by Frank James
Sen. Roland Burris seems to be at odds with Sen. Roland Burris.
At his City Club of Chicago appearance today, he actually said "I have nothing to hide and I will be transparent..."
Moments later, he said he wouldn't be talking to the media anymore.
"What I will no longer do after today now that there is an ongoing investigation is engage the media and have facts drip out in selective soundbites."
So much for transparency.
Burris also defended himself from questions about contacts he had with the inner circle of disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich by using the always handy you-know-me defense to his audience of Chicagoans.
"Thirty years I've been in service to this state and you know me. You know the real Roland. I am the real Roland," he said, tapping himself.
Not sure why he wanted to go there. The people of Illinois have generally shown a real ambivalence towards Burris.
While he was indeed the first black to win state wide races to become Illinois comptroller and then attorney general, Illinois voters said no to him twice when he sought the Democratic nomination for governor and once when he sought the Senate nomination.
He also lost the nomination for Chicago mayor in 1995 but you can't hold that against him since nothing short of a military invasion of Chicago would probably unseat a mayor named Daley.
Burris continued: "Thirty years in public life and not a hint of a scandal. And in all that time in service to Illinois, I never asked for anything in return until today. I ask you today to stop the rush to judgment." Then he blamed the media for spreading misinformation.
Yes, it's all the media's fault he seemed to be saying that there's growing outrage that he didn't tell Illinois lawmakers when he testified before them during the Blagojevich impeachment trial that he had agreed to raise money for Blagojevich at the same time he wanted Blagojevich to appoint him to the Senate seat being vacated by President Barack Obama.
This is a line of defense not likely to work. But as Blagojevich proved, Illinois politicians don't give up easily.
Comments
What's with all these stories about Burris? It's almost like The Swamp is being fair and balanced in their coverage.
Posted by: Bubba ✔ | February 18, 2009 4:46 PM
Get lost Burris.
Your 15 minutes has come and gone, you idiot.
Posted by: Hey Joe | February 18, 2009 4:47 PM
I'm waiting for the talking head show tour. Do you think he'll hire the same publicist as Blago? Maybe they can do a combined tour?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | February 18, 2009 4:54 PM
Burris script is different ever day, Has his bifocuals crossed?
Posted by: Inky | February 18, 2009 5:13 PM
Yes, temporary Senator, we Illinoisans do know you. That's why you haven't won an election in nearly 20 years. Resign now! Nobody wants you!!!
Posted by: Bemused | February 18, 2009 5:20 PM
Yes, Burris, we know the thrice-rejected, lying, cheating, scumbag that you are.
Posted by: Jeff | February 18, 2009 5:37 PM
Just another corrupt Illinois democrat - what's the news? This is dog bites man.
Posted by: Terry | February 18, 2009 7:40 PM
Just another corrupt Illinois democrat - what's the news? This is dog bites man.
Posted by: Terry | February 18, 2009 7:40 PM
....
Quit your crying Trickledown boy.
The Repuglicans are just as bad as the Dems in Illinois, in fact the last Repug governor (George Ryan) is still doing time in a Fed lockup.
Posted by: YouBetcha | February 18, 2009 11:31 PM
"...Burris decided he may not have told the truth. He filed an affidavit about who he talked to and sent it to a Madigan flunky, who kept it in her desk drawer by 'mistake' until late last week, after the Real Roland voted for Obama's near trillion-dollar spending bill. Jeepers. Isn't Illinois politics just full of coincidences?"
-- John Kass
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-19-feb19,0,4852039.column
Posted by: Hey John E | February 19, 2009 7:12 AM
Hang 'em high, you good, old constitutionalists !! Ride those bill of rights, out on a rail !! Illinois, the odious Land of Lynchings !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | February 19, 2009 10:43 AM
FITZ - I guess you need to lecture BO on this:
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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/12/10/obama_blagojevich_should_resig.html
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FITZ tell Obama - "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW" Otherwise, you area hypocrit
Posted by: Terry | February 19, 2009 7:10 PM