Illinois GOP leader calls on Sen. Burris to resign

[rsmith6621]

Source: AP

CHICAGO – Just as Illinois was moving past the agony and embarrassment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's ousting, the fellow Democrat whom Blagojevich appointed to the U.S. Senate was hearing calls for his own resignation Sunday amid allegations he lied to legislators.

Freshman Sen. Roland Burris released an affidavit on Saturday that contradicts his statements last month to a House committee investigating Blagojevich's impeachment.

"I can't believe anything that comes out of Mr. Burris at this point," Rep. Jim Durkin, the impeachment committee's ranking Republican, said at a news conference Sunday. "I think it would be in the best interest of the state if he resigned because I don't think the state can stand this anymore."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090216/ap_on_re_us/burris_blagojevich_donation

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What about Vitter and Craig.....nice double standard....

[bluestateguy]

1. Oh isn't that cute: the minority party is making demands.

nt

[rwheeler31]

2. Oh this is nuts. Durkin did the questioning of Burris and

screwed up what a jerk.

[AmyCamus]

3. Dem leadership should too. Burris lied about his contacts w/ Blago

Why is Burris getting a pass?

[Robbien]

8. Blago asked for money THREE WEEKS before selecting Burris

And Burris said no at that time.

Burris was asked if Blago asked for funds in exchange for picking him. Burris said the truth and said no.

Blago was begging everyone for money and Burris was just one of many.

Nothing illegal here.

But some people seem so eager to get rid of a Dem so that a GOPer can get the seat. I bet you also believe Franken should step aside so that the GOPer can have the seat Franken won.

[MADem]

14. How succinctly you put it. That's it, in a nutshell.

This "gotcha" shit needs to stop.

[rpannier]

17. I'm an Illinois voter and this situation doesn't help the Democratic Party in the State

Burris was asked about contacts with Blago's people and he said no.

Now we find out it's not true.

Your attempt to smear someone else by questioning their credentials as a Democrat is silly.
No one here wants the GOP to have that seat.

But, as long as it lingers, and it will. It helps the republikkans

[No Elephants]

20. What was the lie? I have read several articles now and none of them has

quoted the question and the allegedly lying answer. All I read is vague statements. I don't trust those.

[struggle4progress]

26. Burris' testimony before an Illinois House impeachment panel (Chicago Trib)

... Rep. Jim Durkin: Prior to his arrest, did you have any conversations with the governor about your desire to be appointed to the seat?

Roland Burris: No.

Durkin: OK. Did you talk to any members of the governor's staff or anyone closely related to the governor, including with family members or any lobbyists connected with him, including oh, let me throw out some names: John Harris, Rob Blagojevich, Doug Scofield, Bob Greenlee, Lon Monk, John Wyma? Did you talk to anybody who was associated with the governor about your desire to seek the appointment prior to the governor's arrest?

Burris (confers with his attorney off-mic and says): I talked to some friends about my desire to be appointed, yes.

Durkin: I guess the point is I was trying to ask: Did you speak to anybody who was on the governor's staff prior to the governor's arrest or anybody, any of those individuals or anybody who was closely related to the governor?

Burris (again confers with attorney and says): I recall having a meeting with Lon Monk about my partner and I trying to get continued business and I did bring it up, it must have been in September - maybe it was in July of '08 and you know, 'If your close to the governor, well let him know that I will feel certainly interested in the seat.'"

Durkin: OK ...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-roland-burris-impeachment-panel-testimony,0,5105509.story

So Durkin asks whether Burris spoke to Blagojevich about seeking the Senate seat, then apparently follows up by asking whether Burris spoke to Blagojevich's staff or family or lobbyists friendly to him about seeking the Senate seat question, and then reiterates that his question involves Blagojevich's staff and anybody closely related to the governor. The hearing involves the material issue, Did Blagojevich tried to sell the Senate seat? and Durkin's first two questions above probe conversations Burris had about the Senate seat and the third question is phrased as a clarification of the prior questions. If Durkin's question is intended to inquire broadly, Did Burris ever speak last fall with anybody on Blagojevich's staff, or any of his family members, or any lobbyists friendly to him, about any subject whatsoever?, then (considering the context) Durkin is either (1) doing a poor job of asking his question or (2) deliberately misleading the witness about the scope of the question, in order to browbeat the witness later

[GinaMaria]

4. wish we had gone with Tammy Duckworth

The Illinois GOP failures are drooling over themselves in the hope that they could run one of theirs against Burris and have a shot at getting back the senate seat. Burris needs to be removed and if he isn't.... We need to run a strong Dem against him in the primary. Otherwise we stand the chance of losing a senate seat to the most befuddled of republican parties, the Illinois repukes. Such an unnecessary mess.

[davsand]

27. It isn't like "WE" had any choice.

Blago sure as hell didn't care what the people of Illinois thought when he appointed Burris to that seat. For that matter, Blago didn't even give a crap what IL Dems thought about Burris as an appointee. Blago did what he wanted to do--just like he did most of the rest of the time he was "Da Gov."

