John Kass on the unexpected winners in the Roland Burris saga

Vice President Dick Cheney will swear-in Roland Burris into the US Senate tomorrow. He's obvious a big winner in this drama, but the Chicago Tribune's John Kass points out that there are a couple of others, ones that will surprise you.

Yet the big winners in the Tombstone Burris affair are William Cellini, the federally indicted Illinois Republican boss of Springfield and the head of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association, and Cellini's pal, former U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Combine), who didn't have to worry about opposition as long as Cellini backed him.

LaHood, who like Burris has not been charged with any crime, is scheduled to appear Wednesday for his Senate confirmation hearing as Obama's transportation secretary. He'll be responsible for spending $700 billion or more on road and infrastructure development. Tombstone (Burris) can make speeches. Cellini can make one phone call and reach the Obama administration where it counts.

There has been much coverage about Tombstone and Blago, so much righteous screeching and hardly a media mention about Cellini and LaHood. They'd consider this a victory. And they didn't even need Hollywood set designers to accomplish it.

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), a former Black Panther who rudely pushed race into the Burris battle, is the other winner, says Kass.

I'm going to have another post on Illinois transportation issues later today.

Related posts:

"Rezko scandals" latest indictment victim: Bill Cellini

Moron on Cong. Bobby Rush--Christian minister voted against House Christmas resolution

Cong. Bobby Rush no longer facing double foreclosure

Moron Congressman Bobby Rush

Technorati tags: Chicago politics Bobby Rush Senate race Democrat Blagojevich Obama Barack Obama