Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.), left, at his seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, listened to Defense Secretary Robert Gates talk about the war in Afghanistan. It was Burris' first committee hearing since appointment by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
by Mark Silva
Sen. Roland Burris, a senator by the grace of the disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich, says he feels sorry for the governor's family for what he is going through now - but if the governor is found guilty of the allegations against him, well then, he made his own bed.
Burris, in an appearance on FOX News Channel"s Your World with Cavuto, said:
"There are two courts of opinion. You've got public opinion, and the legal court process...He's innocent until proven guilty."
But, asked how he will feel if the governor who appointed him to the Illinois seat that President Barack Obama left in the Senate is convicted of attempting to sell that seat or other charges against him, Burris, a former attorney general for the state of Illinois, said:
"Well, I would certainly feel sorry for his family...And we don't want to see any harm fall to anyone, especially one who has been our chief executive. He was elected twice....
"But, generally, you have to say that, if you make that type of a bed, and you carry that behavior, and he is convicted of a crime, then he must pay the price that our society would then determine it's a penalty to pay for such a crime."
Asked about the governor's remarks in his owm round of media interviews in a blitz underway while the state Senate tries him for removal from office - that Blagojevich had considered appointing 0prah Winfrey:
"Certainly, he had the authority to appoint anyone he wanted to appoint... Evidently, he chose not to do that, and he ended up appointing me....
"I know Oprah pretty well...and Oprah could care less about politics and a Senate seat... "She has steered clear of politics... I think the governor was certainly looking for someone who is an icon in our community... and should he have appointed her, she probably would have declined it."
Comments
Blago is probably guilty and I'm not in any way defending him...BUT...Blago hasn't even been indicted yet, he's been "accused" of wrong doing in a criminal complaint.
If Blago turns out to have been found innocent in a court of law, the states taxpayers will be stuck footing the bill when he sues the state.
Posted by: Blinky | January 27, 2009 7:11 PM
This guy in my view is throwing Blago under the bus as well....he didn't do it until he got what he wanted out of it. Just goes to show you he was only in the deal for himself so he could put another "accomplishment" on his monument to himself. Too bad Bago, he played you as well as the people of Illinois.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | January 27, 2009 7:51 PM
Burris can show that he's different than how he's been portrayed (as a toadie) by refusing to fall for the B.S. about Afghanistan.
Posted by: OUT OF AFGHANISTAN NOW! SAFELY HOME FROM IRAQ NOW! | January 27, 2009 8:06 PM
For a funny, yet insightful explanation of why Blago is not entitled to Due Process please visit:
www.coreyfriedman.blog.com
Posted by: Coreyltd | January 27, 2009 10:21 PM
So here you have it...Burris has just stated he is an icon. He should have looked up the term. The man has no humility and I don't want him representing me.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | January 28, 2009 6:59 AM
lochnessmonster: Don't worry Burris won't be re-elected. He's just keeping the seat warm but in the meantime he'll be able to add another accomplishment to his tombstone. He'll just vote the party line which is all they want him to do and they will be working behind his back to find a candidate that can win in 2010.
Posted by: vla | January 28, 2009 9:33 AM