by James Oliphant and Mike Dorning
Poor Roland Burris.
The guy just can't buy a break right now.
The embattled senator just emerged from his hour-long meeting with Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate Majority Whip and the senior senator from Burris' state of Illinois. Durbin wanted to hear Burris' explanation of his ties to disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich for himself.
At the end of the session, Burris tried to sneak out through the side door in Durbin's third-floor office in the Capitol. Unfortunately for him, Chicago reporters who have covered Durbin know about the door, which leads almost directly to an elevator.
That meant that when a young aide emerged from Durbin's office and hit the "down" button, some in the press corps staking out the meeting knew what was up. Burris emerged and was quickly cornered by a handful of reporters in front of the elevator.
Burris said he had a "good discussion" with Durbin, but would not elaborate.
Then for a few long moments, he stood there, alone, and said nothing, perhaps setting some kind of record for the longest a senator has ever stood in the Capitol without saying anything.
Burris looked plaintively at the indicator light above the golden elevator doors. The car was still two floors below. You could almost hear him crying "Come on!"
More questions. He finally said he was "under orders" not to talk about the meeting.
"Under orders from who, sir?" someone asked.
"My lawyer," Burris said.
"Under orders not to talk about whether you will run in 2010?"
The elevator doors parted, but Burris' exit path was blocked. A Capitol worker was hauling a palette of debris. The junior senator finally jumped inside, maneuvering his body past the cart and the worker. The young aide slid inside as well, off to (relative) safety.
No word on whether the worker believes Burris should resign. Or the page operating the elevator.
(An aside to aspiring press aides: First, you hit the button to call the elevator, then you wait for the car to come and the doors to open before you have your politician emerge.)
Comments
Elevators make an awful racket when they are kept waiting. I believe the aspiring press aide was being responsible and mindful of other elevator users here. In fact, he shows more grace than any Illinois politician in quite some time.
Posted by: David P. | February 24, 2009 4:41 PM
NOW his attorney tells him to keep quiet? None of this controversy would have happened if he was told to keep his trap shut from the start. HE's an attorney and should have remembered that is the first thing you tell a client. But now that the cat is out of the bag, the Senate ethics committee should throw him out on his ear. I just hope this is happening behind the curtain and the people of Illinois will get someone who will represent them, not their own huge ego. Maybe that is why Durbin told him to step down to save him from the embarrassment of being thrown out? Let us hope so!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | February 24, 2009 4:51 PM
Oh my god. That was funny. Thanks for the laugh.
Posted by: thingy | February 24, 2009 5:20 PM
How many more times does Senator Burris have to tell the frothing media that he will not resign? I think Senators Durbin and Reid should resign. It's all about winning elections with these guys instead of putting the people and country first. They have spoken out more against Sen. Burris than eight years of President Bush!
Posted by: Dave | February 24, 2009 5:29 PM
Funny funny stuff indeed. And very telling of Burris' true nature. He's a press dodger, that one. Wonder if any of these details will make it into the print story? Because they speak louder than anything Burris could have said.
Posted by: Lou | February 24, 2009 6:03 PM
Funny funny stuff indeed. And very telling of Burris' true nature. He's a press dodger, that one. Wonder if any of these details will make it into the print story? Because they speak louder than anything Burris could have said.
Posted by: Lou | February 24, 2009 6:04 PM
Hey Dave, since Mr. Roland Burris changes his story many times, maybe they thought they would hear a new story !!
Posted by: Wishy Washy | February 24, 2009 6:06 PM
Roland Burris is a continuing embarrassment to the people of Illinois. But since he has absolutely no sense of self-awareness or shame, he will never step down. It would never occur to him that at this point, he is nothing more than an object of ridicule.
Posted by: kj | February 24, 2009 8:16 PM
Yes, Dave; Burris should put the people and the country first by resigning.
Posted by: Paul | February 25, 2009 1:58 PM