Political scandals have a way of going from shocking, to trifling, to ridiculous to flat out laughable. Yesterday, the controversy surrounding Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich got to that point when he appointed former state attorney general Roland Burris to president-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate Seat.I guess at this point, for ol' Blago, there's nothing left to do but try to get his picture next to the word 'sleaze' in the dictionary.
Some say it was actually a brilliant political stunt aimed at thumbing his nose at all of his accusers, and they may have a point. As governor, he still has the power to appoint someone to the position and he hasn't been found guilty of anything yet.
On the other hand, nobody would actually take this appointment seriously given the charges of trying to sell Obama's seat to the highest bidder. Even the Democratic Caucus said they would not seat Burris and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said he would NOT certify Burris under the law. ...
Leaving A Family Legacy
Will & Jada Smith have no problems with their children following in their footsteps in Hollywood.
Charley Gallay, WireImage
Willow & Jaden have both been cast into their father's movies.
Getty Images
Phillippi Sparks' son might not have carried on the family football tradition of the NFL cornerback. But his daughter found success in another field.
Stan Honda, Getty Images
Jordin Sparks, the winner of the sixth season of American Idol and sang the "National Anthem" for the Super Bowl XLII, which made he dad very proud.
Mark Mainz, FOX / AP
Actor Alan Thicke passed on his good looks to his son, but not the acting gene.
Michael Buckner, Getty Images
While Grammy Award winning singer Robin Thicke does acting on occasion, he actually carries on the legacy of his singer mother Gloria Loring, who co-wrote the theme songs to "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life" with his father.
Retna
A name as cool asCuba Gooding has to be passed down through generations. The elder Cuba Gooding, the lead singer of the soul group The Main Ingredient, has passed on his legacy of entertaining to his two sons.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
In Cuba Gooding, Jr. movie "Radio," there is a scene where he is listening to The Main Ingredient. He's pictured here with his brother Omar.
Gregg DeGuire, WireImage
Basil Patterson a labor lawyer and longtime political leader in New York and Harlem passed the torch to his son, the 55th Governor of New York.
Chris Hondros, Getty Images
Before becoming Governor, David Patterson represented the same Harlem district in the State Senate that his father did.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
The press conference Tuesday to announce all this was a circus. In fact, it reminded me of the promo segments of early 80s World Wrestling Federation TV shows with Mean Gene Okerlund, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Mr. Fuji.
Yes, it was that funny and I was ROTFLMAO over the whole thing.
Check out the whole press conference below.
The funniest part, but unfortunately most degrading to black folk is when Burris called Rep. Bobby Rush up to the podium and he spent more time yapping than Blagojevich and Burris put together. Almost immediately, Rush utters the one thing that made this whole debacle more stupid then it has been the whole time: "I don't think that anyone, any U.S. senator who's sitting in the Senate right now wants to go on record to deny one African-American for being seated in the U.S. Senate." Then he called such a move "lynching." Wow.
I guess, Bobby may have seemed like the appropriate person to cosign this whole deal since he's the only one who ever actually defeated Obama in an election.
But damn it man, you just blew the whole game. Yeah, I'm all for having black U.S. Senators, because Obama's only the third one we've had since Reconstruction. But when we get a new one he comes as an appointee of a governor so corrupt he makes Richard Nixon look like Nelson Mandela. How is that supposed to help black people? Does he really think the Congressional Black Caucus would go for some B.S. like that?
If they do, you can best believe that I will be tearing them a new one on this blog, and I will be at their Annual Leadership Conference in September clowning like you wouldn't believe.
It is important that there is representation of African American interests in Congress, that much is clear. But those interests will not be represented at all if the representative is not ELECTED, or at least appointed in good faith. There is a reason we keep trying to achieve democracy in this Republic; it's because everyone needs to have their voice heard.
Burris' appointment is the political equivalent of having an apple shoved in the mouths of all Illinois folks ... black, white, Latino, native, Asian or whatever.
Now, with all this said, Blagojevich does have everyone by the balls. He is actually following the law and until he is either removed from office or resigns, he does have the power to put whomever he wants into that seat. But what he has done is for all intents and purposes, de facto racism.
