Burris refuses to resign despite plea from Durbin

[jefferson_dem]

Burris refuses to resign despite plea from Durbin
AP Photo/Paul Beaty

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Roland Burris refused to resign on Tuesday, rebuffing the call from the Senate's No. 2 Democrat who made it clear that the embattled Illinois lawmaker would have little luck next year winning the seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

"I told him that under the circumstances, I would resign," fellow Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Burris. "He said, 'I'm not going to resign.'"

"I can't force him," Durbin added.

Burris was appointed by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and driven from office after he was accused of trying to sell the Senate seat.

Burris repeatedly changed his story about how he was appointed. He is facing calls for his resignation after he admitted trying to raise money for Blagojevich. Burris has said he did nothing improper.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SENATE_BURRIS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[ClarkUSA]

1. What a stupid liar and pathetic hypocrite. Stick a fork in Burris, he's done for in 2010.

[bluestateguy]

2. He could just ask for an Ethics Committee investigation

By the time they finished pushing paper his term would be up.

[AZ Criminal JD]

3. Burris is correct and should not reign.

He knows the hypocrisy of the white politicians in Illinois who have gotten their office through corruption and have the gall to tell Burris to resign. Durbin knows no shame.

[Occam Bandage]

4. Tell me. Why do you say, "white politicians?" nt

[AZ Criminal JD]

9. I was involved in Illinois politics for more than two decades.

I know of no white politicians in Illinois who are in positions of power who are not corrupt. Yet no one is telling them to resign. Burris knows this hypocrisy.

[rvablue]

15. Pat Quinn certainly isn't corrupt. He's white and the Governor.

If you know something we don't about Quinn, howzabout sharing?

[AZ Criminal JD]

18. I'll be happy to.

Quinn sponsored an initiative in the 1980s to reduce the size of the Illinois House by 2/3s. He demagogued in the election to get it passed. Before the initiative there were many independents and progressives in the Illinois House -- even from solid Republican districts because the law required at least one member of each party to be in each district. Now, with a severely reduced House the majority leader is totally in charge and completely dictates all legislation. Every member is dependent on him for election funds because the special interests go through him to fund candidates. If you don't vote as he wished you are out next election. Corruption has increased as a result and Quinn used this to rise to power.

[Occam Bandage]

37. He publicly and openly backed a political initiative? You have a strange definition of corruption.

[AZ Criminal JD]

40. Not strange at all

He knew what the end result was going to be and was warned at the time. He didn't care as long as he gained political power as a result. The people be damned.

[Occam Bandage]

16. So Durbin and Quinn are corrupt, because they are white. And it does not matter that Burris is,

because white people are too. Those are rather racist claims.

[AZ Criminal JD]

22. Where is your evidence Burris is corrupt?

Still waiting for Fitzmas I guess. Never going to happen. What I said, if you read the posts, is that Burris should not listen to hypocrites.

[Occam Bandage]

36. He has changed his alibi multiple times. This does not concern you, apparently because

he is not white and therefore is not assumed to be corrupt.

[AZ Criminal JD]

42. Not my point.

My point is that Burris should ignore whites in Illinois/Chicago telling him to resign when they turn a blind eye to the corruption all others and say nothing and do nothing. Why is that? Why do contractors in Illinois give white politicians millions in campaign contributions but would give Burris nothing. He has no money. What is the difference? Oh I know, you think they give to whites because of their interest in good government and don't give to Burris because he is soooo corrupt.

[karynnj]

5. Your post ignores that Durbin was the FIRST to push Obama to run

If he was the least bit racist - that wouldn't have happened. Nothing in Durbin's own record shows corruption. The problem is NOT that Burris is black - but that he didn't tell the whole truth under oath - at a time that the issue with Blago was corruption. YOU know no shame - Durbin is an honorable Senator and a man of integrity.

[AZ Criminal JD]

8. You know nothing about the right wing Daley machine

which put Durbin into power. You excuse their corruption.

[karynnj]

12. I grew up 27 miles out of Chicago

My parents thought it hilarious when my sisters and I making up plays with a "showboat" puppet stage had the mayor daily at first refuse to let the boat dock. We were all less than about 9 years old then. (They did explain that Mayor Daley was a person). That was almost 50 years ago - so, yeah - I can say that I have known a lot about the Daley machine.

It is not a right wing machine. Durbin was not a Chicago politician.

[AZ Criminal JD]

14. If you were from the city and were a progressive in Chicago

you would know that the Daley machine has destroyed every progressive in the city who attempted independence.

[karynnj]

21. They didn't destroy Obama

Durbin was a protege of Paul Simon, a pretty progressive Senator. He first was involved as an intern to Senator Douglas, who was not right wing. He grew up in East Saint Louis - not Chicago. After college and law school, he lived in Springfield - even farther from Chicago. His mentor in politics was Paul Simon, a pretty progressive guy.

Why are you making the argument Daley - when the man you slandered is Durbin.

[Critters2]

25. Your point is well taken, but I couldn't help but notice...

Springfield isn't farther from Chicago than St. Louis is. Maybe you meant this metaphorically. But I know enough Chicagoans who don't know Illinois geography that it caught my eye.

[karynnj]

30. I was a Hoosier until 1972 when I went to NJ out of college

I thought East ST Louis, Il was further north than it is - just looked at a map. I knew Springfield was way to the south of Chicago. So, thanks -- I learned something.

