"Please don't allow the allegations against me to taint this good and honest man," Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich said, and with that he announced his appointment of former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris as his choice to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s senatorial seat.
Some people, among them the man whose seat Burris is to fill, were not amused.
Said the president-elect, "Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy."
If the tainted and controversial governor, who is by law solely responsible for making such appointments, were to appoint St. Francis of Assisi to fill Obama’s senatorial shoes, the objections issuing from his administration – it is not too soon to begin to speak of an Obama administration – would remain the same.
In fact, Blagojevich’s appointment is probably freer of taint and controversy than Obama’s choice of Eric Holder as US Attorney General. Burris cannot be accused of facilitating pardons for convicted Cuban trained terrorists, and he does not even have a nodding acquaintance with Mark Rich, contributor to former President Bill Clinton’s campaigns and still, possibly, the largest tax defrauder in US history.
No one seems to be too mush affrighted by that taint and stink of corruption.
Some people, among them the man whose seat Burris is to fill, were not amused.
Said the president-elect, "Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy."
If the tainted and controversial governor, who is by law solely responsible for making such appointments, were to appoint St. Francis of Assisi to fill Obama’s senatorial shoes, the objections issuing from his administration – it is not too soon to begin to speak of an Obama administration – would remain the same.
In fact, Blagojevich’s appointment is probably freer of taint and controversy than Obama’s choice of Eric Holder as US Attorney General. Burris cannot be accused of facilitating pardons for convicted Cuban trained terrorists, and he does not even have a nodding acquaintance with Mark Rich, contributor to former President Bill Clinton’s campaigns and still, possibly, the largest tax defrauder in US history.
No one seems to be too mush affrighted by that taint and stink of corruption.
Comments