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Editorial: To Sen. Roland Burris - Get out and stay out
Ediorial Board
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: Opinions
It's like some kind of horror movie.
Just when you thought it was safe to trust Illinois politicians, one man weaseled his way into the United States Senate.
Oh Roland Burris, what are we going to do with you?
After vehemently denying any association with the pay-to-play scandal surrounding former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, sources have confirmed you did in fact contribute to the disgraced governor's second gubernatorial campaign.
That's a bit of a pickle you're in there, Roland.
And let's be honest, you aren't really helping Illinois' image at all.
In a Dec. 9 press conference, federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald called Illinois one of the most corrupt states in the nation following Blagojevich's arrest.
"The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said in regards to the pay-to-play scandal.
Yet, while the governor still had the power to name you as President Barack Obama's Senate replacement, you maintained your innocence and said you had absolutely no part in the scandal.
Then it was discovered that you had in fact contributed money to Blagojevich's chief fundraiser, his brother Robert Blagojevich.
Your face must be awfully red.
Even with Illinois higher-ups like Gov. Pat Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin calling for your resignation, you remain steadfast in your innocence and will fight it to the bitter end.
And oh, how bitter it will be if you give the Senate the opportunity to remove you themselves.
No good can come from this attitude of self-rightness you put forward, Roland.
The Senate is against you. Illinois is against you.
There is no way you can possibly expect to walk away from this controversy without catastrophic damage on your political career.
You have no one to blame but yourself.
Tell us, Roland, how did you expect to get away with something like this?
Did you really think you could hide this fact forever without any whistleblowers coming forward to expose you for who you really are?
How could you possibly expect to make Illinois a better place, free from the corruption and greed of the Chicago machine, while basing your pleas with Congress on the lies and greed passed on from your good friend Blago?
And now, Roland, you don't have just a federal jury and the United States government to answer to.
We the people of Illinois demand an explanation.
If these allegations are true - if you really did donate and raise funds for Blagojevich to "curry favor with him" - then it is time for you to count your losses and get out of the Senate while you still have some unlikely shred of credibility.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
Just when you thought it was safe to trust Illinois politicians, one man weaseled his way into the United States Senate.
Oh Roland Burris, what are we going to do with you?
After vehemently denying any association with the pay-to-play scandal surrounding former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, sources have confirmed you did in fact contribute to the disgraced governor's second gubernatorial campaign.
That's a bit of a pickle you're in there, Roland.
And let's be honest, you aren't really helping Illinois' image at all.
In a Dec. 9 press conference, federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald called Illinois one of the most corrupt states in the nation following Blagojevich's arrest.
"The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said in regards to the pay-to-play scandal.
Yet, while the governor still had the power to name you as President Barack Obama's Senate replacement, you maintained your innocence and said you had absolutely no part in the scandal.
Then it was discovered that you had in fact contributed money to Blagojevich's chief fundraiser, his brother Robert Blagojevich.
Your face must be awfully red.
Even with Illinois higher-ups like Gov. Pat Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin calling for your resignation, you remain steadfast in your innocence and will fight it to the bitter end.
And oh, how bitter it will be if you give the Senate the opportunity to remove you themselves.
No good can come from this attitude of self-rightness you put forward, Roland.
The Senate is against you. Illinois is against you.
There is no way you can possibly expect to walk away from this controversy without catastrophic damage on your political career.
You have no one to blame but yourself.
Tell us, Roland, how did you expect to get away with something like this?
Did you really think you could hide this fact forever without any whistleblowers coming forward to expose you for who you really are?
How could you possibly expect to make Illinois a better place, free from the corruption and greed of the Chicago machine, while basing your pleas with Congress on the lies and greed passed on from your good friend Blago?
And now, Roland, you don't have just a federal jury and the United States government to answer to.
We the people of Illinois demand an explanation.
If these allegations are true - if you really did donate and raise funds for Blagojevich to "curry favor with him" - then it is time for you to count your losses and get out of the Senate while you still have some unlikely shred of credibility.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Rick Kambic
posted 2/24/09 @ 8:01 AM CST
Same editorial two days in a row?
http://media.www.dennews.com/media/storage/paper309/news/2009/02/23/Opinions/To.Sen.Roland.Burris.Get.Out.And.Stay. (Continued…)
Tom Foreman
posted 2/24/09 @ 8:24 AM CST
Among many others, Governor Quinn and Congressman Hare have already called for Senator Burris' resignation. If anyone would like to join with other concerned citizens in putting additional pressure on him, please consider signing the online petition at www. (Continued…)
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