Burris raises $845 in Q1
posted at 4:35 pm on April 17, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Great news for Roland Burris! After the revelation that he lied under oath to the Illinois legislature and to investigators about his connections to impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich in seeking appointment as Barack Obama’s replacement in the Senate, people thought Burris wouldn’t raise a dime for a special election to hold the seat. Burris proved his critics wrong by raising 8,450 … dimes:
U.S. Senator Roland Burris, the controversial appointee to the seat once held by President Barack Obama, is holding his first campaign fundraiser since he took office this weekend—and the financial report he filed this week shows he could use some political donations.
Burris campaign officials on Thursday released a report showing the new senator raised only $845 from January through March and had $111,032 in debts from defending himself in ongoing ethics and perjury probes and travel.
Burris never has been a prolific fundraiser during his decades in politics. And his first three months on the job have been focused on a U.S. Senate Ethics Committee investigation and a Sangamon County perjury probe over his testimony before the Illinois House panel that recommended impeaching then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
I’m amazed Burris got this much in donations. Governor Pat Quinn and his colleague in the Senate Dick Durbin have both demanded Burris’ resignation. Clearly, Illinois Democrats want Burris out of the way; even the black pastors that initially demanded his appointment want him to quit. But $845? Burris couldn’t even get a family member to max out a donation to him in Q1? Wow.
It reminds me of an old joke. A man is told he needs surgery to save his life, and that it will cost $25,000, which he doesn’t have. His wife leaps out of her chair and says, “I know — I’ll walk the streets!” She runs out of the office before anyone can stop her, and the man doesn’t see her for weeks.
Eventually she returns and hands the husband $25,000 and a dime. He looks at the coin and asks, “Who the heck gave you a dime?” The wife replies, “Everyone.”
Somehow, that just seems apropos for a Burris thread. Who the heck gave him a dime?
Blowback
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Sounds like he needs a bail out.
Daddy-O on April 17, 2009 at 4:36 PM
I’m guessing that his brother is now tapped out.
MarkTheGreat on April 17, 2009 at 4:38 PM
I heard that all the Trolls on Hot Air took hammers to their piggy banks, and then panhandled for the rest.
kirkill on April 17, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Trump: Celebrity Apprentice
Black Hat’s joke backfired.
maverick muse on April 17, 2009 at 4:40 PM
The Democrats forced him through so he could vote on the stimulus. If the Republicans had done something similar with a Patriot Act vote we would be hearing about it every day.
It is a travesty that this lying scumbag is still in power.
WisCon on April 17, 2009 at 4:41 PM
…the real reason why Reid didn’t want to seat him…
Joe Caps on April 17, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Ron Paul can raise more money in seven seconds.
Nelsen on April 17, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Hey Burris – try begging on Michigan Avenue. Maybe change your sign to read ‘will vote for donations’
Vashta.Nerada on April 17, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Maybe he could ask Hillary’s campaign for some change?
clorensen on April 17, 2009 at 4:45 PM
“He looks at the coin and asks, “Who the heck gave you a dime?” The wife replies, “Everyone.””
…Eewww.
Daddy-O on April 17, 2009 at 4:46 PM
So , Illinois is racist?
the_nile on April 17, 2009 at 4:47 PM
You would think he could take a hint……
Seven Percent Solution on April 17, 2009 at 4:53 PM
This is Chicago we’re talking about Ed. Corruption is an accepted facet of politics for too many people in the Chicagoland area. And if you’re looking to get something done why not root for Burris. He’s already proven he’ll take a bribe. We’re also home to a large number of extreme radicals who care more about ideology than ethics.
chicagojedi on April 17, 2009 at 4:53 PM
sad misguided people who think a letter next to someones name makes them anything.
sadly, way way way way waaaaaaaaay too many people are so misguided.
ernesto on April 17, 2009 at 4:55 PM
What’s the monetary value of the race card after you’ve used it a few dozen times in the last quarter?
larvcom on April 17, 2009 at 4:55 PM
crap! I knew I was paying protection money to the wrong account
gatorboy on April 17, 2009 at 4:55 PM
I’m more worried about what he owes than what he’s raised. You think he won’t use his office to generate the money to pay off that $111,000?
hawksruleva on April 17, 2009 at 4:56 PM
heh Now thats funny.
becki51758 on April 17, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Hey Burris….Check with your pal, Blago, I hear he’s willing to “bend over” for a dime.
Rovin on April 17, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Any known way to investigate whether (if yes, how, who) HRC retired that rather large campaign debt?
clorensen on April 17, 2009 at 5:15 PM
I think he probably would have raised more money if he hadn’t accidentally shot himself in the leg in that nightclub last year, you know?
Proud Rino on April 17, 2009 at 5:17 PM
$845 that shows up on the books. $X getting handed around under the table. Remember, “this @#$% is golden!”
innominatus on April 17, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Did his Republican challeger rais $846 yet?
Steve Z on April 17, 2009 at 5:35 PM
he should auction off a date with Bill Clinton…
doonuts on April 17, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Wrong Burris–that was Plaxico Burress, who used to be a “Giant” wide receiver (6’5″ and he played for the New York Giants.) Plaxico Burress used to draw double coverage, and other Giant receivers got open. Against the Eagles, without Burress, the Giants couldn’t complete passes, and the Eagles defense came up to stop the run.
A Disappointed Giants Fan!
Steve Z on April 17, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Getalife
Dave Rywall
etc, etc, etc….
Hog Wild on April 17, 2009 at 5:42 PM
And, from Ed’s joke, we know how they earned that money as well as why they’re so fixated on “teabagging”….
Master Shake on April 17, 2009 at 6:09 PM
I sent him an email about the HS report and he assures me that he will take my opinion into consideration. I will sleep better knowing that he is on it.
MTZinIL on April 17, 2009 at 6:13 PM
The only thing missing from the $845 saga is when several donors get together, compare donations, and figure out that A LOT more money was donated, but not accounted for….hmmmmmm
BobMbx on April 17, 2009 at 7:06 PM
I should imagine a few Republican strategists did: going against Burris should be a cakewalk, even in Chicago.
Tzetzes on April 17, 2009 at 8:48 PM
Poor Burris. He might have to join Blago on that reality series.
Percy_Peabody on April 17, 2009 at 10:54 PM
I’m sorry, Ed, I’m just utterly dumbstruck here. I mean, if we can’t beat THIS party, who can we beat?
argos on April 17, 2009 at 11:23 PM
I’d check the vending machines in the area for $845 is missing coin.
Mojave Mark on April 18, 2009 at 1:19 AM
Wow, 845 minority slaves of the Democratic party just parted with a dollar.
Grafted on April 18, 2009 at 3:00 AM
We’re calling him Rollie the Booh here in Chi-town. Should be interesting to see which corrupt bureaucrat replaces him next year. Elections here BTW are just ceremonial, they don’t actually matter.
billypaintbrush on April 18, 2009 at 7:23 PM
roland buy your self a select comfort bed cause thats the only way your going to get a good nights sleep
wade underhile on April 19, 2009 at 10:24 AM