He's using black people who invoke placing blacks in positions artificially in order to create more of a political maelstrom and that's f**ked up.
Obama himself was elected by a majority vote. On Jan 20th, he'll take office because the people chose him. Blagojevich, Rush and Buriss seem to be out to prove that black people should only be involved in politics as tokens.
Now roll that one up and smoke it, baby.
Blogger's Note: An original version of this post erroneously said Barack Obama is the first black U.S. Senator since Reconstruction. In actuality Edward R. Brooke (R-Massachusetts); Carol Mosely Braun (D-Illinois) had both served in the Senate before Obama. During the post-Civil War period Hiram R. Revels and Blanche K. Bruce, both Mississippi Republicans, were also U.S. Senators.
Comments: (22)
Add a comment
By: rcadam1947 on 12/31/2008 1:09PM
THE GOVNOR HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE THIS GUY THE NEW SENATOR, I THINK THEY WILL TAKE HIM. IF THEY DON'T IT WILL END UP IN THE SUPREME COURT. IT"S GOING TO BE FUN TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: ava on 12/31/2008 11:52AM
We black people have to stop being used and use our common sense...The Gov. is crazy smart and he used Buriss to stick it to the Dem. and divide people....Yes we need more of our people in politics to represent us, but let's do it the right way
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Rozlyn on 12/31/2008 11:54AM
Blago's fifthteen minutes of fame is quickly coming to an end.
Tick
Tick
Tick It won't be long!"
What an idiot!"
Roz..
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: gailbiggers on 12/31/2008 3:46PM
Madison,
I have to agree with you. You hit the nail on the head. Man this ish something else, defacto racism
you aint never lied
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: JEFF WILKINSON on 12/31/2008 4:57PM
I Personally Know Roland Burris as A Very Respectable and Highly Regarded Politician in the State Of Illinois. Although the Problem is with the Appointer and Not the Appointee this should not be a Factor in Seating Him in the U.S. Senate.
Although I Don't Agree or Like the Behavior of Gov.Blago, He was in His Perfect Right to Appoint Mr.Burris. Let Not Used Mr. Burris as a Scapegoat to Get at Gov. Blsago, that is the Job of the D.A.
Illinois Needs Two U.S.Senators NOW!!!! So Get Over the Unnessary Political Drama, By Looking at Mr. Burris Unblemished Distinguished Record and Move ON!!!!!! Keep it Up and You Miss Your Stimulus $$$$ B.S.Sing.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Lonnie jones on 1/01/2009 2:00AM
Burris will make GREAT SENATOR. The Repubs WOULD TAKE THIS JOB ANY WAY THEY COULD GET IT.Anybody is better than a racist REPUBLICAN. Go Roland!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Jessie on 1/01/2009 5:53AM
Once again the voice on aol news is just a puppet of the DNC. No wonder I don't take any AOL news to heart. They only put out bias and spin and try to keep things stirred up. Shame on them and the sheep that use any other biased media for facts.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: ((Hiroader2)) on 1/01/2009 8:12AM
I took the understanding the Illinoi gov. was still in position of the office and the charges were pending..(brought that). He still held the "legitimate" authority to make the senate choice..(brought that`). He chose an qualified decent & honorable appointee for the senator position in R.Burris..(Brought that). The reality that the entire U.S. Senate had no diversity was an interesting (fact).. But the Bobby Rush comments was like flushing all the good points of the appointment & R. Burris down the crapper to those lobbying prosecution based on the FBI tapes..,Which shouldn't be played out to the American public like an Maury show pregnancy result... Here's another taxpayer ripoff!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: mis57603 on 1/01/2009 11:10AM
The governor should resign and allow the people of chicago have some credible representation and ole school burris and rush should retire.
I am reading these comments about how respectable burris is but yet he lost five straight elections and so he bought and paid for a senate seat.
Get real Chicago? This is not about race as they are attempting to frame this--this is about a corrupt governor who is to broke to quit.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: mis57603 on 1/01/2009 11:13AM
Jesse read the transcripts--there is a "FOR SALE" OOOPS I mean auction sign on top of the Chicago governors office. Everything piece of legislation, every appointment goes to the highest bidder!
Reply to this Comment | Report This