Burris wimps out on Blago impeachment and resignation questions

Senator-designate Roland Burris (D-IL) got where he is, a has-been given temporary new life, by playing the game political game very cautiously. Which is why he was elected three times as state comptroller, a post for the most part voters in the Land of Lincoln don't care about. In fact, state government watchdogs have suggested that the office of the comptroller be submerged into the state treasurer's bureaucracy.

A little higher up on the food chain is state attorney general, but that's still a position voters keep on the edge of their political radar. Burris was elected to that job in 1990, performed poorly, and then went on to lose three straight Democratic primaries for governor, with a primary loss for mayor of Chicago mixed in.

The Chicago Democrat appeared on two morning cable news programs. "Fox & Friends'" Gretchen Carlson got first crack at him, and Burris stammered that he does not "respond to hypotheticals" after Carlson asked him if he was a member of the Illinois House, would he have voted to impeach Rod Blagojevich, who of course is the man who appointed him to the seat.

MSNBC was not kinder to the man who until recently was a prominent Illinois lobbyist. The news host for "Morning Joe" asked Burris if he supported Blagojevich's resignation, and reminded viewers that not too long ago he called for Blago to step down.

Here's the video:



The Republican Senatorial Committee had this to say about Burris' burrowing:

"Roland Burris may not be in the Senate yet, but his unwillingness to take a position on such a critical issue facing his state is troubling," National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh said today. "The people of Illinois deserve a voice in Washington who will represent their interests, and not re-pay favors to the Chicago political machine."

"Harry Reid, Dick Durbin and even Barack Obama have all unequivocally stated it is time for Rod Blagojevich to step down, and the voters of Illinois overwhelmingly agree," Walsh continued. "The people of Illinois were denied an opportunity by the Democrat political machine to choose their next senator in a special election. At a minimum now, they deserve to know where their Senate appointee stands on Rod Blagojevich."

We live in tough times. Economic turmoil at home, war abroad. We don't need an overly cautious senator representing Illinois.

By the way: Burris very well may be the only person living in my state who does not have an opinion on Blago's impeachment and whether he should stay in office.

Technorati tags: Blagojevich Illinois Politics corruption Illinois Democrats impeachment senate special election Fox News MSNBC