinois’ Secretary of State, but the legal precedents were mostly against them. Even if Bobby Rush had kept his mouth shut, Burris would have taken Obama’s seat as the Illinois legislature failed to act to keep Blagojevich from exercising his appointment power.
Given this statement, I’d doubt that the Senate Ethics Committee will have the stones to eject Burris, which is certainly within their power. They can find separately that he lied to investigators and the Illinois legislature and remove him, even without a federal indictment, but it will look strange — especially since the House Democrats haven’t acted to expel William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson even with an indictment. Durbin has already admitted that Senate Democrats lacked the testicular fortitude to stand up to the Congressional Black Caucus on the front end, so don’t expect them to find their gonads anytime soon.
Blowback
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Competence?
Resume?
artist on March 2, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Dems, and the left, are lying scum. Whatever they say or do, you can be assured that it is scummy, in nature, and if any thought went into it, then it was designed to destroy the US and Western civilization.
progressoverpeace on March 2, 2009 at 1:32 PM
I’ll take Race for $1000 Alex.
carbon_footprint on March 2, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Durbin has no testicles, period.
OmahaConservative on March 2, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Accusation of Racism: The most powerfully weapon in today’s American culture. The possibilities are endless…
neuquenguy on March 2, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Dude, it’s a black seat. Only a racist would have a problem with that.
argos on March 2, 2009 at 1:36 PM
What’s good for the goose…
neuquenguy on March 2, 2009 at 1:36 PM
It’s a long way between here and November of 2010.
Somehow, I doubt there are many Democrat incumbents from Illinois (except for Burris) who feel very good about the way things are shaping up.
JudetheFossil on March 2, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL-DO)
fogw on March 2, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Ask Durbin how the “Hope for Spare Change” candidate, became President.
This should be interesting.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 1:37 PM
..unless they stand to get some sort of advantage because of the color of their skin..then the color thing is OK and experience, skills, merit and character are really just an accessory, nice to have but not necessary.
__the Obama Clause to MLK’s speech.
Alden Pyle on March 2, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Ah, the joys of affirmative action….
unclesmrgol on March 2, 2009 at 1:40 PM
I listened to this interview on WGN, and it was classic Durbin, a/k/a Senator Tapioca Pudding. No, he didn’t tell Burris to resign, but Durbin did say if he were in Burris’s position that he would resign, and Burris understood what Durbin meant. Way to man up there Dick.
Because Burris is Illinois’s Seator, Durbin said he will continue to work with Burris in the interests of the people of Illinois, while gently expressing disapprobation that no one in the African American community could find objectionable.
Oh and he defended the $3.6 trillion budget because “America’s families are hurting right now.”
Ted Torgerson on March 2, 2009 at 1:41 PM
this is all good, add Dean’s whining about not getting the HHS job and we have the makings of much hilarity on the part of the Democrats. Burris is the one with stones, he is all but daring them to expel. Like the kid on the playground. Nyah nyah, what ya gonna do? Expel me! I dare ya!
pgrossjr on March 2, 2009 at 1:41 PM
And his solution is 100 more lashes across our bleeding asses, thanks Turbin.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 1:42 PM
In the Democrat deck the race card is still trump.
29Victor on March 2, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Empty suits, empty jockstraps.
whitetop on March 2, 2009 at 1:42 PM
I’m surprised by Durbin’s admission.
Not the fact that race was a trump card, but that he acknowledged the fact that race was a trump card.
cruadin on March 2, 2009 at 1:43 PM
I hope and pray that the world of politics were such that scandal meant something to Democrats. Then I look at Massachusetts.
hawkdriver on March 2, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Which got me to thinking….why are even powerful Democrats so afraid of being called “racist” if they have the American Black vote in their back pocket?
Could it be because Democrats realize that they have almost zero issues in common with most American Blacks? Could it be that they know in their heart of hearts that the only reason that Blacks vote for them in such overwhelming numbers is that they have managed to convince Blacks that the Republican Party is the party of racism?
You would think that Republicans would be able to do something with this fact.
29Victor on March 2, 2009 at 1:46 PM
I’m thinking a combo platter of alcohol and Bolivian Marching Powder were the primary factors.
