The Restless ChronicleS

I’m apoplectic!  In this space just weeks ago (Blagojevich, Burris v. U. S. Senate et al), I vigorously defended the right of an elder statesman of Sen. Burris’ stature to be seated by the United States Senate.  It didn’t matter I argued, if Gov. Blagojevich was as dirty and filthy as the earth on which he stood—no evidence of “pay-to-play” has been brought against the former state attorney-general. 

Now fast-forward to the 5^th of February, after been sworn-in as a U. S. senator, 71 year-old Sen. Roland Burris produces an affidavit to the FBI stating his convenient omission of contacts with five known Blagojevich’s associates after a previous denial in sworn testimony before the Illinois legislature.

Sen. Burris admits in the affidavit of trying unsuccessfully to solicit funds from friends for Gov. Blagojevich’s campaign after been contacted by the governor’s brother, Robert Blagojevich, per his interest in a senate seat.

While it’s easy to believe the senator decided to inconveniently come out with the truth at this time because of his pureness of heart; the opposite must be believed to be the case.  Doomed by knowledge of the FBI possessing recorded conversation(s) between him and Robert Blagojevich, Sen. Burris decided he create the semblance of the statesman he’s been for the majority of his life.  

Sen. Burris must at once resign this senate seat.  While I vehemently argued in the past the injustice of having no Blacks in the United States Senate, the presence of one under a false and unscrupulous appointment is even more erroneous and unforgivable—a gross disservice to the people of Illinois and the Black community.

Sen. Burris understood he was tainted and corrupt once he chose to raise funds for the governor to gain consideration for a senate seat.  If this was a mistake, which he soon might have realized, he should have atoned for such by withdrawing his name from consideration and never accepting the appointment.  He knew this but went along to give no air of impropriety, especially in his well-orchestrated drama outside the U. S. Capitol once refused entrance into the senate chamber on January 6^th.

For years Sen. Burris, you have been a model citizen of the state of Illinois and it is now time to make a disgraceful exit.  Your Chief-of-Staff has already resigned in the wake of these shenanigans; you must now follow suit and show the proper sense you refused to exercise right from the very beginning.