Burris in Iraq, still an embarrassment

Sen. Roland Burris (D-Blagojevich) traveled to Iraq, where he refused to answer questions about the admonishment he received from the Senate Ethics Committee.

Chicago Breaking News has more:

When a reporter told Burris some were questioning the expense of his Iraq trip, Burris said they were entitled to their opinion. Asked how much the trip cost, he replied: "I have no idea."

Burris said he is traveling with Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, both Oregon Democrats. Burris' office on Sunday issued a press release indicating two other Democratic senators, Tom Udall of New Mexico and Michael Bennet of Colorado, would be along. Burris aides said Monday that Udall and Bennet were "late cancellations."

Burris at one point during the call said he had landed in Beirut, not Baghdad. He said he was "a thousand miles away," vastly underestimating the distance between the United States and Iraq. And he mispronounced the name of U.S. Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of the Multi-National Force-Iraq.

Technorati tags: Chicago Blagojevich Illinois Politics corruption Illinois Democrats senate Roland Burris Jeff Merkley Ron Wyden Oregon news Iraq military