Subscribe to Moronmeter!Harry Reid Was Right About Burris.
Score one for Harry Reid.
On December 30th, 2008, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) released a statement on then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris to fill President Barack Obama’s empty Senate seat. Senator Reid had this to say, “It is truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety.”
Of course, at the time, Senator Reid was talking about Blago casting the shadow and being the cause of the plague of “questions of impropriety.” Little did he know that not two months later, Senator Burris would be under investigation for having lied in sworn testimony and written affidavits about his contact with former Governor Blagojevich (or Blagojevich’s people).
It turns out that Senator Burris was trying to raise campaign funds for Blago (at the request of Hot Rod’s brother, Rob). Now, Senator Burris maintains that he didn’t do anything wrong, presumably because he didn’t actually raise any funds. According to Senator Burris, though, during his second conversation with Rob Blagojevich he said that he (Burris) and his law partner would “have a thousand dollars for you or something to that effect.” This conversation is taking place after the Presidential election – while Burris is under consideration for then President Elect Obama’s soon to be vacant Senate seat. He then goes on to say that he told Rob Blagojevich in a third call that he would be unable raise any funds, because of the potential conflict of interest.
Senator Burris omitted these conversations when he testified to the Illinois Legislative committee on December 30th, 2008, following his appointment to the Senate by Governor Blagojevich. He also seems to have forgotten them in the written affadavits that he signed on the matter.
Not only is the Illinois Attorney General opening an investigation, the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee is investigating, also. Ouch!
Senator Reid was right about Senator Burris’ appointment, in ways he never imagined. That still doesn’t make up for the fact that that he doesn’t know what the hell a ‘voluntary tax system’ is and that the United States doesn’t have one.
Here is an oldie, but a goodie:
Final Score: Harry Reid – 1, Reality – 153
Links:
George’s Bottom Line: Democratic Source on Burris: ‘He’s In Deep Sh*t’.
Burris unscripted: More details about Blagojevich contacts.
Ben Smith’s Blog: Reid’s statement – Politico.com.
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