[AZ Criminal JD]

26. You don't know Obama's history

He tried to get elected against Bobby Rush and the machine slapped him down. They mocked him as an intellectual from Harvard who had nothing in common with Chicagoans. Obama then made peace with Daley and the rest is history.

[karynnj]

31. Did they destroy him??

The fact that the Chicago machine backed their own guy against him is not the same as "destroying" anyone. Given Obama's background - I am not surprised that his opponents fought him as "not from here" and "from Harvard".

[AZ Criminal JD]

34. They destroyed his independence

Which was my original point. He has never said a word since then about the rampant corruption in Chicago politics.

[karynnj]

38. You have a strange test of "independence"

[AZ Criminal JD]

39. It is a very logical test.

Are you willing to sell out principles to be elected?

[karynnj]

45. With you defining the principles?

[AZ Criminal JD]

47. Everyone makes their decision about principles.

Don't you have any? Did someone define them for you and tell you what they should be?

[WildEyedLiberal]

41. Durbin isn't even FROM Chicago

I honestly don't think you've spent a day in Illinois.

[AZ Criminal JD]

44. How do you think Durbin won his seat?

From all those Democrats in Southern Illinois? The Daley machine put him in after he was deemed safe.

[WildEyedLiberal]

46. Durbin enjoys higher downstate support than most other Illinois politicians

Did the "Daley Machine" install Paul Simon, too?

[AZ Criminal JD]

48. Apparently you don't know his history

In 1972 Simon was the Daley machine's candidate for governor in the primary against Dan Walker. Walker beat the machine and Simon was given slating for a U.S. Senate seat for his loyalty.

[tkmorris]

6. "white politicians"... You have no idea how you sound do you?

Keep em coming, you're on fire.

[firedupdem]

7. Ethnicity has nothing to do with this issue. Burris is a bumbling

disaster. He should have never been seated and he needs to go. He doesn't even know where he stands on the employee free choice act....that is enough to oust his ass now!

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/02/organized-labor-mad-at-burris-over-.html

[AZ Criminal JD]

10. Are you calling on all Democrats in the Senate who are opposed to

Employee Free Choice to resign? No? Where are your posts about them? I thought so.

[firedupdem]

11. No I'm not but then again I don't know of any.....Burris is from the

state of Illinois and filling President Obama's seat. President Obama strongly supports and even sponsored that bill so how does this nut not know how he stands on the issue? There is a reason burris never won a statewide election before. Again, ethnicity has nothing to do with it. He's a disaster who muscled his way into that position by being Blago's pawn and has embarrassed Illinois and Democrats. He needs to go and the sooner the better.

[AZ Criminal JD]

13. You are showing your ignorance

Burris has won four state wide elections. In fact, Burris was the first African American to win state wide office. Don't get too upset about that.

[firedupdem]

17. That was an error not ignorance...He won twice and never won

again...after 4 more tries at it. Why would I get upset about his one win? I was born and raised on the south side and my folks are still there. Burris is an embarrassment and needs to go. Please don't run the "but, other people did it" line. He should have kept his idiot mouth shut once he got in but couldn't because he's probably on the wire taps. He muscled his way in and he's dirty and needs to go.

[AZ Criminal JD]

19. He won three elections as Comptroller

And one election as Attorney General. With my math that makes four. Even after some time you still couldn't get it right. Pathetic.

[firedupdem]

20. twice meaning comptroller and attorney general....lost 4 after those

two positions. Your nastiness and name calling is really ignorant. You're pathetic and on ignore. Fuck senile ass burris. He's outta there.

[AZ Criminal JD]

23. Ignored by anonymous internet electrons.

The shame! The agony!

[karynnj]

24. Why should they resign because of a position on an issue?

The problem is that Burris, who was not elected, did not disclose actions that he should have by the man who appointed him.

[rvablue]

27. Gotta back you up on that. Burris needs to go for not disclosing his discussions

with Rod's brother, etc.

His position on bills, whether I like them or not, should not factor one bit into this.

[AZ Criminal JD]

28. I'm not saying anyone should resign

It was another poster who said that. Burris is being held to a standard no white Senator has ever been held to and he knows that.

[tonycinla]

35. Not competent!

If Burris is anywhere near the best that a progressive Northern state can come up with to be a US Senator,we are in a hell of a mess.I don't care if his skin color is light green the man is obviously in way over his head.

[AZ Criminal JD]

43. If we are going to put that microscope over everyone

Then alot will go. That is what we have elections for. Burris must resist the lynch mob.

[Cha]

49. What a stupid response..you

obviously know nothing of Durbin but that doesn't stop you from spewing shit.

[Uzybone]

29. B urris needs to go, and let the Ill gov appoint a good democrat

This is what happens when we allow delusional crooks to play racial politics. Burris was not even the best black man for the job, he was the one of lowest character who accepted it.

[firedupdem]

32. Exactly! You said it right there. n/t

[PBS Poll-435]

33. Dear Dick:

Thanks for making doing this today. Really helpful. Nice going.

[politicasista]

50. He should have just said no from the start

I am all for a diverse Senate, but Blago knew what he was doing. Appoint a AA man in Burris, make it impossible for the Senate to reject him because he would be the 4th AA senator since Reconstruction, get impeached and make him the fall guy in the end.

It's quite possible Senator Durbin is trying to save Burris from public humiliation. He did not deserve to be in this mess, but he stepped in the mud and has to take responsibility for his actions.

On edit: Your thread bashing Durbin, a good Dem senator is over the top.