Are you sure Burris wasn't part of the "pay to play"?
By Taskr36
@Taskr36 (13963)
United States
January 9, 2009 12:48pm CST
Initially I thought this Burris guy was clean and an unfortunate victim of circumstance. After seeing more of the facts come out, I'm not so sure anymore. Here are some of the highlights:
His lobbying firm contributed more than $20,000 to the governor's political campaigns.
Two years ago, Burris hosted a $1,000-per-plate fundraiser for Blagojevich.
Burris' consulting firm, Burris & Lebed Consulting, has won nearly $300,000 in state contracts over the past four years.
The governor's wife, Patti, was hired in September to an $80,000-a-year job with the Chicago Christian Industrial League, where Burris' lobbying partner is a board member.
The money raised and contributed isn't really that big a deal to me. Politicians are always raising money for each other. $300,000 in state contracts though is pretty hefty and getting his wife an $80,000 a year job... well that just doesn't sound right at all. Either way I had said that they should block his appointment even when I thought he was an innocent victim of the situation so my standpoint hasn't changed at all.
2 people like this
6 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
10 Jan 09
It seems that all politician are out for their own personal gain and IMO Burris is no different. I have since the beginning said that Burris should not be appointed to the senate seat. I think he grabbed at the chance because seemingly he does not do well in any elections where the voters decide apparently he seems to lose more than he wins. This indicated to me that he paid in some way for this appointment.
2 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
10 Jan 09
I am adding this NOT very intellectual personal observation but I cannot help feeling every time I see Burris on TV I think there is something rather "shifty" about him.
1 person likes this
@us2owls (1681)
• United States
10 Jan 09
Whiteheather - I get the same feeling although until this mess started I never really heard much about Burris but then I am a registered Republican so I never voted for him. I have voted for Democrats the main one being the late Illinois Senator Vince Demuzio - he was fantastic. I think there is something sadly amiss with the Burris appointment when Senator Durbin comes out against it.
1 person likes this
@us2owls (1681)
• United States
10 Jan 09
Both Blagojevich and his wife are money grabbing crooks who need to be behind bars. I thought Burris was clean but then things about him keep coming out that point to him being otherwise. In my opinion if he was 100% clean like he would have us think then when our crooked Governor appointed him he would have politely but publicly refused the appointment and when the Senate seat went up for election he could have taken his chances at the poles and probably would have got elected. Even Senator Durbin is against him being seated from Blagojevich's appointment. That should tell everyone something. I bet in the run up to his inauguration Obama is sick and tired of this fiasco.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 Jan 09
You know, it's hard to say for sure these days that anyone in politics isn't or hasn't been involved in something a bit shady at best. I guess the main thing right now is anyone involved or associated with B-Rod, as I've heard him called today, is going to come under more scrutiny than they would have a few weeks ago. I doubt that he's any kind of "major player" in any of B-Rod's schemes but maybe he's not exactly squeaky clean either. Whatever the case, I'm afraid it will probably be awhile before there will be a Junior Senator from Illinois seated.
Annie
@morethanamolehill (1586)
• United States
10 Jan 09
Wow annie I actually agree with you on something!! "Hallelujah" except for the part about him being seated. After this dog and pony show is over, I believe he will be seated.
The solution to corruption... Don't vote for incumbents. It won't end corruption. But it would make it not so easy. At least we need to end these career politicians careers. There is no reason why one person should be the senator or congressman of a district for more than a generation.
1 person likes this
@morethanamolehill (1586)
• United States
17 Jan 09
Well annie, I hate to say I told you so, but you know I did, Liberals are as predictable as the phases of the moon.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/burris-is-sworn-in/
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
9 Jan 09
This guy was first said to be squeaky clean, but guess there was some scum under the fingernails.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
9 Jan 09
That's still considered clean in Chicago, lol;)
Looks like he'll get his Senate seat. The Illinois Supreme Court decided that Jesse White's signature was not needed and that removes the administrative hurdle to the US Senate seat.
The more I see of his attitude the less I like him. There is definitely something fishy with how he got selected. He is very lawyerly evasive in this matter. But the agitation shines through.
Personally, I would not want to have Blagojevich's appointment on my resume, lol. Too tainted even if I'm squeaky clean.
1 person likes this
@DoriLentrich (1016)
• United States
10 Jan 09
Regardless of whether he is clean or dirty, he is entitled to his seat in the Senate. Legally, Reid and his cohorts have no authority to block him. Blago is a sitting governor and he made an appointment which fulfills all the legal requirements. That's all that matters. This being certified by the Secretary of State stuff is just a rubber stamp.
If the Illinois government hadn't played politics and ordered a special election, all of this could have been avoided. But they'd rather have a dirty Democrat in than a Republican.
Scary, isn't it?
@morethanamolehill (1586)
• United States
10 Jan 09
In The liberal mind, a dirty Democrat is ALWAYS better than ANY Republican.
Besides, is there any other kind? There are Dirty Dems and Dems who haven't been caught yet. Then there is the Wm. Jefferson type, who defy logical explanation.
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