What will become of Roland Burris?

by Carol Henrichs

Calls for Roland Burris to step down have come from both political parties.

But that is where the bipartisanship begins and ends. It is precisely partisanship that has propelled Burris into the senate chamber.

In their quest to control the senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama, Democrats have bungled the appointment process, thanks in large part to the political "gotcha" by Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Party leaders Sens. Dick Durbin and Harry Reid declared that Senate Democrats would not seat a Blagojevich appointment, but reneged. Apparently appointing Burris was a better alternative to allowing a special election that could result in a Republican victory.

But that may be the result anyway. Republicans, who were also against a Blagojevich appointment, may laugh all the way to the ballot box in 2010.

But no matter who would like to see Burris go away, it doesn't seem likely. If he was the kind of guy who walked away when the odds were against him, he would not be warming a chair in the United States Senate right now. Since even before his swearing-in, Burris acted the part, calling himself the Junior Senator from Illinois, almost as if to wish it so. He continues to act the part, attending hearings and traveling to and from Washington, D.C.

That kind of tenacity might be an admirable trait in some cases, though not necessarily in this one.

Burris has been accused of telling several different versions of the circumstances leading to his appointment. Last count, there were five different versions of Burris' story. Three were under oath.

It evolved from not talking to anyone from the Blagojevich camp, to talking to more than one Blagojevich associate, to Burris' involvement in some fundraising efforts on Blagojevich's behalf, albeit unsuccessful ones.

These innacuracies have resulted in several probes, including the ongoing federal investigation of Blagojevich. Burris is also involved in allegations of perjury by the Sangamon County state's attorney's office relative to his testimony before the Illinois House Impeachment Panel, and he is being questioned by the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee.

When asked about what he said when, in reference to speaking with Blagojevich representatives, Burris continually told reporters that he had not given one dime to Blagojevich. Trouble is, that wasn't the question. He no longer speaks to reporters and has blamed them for the changes in his story.

Burris served as Illinois Comptroller from 1979 to 1991. He then sought the office of Attorney General where he served one term, though not without controversy. Since that time he ran for governor twice and for mayor of the City of Chicago once, all unsuccessfully.

Burris' political record indicates that it is not likely that he will go away easily – or even at all, despite calls for his resignation by a growing number of officials, newspaper editors, some of his colleagues, and others.

The Junior Senator from Illinois will likely complete his term – to 2010 — because politicians never lose.

Even when rejected by voters, candidates resurface in either another election for the same or another office, or their friends appoint them to another position or job. Often times, they attain a job that pays far more than the one they initially sought.

So, the only ones who lose in the current political system is the taxpaying public who always foots the bill.