Roland Burris, Gangsternor Rod Blagojevich’s pick to fill Barack Obama‘s Senate seat, is currently being banned from Congress while his appointer faces criminal charges. That’s bad news for the gays, as Burris has been a consistent proponent of gay rights and would be an asset on the Senate floor.
Rick Garcia, political director of LGBT-rights group Equality Illinois, praised Burris, saying that Burris has been supportive of gay rights throughout his political career and even sought out LGBT support for his possible nomination to the Senate seat as early as Nov. 4, the night of Obama’s election. According to Garcia, Burris approached him during the Grant Park celebrations, asking for the community’s support.
Garcia described Blagojevich’s appointment as “bittersweet,” going on to say that while “Roland Burris is highly competent and has an excellent record on lesbian and gay issues, anyone that this governor would appoint is tainted. Gov. Blagojevich could have appointed Mother Teresa and she would have been tainted.”
Darth Paul
He also has an ego and sense of entitlement that could fill the cosmos. I dismiss.
ChicagoJimmy
I have no confidence in his representation given the circumstances of his appointment. Sorry to all the rest of you, we can’t seem to get it together here in Illinois.
Mad John
Google the name Rolando Cruz. I’m thinking that trying to kill an innocent man really ought to disqualify you from serving in the U.S. Senate.
The Gay Numbers
He has an excellent record all around as a progressive. The problem with his appointment are the circumstances. Blago is doing it to thumb his nose. I am hoping that after this Blago mess, they will consider seating him as the next or acting-Governor’s pick.
Alan down in Florida
Let us not forget his $14,000 in contributions to Blago’s campaign.
alex
@Mad John:
thanks a lot for that rolando cruz tip, i hadn’t read anything about that yet.
blake
@Alan down in Florida:
$14,000 was given by members of his law firm. That’s chump change for a political campaign. Remember, Blagojevich is accused of asking for millions for the Senate seat.
—
The Rolando Cruz thing is disgusting. There’s no excuse for that if all the facts are true.
seitan-on-a-stick
The Dems are going to lose on this one so as not to appear the racist party they really are. Oh, and you thought they were just homophobic. It seems that Senator Diane Feinstein can see the writing on the wall when the only black senator who is legally appointed (even if by Governor scumbag) would be a circus that the 44th President and previously the only black senator and Congress don’t need. There must be some heavy indictments coming down the pike for the great disappearing Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr, the other Great Black Hope.
We thought we had drama in New York (Spitzer and Princess “Like, Y’know” Kennedy) but my hat’s off to Illinois for bringing out the Noise! Now, clean house!
seitan-on-a-stick
Y’all just got played by President-elect Barack Obama who just admitted that he is open to working with Illinois Senator Roland Burris…. Where’s the outrage? I thought so!
Fred Milner
The man should be given a chance.
http://www.PunchoStewart.com
BrianZ
Regardless of what you might think of the man, he has been legally appointed to the seat by the person legally entitled to do so. Reid and the other Democrats in the US Senate have no legal standing to prevent the appointment. Further, I believe that should they succeed in preventing his seating it sets an incredibly ill-conceived precedent where any appointment can be challenged. I don’t care about the “circumstances” or the “taint” surrounding the appointment. Until Blago is convicted and/or impeached he is the govenor of the state and legally entitled to make the appointment.
The Gay Numbers
@BrianZ: Well it sounds like they are coming to a reasonable compromise. Namely, that he has to go to others in the state IL to seek approval, and if he gets it then they will seat him. That way its does not rely on the tainted Blago.