Christien on March 2, 2009 at 1:47 PM
LOL
29Victor on March 2, 2009 at 1:47 PM
If the clown act administration of B. Hussein Obama-Mugabe f’s up the economy as much as I think it will, even our gasbag media won’t be able to put Humpty-Dumpty together again.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 1:49 PM
It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native criminal class except Congress.
- Mark Twain
MB4 on March 2, 2009 at 1:50 PM
And the Race pimping continues. And the politicians, more interested in their never-ending-free-loading-careers, play along.
Montana on March 2, 2009 at 1:50 PM
You just called a black man a goose!! You racist!
txaggie on March 2, 2009 at 1:53 PM
I, Tuco Ramirez, will tell you something. Those politicians think they are better than I am. Where I came from, if one did not want to have to do actual work for a living, one became a politician or a bandit. They chose their way, I chose mine. Mine was harder! I don’t remember for how long, but I tried the political path. I tried, but it was no good! My standards may be low but I do have some standards anyway. Now I am going to tell them something… they became politicians because they are too cowardly to do what I do.
Tuco on March 2, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Ass, meet snake — Bite down hard.
tarpon on March 2, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Holder was partially right – The politicians are cowards when it comes to race.
King of the Britons on March 2, 2009 at 1:58 PM
I say … maybe racism isn’t such a bad thing. Maybye having different rules are good if you have the right tone of skin. Maybe lying, cheating, & stealing, are the right thing to do if your black. You deserve to have the privilege of lying if your black. Is racism only offensive to white people? You can’t really be a racist if you black. Is the term “middle class” code for working class crackers?
lm10001 on March 2, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Illinois: F@#$ing Golden Seat
Christien on March 2, 2009 at 1:59 PM
You are a wise man which is exactly why you are not in the Democrat Congress, agreed.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 1:59 PM
The Senate Ethics Committee can’t seem to investigage as big a POS as Chris Dodd. They’ll never even go near Burris.
BuckeyeSam on March 2, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Well then, better keep Burris in Congress, regardless of his legal and ethical problems; the black caucus has spoken and that must take precedence over the good of the nation.
I try to stay upbeat, really I do, but man this just gets tougher every day.
Bishop on March 2, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Dick Durbin and Bobby Rush and Roland Burris, you want to know what you are? Huh? Huh? You don’t, I do, everyone does… you’re all the sons of a thousand fathers, all bastards like you.
Tuco on March 2, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Yeah, hawkdriver, I know what you mean. But, I have a feeling that Deval Patrick is not exactly feeling comfortable right now, either.
Hey, it stinks to have the country being run by Democrats, so let’s enjoy the upside — watching them make a total abortion of everything while continuing to try to blame it on Bush.
And let’s figure out how to elect some Republicans next time who don’t feel so compelled to act like Democrats. I think that can really happen only if things continue to go to hell on all fronts — taxes, spending, culture wars, state pension fund insolvences, intrusive regulation, etc.
We need a high level of disgust to build and reach a tipping point at which we can hope for any meaningful change.
JudetheFossil on March 2, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Why is everyone struggling with this notion. RACISM EXISTS BECAUSE THAT’S THE WAY BLACK PEOPLE WANT IT!!!! IT’S BIG BUSINESS AND IT’S NOT GOING AWAY.
lm10001 on March 2, 2009 at 2:03 PM
RACISM EXISTS BECAUSE THAT’S THE WAY BLACK PEOPLE WANT IT!!!! IT’S BIG BUSINESS AND IT’S NOT GOING AWAY.
lm10001 on March 2, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Not all black people, just the race pimps and their willing enablers.
Bishop on March 2, 2009 at 2:05 PM
saiga on March 2, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Meets right after the “Whorehouse Virginity Committee”.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 2:07 PM
This is why the Democrats are in power, they know how to be sneaky, corrupt, and slimey. The Republicans tried to be like Democrats and failed miserably and are now the minority party. You cannot out-weasel a Democrat, so, don’t even try. Stick to Republican principles and you will get back into power, starting in 2010.
DL13 on March 2, 2009 at 2:08 PM
The majority I’m afraid. They have had the democrats shoving the victim mentality down their throats sense for years and years. Pretty soon they believe it.