Personally. I have no problems with Duckworth. I have no problem with a lot of other IL Dems either, and I am pretty sure you are gonna see a barnburner of a primary for that Dem Senate nomination. I think that particular primary will be "The One" to watch in that election cycle, in fact, because (this is my personal prediction here!!) I think the Governor's Primary on the Dem side will have been pretty much sorted out by the time we go to the polls.

I think the only thing that is gonna save the Dems in this state in the next election cycle is the fact that the IL Republicans are in even worse disarray than we are. They refused to do anything about Ryan at the time and they screwed themselves. IL Dems at least managed to learn from that particular life lesson and we impeached Blago.

Peace from downstate,



Laura

[Bette Noir]

5. This whole fracas is the legislature's fault

for not impeaching Blagjovich sooner. Now that Burris is in, he's beyond the reach of the state legislature. Only the Senate can get rid of him before the next election. That's unlikely, unless illegality can be proven.

And, yeah, what about Vitter and Craig? Dems get "disappeared" for that kind of behaviour-- where are you, John Edwards?

[hyphenate]

6. I don't believe a word out of the mouth

of any Repug, either, but I haven't called for their resignations yet. Convictions, maybe. Resignations, not yet.

If this guy feels this way, perhaps he'll take his ball and go home. We could all use the break after the past seven years of lies from repugnants.

[Piewhacket]

7. Burris resign and let the new gov appoint someone.

That's what should have happened in the first place.

But noooo.. that would have been too simple. No point
in listening to me when the insane-o-whack Blago has all
those voices in his head ordering him around....

BTW Did anyone hear anything about whether Blago has
a serious medical, mental, or drug history?

[Fire1]

9. Indeed, this is unfortunate, but I like Burris and think he'll do a

good job, if given half a chance. I don't know Chicago politics, but I know Detroit politics and it couldn't be much worse. My fondness for Burris comes from reminding me of Coleman A. Young, another 'colorful' character in politics.

[davidinalameda]

10. I don't care if Blago was going to appoint the freaking Dali Lama

the Senate should have NEVER seated anyone appointed by that criminal

[Fire1]

12. Blago GOT CAUGHT! Period. This stuff has been going on

since the beginning of politics. Just because Burris was appointed by a crook WHO GOT CAUGHT doesn't mean he shouldn't serve!

[davidinalameda]

15. bullshit

he especially shouldn't serve since Blago got caught

[Fire1]

16. I don't think a stigma should be attached to Burris b/c

Blago is a crook. That's my opinion.

[davidinalameda]

18. guess what-there is a stigma attached to him

he was appointed by a governor who was taped trying to figure out how to make money from selling the seat

[No Elephants]

21. It's called the rule of law.

[farmboxer]

11. Repubs are pushing this crap and their media

Look how they treated him! They sure did not treat Bush & pals like that!

[TheCowsCameHome]

13. Ooooh, did I hear a little puppy yelping? Oh no, it was Jim Gherkin

just wanting his master to stop the paper-training.

[Botany]

19. I agree

Burris should resign now .... he lied about his contacts w/ Blago.

[No Elephants]

22. Did he? Do you have a quote showing the question and answer? Or, do we

have only vague claims that his new info "contradicts" or "conflicts" with the answers that he gave previously? If the claims are indeed accurate, a direct quote of the question and answer from the transcript should be in the article. Easy enough. Have you seen that?

[Botany]

23. What I do know

The Illinois State Leg. asked Sen. Burris if he had had contacts w/
Blago as per being asked for "help." Burris said no but now 3 weeks
after he was seated as U.S. Senator he admits to contacts w/ Blago and
his brother being asked for money by Blago.

If this is true then it was a lie of omission and Burris should be gone
yesterday.

[ShortnFiery]

24. Bullshit! You're playing into the GOP talking points. He's Senator - we have more pressing issues

to address rather than devouring Our Own. :thumbsdown:

[Botany]

25. Look we have the #s and will get one more w/ Al

and he will be replaced by a dem anyway ...... his actions are not "talking points"

[Dreamer Tatum]

29. Burris committed a lie of omission

Pretty much as big as Dallas. The phrase "the WHOLE truth" exists for this specific reason.

It isn't "devouring our own" for the liar to leave. Another Dem would get appointed, anyway.

[struggle4progress]

31. Perhaps you could provide actual verbatim quotes with links to clarify your accusations

[Mr. Sparkle]

28. Ok, fair enough. But i call on all GOP scumbags who destroyed the country over the last 8 years to

Resign. Your actions are 1000 times worse then what Mr. Burris is said to have done.

[ItNerd4life]

30. He will probably be investigated for perjury

He filed 2 affadavits that contradict each other. Neither affadavit matches what he said under oath.

the other problem is the 'new' affadavit was submitted on Feb. 5th, but to the Democrat impeachment leader (I don't remember her name).
She sad on this even though it could leave to perjury.

It wasn't until the newspapers broke the story that there are 2 very fishy and questionable things going on.

But that's typical of Illinois politics.

The new governor has a reputation and history of being honest. At least that's a start.

[struggle4progress]

32. Would you mind supplying actual quotes with links to support your claims?

[classysassy]

33. Lies

if every senator that has lied,was forced to resign there would be few if any there.