Aren’t Roland Burris and Caroline Kennedy vying for the same type of job? How come the Democratic Party seems ready to embrace one and is ready to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at the other one? The Burris / Kennedy Senate picks (or soon to be picked) is an example of one of the problems of the political class: they like the rules just fine…if it works for people they want to help.
Roland Burris has done nothing improper, and as I mentioned in an earlier post, Harry Reid and the Democratic caucus can not refuse to seat him as an United States Senator. So what is all of the hubbub about? Is it because of the investigation of Rod Blagojevich? Ok, if that is the case, then Kennedy should be as opposed by Reid and the Democrats on Capitol Hill. Why? N.Y. Governor David Paterson is serving the remaining time of ousted Governor Eliot Spitzer. How can you have a replacement appoint another replacement?
Even though I am an African-American, I have stayed away from race in this issue because it is not germane to the issue. The Democratic leadership in the Senate is making this molehill into a mountain. They should accept the appointments as made by both Governors and let those two people serve until the mid-term election of 2010. Both Burris and Kennedy will have to go before the people of their states to be elected. In Illinois, Burris has lost several statewide races and will face a tough primary fight to regain the seat. In New York, Kennedy is a political novice who has never run for any office; she will either swim or sink on her own merit. The family name will help but only so much (oh, who am I kidding, Hillary Clinton won after only living in New York for only a year or so).
So, Senator Reid, if you are reading this post… here is some free advice from a Republican: Stop whining and let Burris and Kennedy serve their two years. You get two more Democrats in the caucus and, if they want to be re-elected, they have to follow your leadership; if you don’t want to help them get elected, go find suitable opponents now to run against them next year. Case dismissed!
Faculty, Department of Political Science, Towson University. Graduate from Liberty University Seminary.