Welfare only makes the problem far far worse.
saiga on March 2, 2009 at 2:09 PM
“Not all black people, just the race pimps and their willing enablers.”
So very true…so how do you get more people to be able to distinguish?
lm10001 on March 2, 2009 at 2:11 PM
You have the entire office laughing at that one. Even our token lib officemate!
+10
hawkdriver on March 2, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Where are the people of Illinois on this? They could make a difference, if they will.
jeanie on March 2, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Not all of them. Mainly their self-appointed leaders. I believe that most of the blacks are like you and me – just trying to eke out an existance. Unfortunately they seem to be easily lead by their rascist leaders.
docdave on March 2, 2009 at 2:13 PM
The voters took care of Cold Cash Jefferson.
I’d like to encourage the dems to discover and aply ethics to themselves. It’d be an interesting exercise
Iblis on March 2, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Men should be judged by the content of their character. Explain to me how allowing yourself to become addicted to welfare crack helps anyone but the pusher.
The democrats don’t give a $hit about blacks other than their votes. If they did, they would be serious about getting them un-addicted.
Sucessful people make a commitment to effort. Welfare is juxt-opposed to effort and initiative. The shameful dems know that, but don’t care.
saiga on March 2, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Senate ethics – an oxymoron.
docdave on March 2, 2009 at 2:16 PM
The Good, The Bad…and the Indescribably Ugly!!
BigWyo on March 2, 2009 at 2:16 PM
I’m here all week, remember to tip your bartenders and waitresses.
Seriously though, Senate Ethics Committee?
You would have thought they would have folded that a long, long time ago, out of sheer shame and indifference.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Burris is a seat warmer
Dr Evil on March 2, 2009 at 2:22 PM
As for Obama and his tax plans, how does he expect America to win in economics if he ties a ball and chain around the ankles of his superstars?
The mortguage crisis wouldn’t have happend if it wasn’t for Chris Dodd and Barney Frank. Those two should be led to jail in orange jump suites. They were the camels nose under the tent.
saiga on March 2, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Competance, Resume:
The Spectator (Of all places) had this about Burriss’ background:
“…The senator went to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale… and he has a law degree from Howard University,…The senator began his career as a bank examiner for the U.S. Treasury Department… and has served as vice president of Continental Illinois National Bank — …and as President of the National Association of Comptrollers (BONDT) and of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers.
…The senator was also a Trustee of the Financial Accounting Foundation Board (BONDT) and served for three years on the Executive Board of the Government Finance Office Association of the United States and Canada.
…Let’s face it: this guy knows something about banking — and perhaps a lot more than most of his new “colleagues”
…Senator Burris was also the first African-American National Bank Examiner for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for the U.S. Treasury Department… And his 1978 election to the first of three terms as Illinois state comptroller made him the first African American ever elected to an Illinois state office. The senator has also been recognized annually for sixteen years (!) by Ebony Magazine as one of the hundred most influential Black Americans.
…As busy as he’s been, however, the senator has nevertheless found time to give back to his community. Burris has served on nonprofit organizations, including the National Center for Responsible Gaming (my god, he’s a gambler!… and he served on the board of the Auditorium Theatre of Chicago…”
davod on March 2, 2009 at 2:28 PM
I think the dual standard of Democrats has been fully disclosed with this story.
And I give Burris full kudos for doing so.
This is a story of a guy who knows the score and decided to make a statement.
It make take a generation to get it, but that’s OK.
AnninCA on March 2, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Gee that’s a shocker!
Affirmative action in the U.S. Senate………this isn’t America anymore.
leetpriest on March 2, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Burris is just another turd dropped by the Democrats.
ObamatheMessiah on March 2, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I had no idea he was black.
bloggless on March 2, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Anyone who says the blacks are not treated special have only to look at Jefferson and now Burris…this is what “affirmative” action gets you, no responsibility, no pride, no accountability.
right2bright on March 2, 2009 at 2:37 PM
In other news…ice is cold, the sun is hot, and global warming is a sham.
Grafted on March 2, 2009 at 2:38 PM
It comes in around 85%.
progressoverpeace on March 2, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Hey, Burris is an affirmative action appointee the same as Michael Steele. You know it, I know it.
