Like many of my fellow bloggers, I don’t have the credentials to argue the legal issues. I’m inclined to believe no matter what the constitution or case law says, if the Senate wants to keep Burris out, it can find the legal way to do it. Politically, on the other hand, I’m betting Burris gets sworn in. And Blagojevich — after providing plenty more fodder for the late night comics (who never doubted the pols would give them more material) — will walk. No conviction. No time. Maybe a plea and small fine.
When I was a much younger man I paid the rent for a lease-holding, unemployed roommate. When I found a better apartment and told the roommate, he changed the locks and locked me out in anger. When I had the superintendent let me in to gather my belongings, the roommate had me arrested for burglary. Hauled off from my place of employment, finger-printed, booked and released, I had to hire a lawyer and show up in court. Three times! The ex-roommate called in sick. On the third the case was thrown out. My only recourse was to file a civil suit that would cost more money and recover none. I walked away with a lesson learned: the law can be used as an ugly weapon.
Blagojevich’s evident glee at the press conference announcing Roland Burris and featuring Bobby Rush — the only person ever to defeat President-elect Barack Obama in any election for any office — reminds me of the evil genius of that long-ago roommate. I know nothing of Chicago politics but I knew something about NYC politics. It’s simply not out of the question that Blagojevich understood he could get a don’t “hang or lynch” Burris quote from a Bobby Rush. My problem with the pick has nothing to do with law or the constitution. My problem is it epitomizes old-school big-city racial politics at its worst. I hope Obama got a lot of R&R on that last vacation of his. This circumstance may be the least of his problems; but for his post-racial presidency it may be the most iconic.
Oh, and, btw, to those who say that Burris should have turned it down, I say right back to you that Charlie Rangel should have announced that he will not run again and saved everyone a whole lot of angst! Burris has nothing to lose!