The Chicago Tribune’s editorial page has become such a montage of vaguely leftoid pastels that I hardly ever glance at it any more. Today, however, the ghost of Colonel McCormick seems to have possessed the editorial board, as it shouts forthrightly, “Roland Burris, Resign”:
The benefit of the doubt had already been stretched thin and taut by the time Roland Burris offered his third version of the events leading to his appointment to the U.S. Senate. It finally snapped like a rubber band, popping him on that long Pinocchio nose of his, when he came out with version four.
Let’s see if we have it right: Burris had zero contact with any of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s cronies about his interest in the Senate seat being vacated by President Barack Obama – unless you count that conversation with former chief of staff Lon Monk, and, on further reflection, the ones with insiders John Harris, Doug Scofield and John Wyma and, oh yeah, the governor’s brother and fund-raising chief, Robert Blagojevich. But Burris didn’t raise a single dollar for the now ex-governor as a result of those contacts because that could be construed as a quid pro quo and besides, everyone he asked refused to donate.
The story gets worse with every telling.
Enough. Roland Burris must resign.
The Colonel would, of course, have made more of this point:
Illinois House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), who chaired the impeachment panel, sat on Burris’ amended testimony for more than a week.
That would be the period during which ARRA (pronounced “error”) was being pushed through the Senate with just the bare 60 votes it needed for passage. How convenient that one of those 60 Senators wasn’t “distracted” by questions about his integrity. Just a coincidence, no doubt. At least, we can be sure that no one in the MSM (including, alas, the Chicago Tribune) will probe more deeply.
Meanwhile, The One has nothing to say:
I was rather intrigued that the White House press corps asks Gibbs about Burris “a couple times”, and Gibbs hasn’t gotten, or can’t get, the president’sreaction. . . . Of course this is a thorny and uncomfortable topic, and any non-mush statement would have to either give Burris the benefit of the doubt or concede the “resign now” crowd has a point. But those tough calls come with the job.
Avoiding the topic for as long as possible is kind of like... I don’t know, voting “present” or something.
I have more confidence in our President. I’m sure that he will issue a strong, unequivocal statement – just as soon as Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi fashions words to put into his mouth.
Note that Barbara Currie is known as a goo-goo. But true goo-goo's don't get to be majority leaders.
The Tribune's true motive is no doubt to elect a Democrat to the Senate when the term expires, something Burris's tenure hurts.
Posted by: Eric Rasmusen | Sunday, March 01, 2009 at 07:51 PM