Viscount_Bolingbroke on March 2, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Holder was wrong. We’re not a nation of cowards, we’re a nation of eunuchs – no balls!
College Prof on March 2, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Okay, let’s prove how brave we are by firing Steele, so he can become the Dem he wants to be!
drunyan8315 on March 2, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Hacks hacks and more hacks,, what a friggin joke our system has become.
Viper1 on March 2, 2009 at 3:15 PM
‘
So was Obama.
Both as Senator and the POTUS.
tjexcite on March 2, 2009 at 3:33 PM
fify :)
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on March 2, 2009 at 3:41 PM
The same thing that got our President elected. People need to be honest, if it was a skinny white guy with the Socialistic programs and corrupt friends he wouldn’t have made it to first base, and 99% of the black population wouldn’t have fallen in line.
SGinNC on March 2, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Thieves, extortionists, race-baiters, baby-killers, liars and pussies. What a party! What a leader!
What a pity.
hillbillyjim on March 2, 2009 at 4:06 PM
And those are the good Democrats.
The rest are REALLY bad.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 4:10 PM
RAAAAACCIIISSSSSTTTTT!!!!!!
It’s obvious that you’re making a direct correlation between the color of poo and the color of Burris rather than a correlation between the stench of poo and the stench of Burris.
/sarc
leetpriest on March 2, 2009 at 4:11 PM
This is why John Kerry didn’t get elected. This is why Howard Dean never got past first base in 04.
Then again…….BYAH!
leetpriest on March 2, 2009 at 4:13 PM
No, don’t tell me! I’m keen to guess…
– Monty Python
mojo on March 2, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Actually I think the expiration on this tactic is soon to expire. It’s getting old and mostly everyone knows it.
shick on March 2, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Soon, as in 2050?
Not as long as there are white liberals in power it won’t.
They’re the ones keeping it alive. Throw their worthless asses out and it dies, but not until then.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Blago finally gets paid 6 figures to write a book.
getalife on March 2, 2009 at 4:37 PM
This is plain and simple racism. Yes we bear our burden of past sins. Is keeping a stooge like Burris in office going to change anything?
Herb on March 2, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Today Burris will add to his tombstone:
I got the Senate seat BECAUSE I AM BLACK
The US Senate chose Burris based on skin color? wow. I am shocked. Surely the Congressional Black Caucus, Eric Holder, Harry Reid, & Obama will denounce this as being racist…RACIST. R A C I S T!!
Seriously, is this ok with the Justice Dept??
TN Mom on March 2, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Yeah, I have to give him that…the whole deal stinks all to hell, but Burris does, at least, have the guts to stick it out.
uncivilized on March 2, 2009 at 5:37 PM
When did our country become so PC that we let the African American equivalent of the KKK – Bobby Rush and the Black Panthers – intimidate Congress into retaining deadbeat liars like Burris and “Cold Cash” Jefferson?
“Hurtful things,” eh? Let’s call it what it is: browbeating with white guilt. By caving, Durgin and the rest of Congress are committing the worst form of racial injustice.
In a world blind to skin color, folks like these two would have their rear ends handed to them and sent packing.
Howard on March 2, 2009 at 5:39 PM
He’s also way, way too taken with himself – he has two kids, a son and a daughter, named…Roland W. Burris II and Rolanda, as well as a grandson, Roland T. Burris. (Mama must have put her foot down…sort of.)
You can’t make this stuff up.
uncivilized on March 2, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Remember Rather’s goofy one word sendoff: Courage..?
I got one word for ya: Cowards
thebrokenrattle on March 2, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Buddy, Look around…we are turning the last few turns around the bowl. Dow = 6800, Big three about to close, Real Estate being bought up by Chinese. How much lower do you think we can go?
GunRunner on March 2, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Quite a bit, actually.
The Democrat Party has made quite an effort to reach new highs in lows in ethics, now they get their turn on the economy.
The Democrats in Congress and the idiot in the White House are like glue-sniffing juvenile delinquents. Nothing positive will come from them.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 10:21 PM
I hope the good people of Illinois are right proud of the freak show they’ve puked onto the nation.
T J Green on March 2, 2009 at 11:06 PM