Columnist James Ingram
Newly released transcripts of a federally wiretapped phone call between embattled U.S. Sen. Roland Burris and Rob Blagojevich, brother of ousted Governor Rod Blagojevich, are threatening the legacy and the integrity of the once-credible Burris.
Burris, already under fire for his ever-changing account of his appointment to the former Senate seat of President Barack Obama, may have finally been undermined by his own recorded words.
Even fellow U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) has pledged not to support Burris for a second term in 2010, saying he told Burris “how disappointed I was because … we stuck our neck out for him.”
When grilled by reporters regarding the recorded conversations, Burris’ favorite question (to reporters) was “Have you read the transcripts?” The implication (by Burris) is that the recordings exonerate him of any “pay-to-play” politics (and that reporters are too lazy to read).
Well, I did read the transcripts, and the “junior senator from Illinois,” as Burris so fondly refers to himself, came across as a liar and a weasel (not necessarily in that order).
The transcript reveals an obvious negotiation between Blago’s brother Rob and Burris over how Burris could best make a contribution to Blagojevich without the appearance of buying the Senate seat.
Early on in the conversation, Burris states that “I’m very much interested in trying to replace Obama.”
Burris later goes on to state that “I’m trying to figure out how to deal with this and still be in consideration for the appointment.”
“And God knows number one, I, I wanna help Rod. Number two, I also wanna, you know, hope I get a consideration to get that appointment,” Burris reiterates.
Rob Blagojevich then suggests that “if you guys (Burris and his law partner) can just write checks, that’d be fine.”
Finally, Burris agrees that “I will personally do something, okay? And it’ll be done before the 15th of December (2008).”
Sounds like good old-fashioned Illinois pay-to-play “poli-tricks” to me.
However, in the delusional, egotistical and rhetorically slick political world of U.S. Senate politics, Burris feels that he can sanitize and revise a recorded conversation that clearly reveals his desperation in negotiating a covert means of paying for a Senate seat.
Burris further assumes that the media and the public are either too illiterate or too dumb to properly interpret what we read.
No, senator. As one Illinois politician (Abraham Lincoln) once stated: “You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”
I know that you already have taken the liberty of erecting a magnificent mausoleum which lists your many legitimate achievements. Your hope, I’m sure, was to eventually chisel your capstone achievement of “U.S Senator” into its granite walls.
Unfortunately, now you must also reserve space on that edifice for the term “weasel.” For, unless you have the decency and integrity to resign, your legacy as “Senator Weasel” will surpass all of your good works for the people of Illinois.
To sacrifice a lifetime legacy of political integrity for the temporary status of “senator” is not only foolish and superficial, it is also a shame. But it’s your choice, senator.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.