Burris Ethics: Tough Language, No Penalty

[soylentgreen]

You should have known that you were providing incorrect, inconsistent, misleading, or incomplete information to the public, the Senate, and those conducting legitimate inquiries into your appointment to the Senate. The Committee also found that your November 13, 2008 phone call with Robert Blagojevich [brother of the then-governor] was inappropriate. Although some of these events happened before you were sworn in as a U.S. Senator, they were inextricably linked to your appointment and therefore fall within the jurisdiction of this Committee.

In other words, we need your vote more than we need ethical behavior.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicalju..._would_ha.html

[BooRadley]

It looks like he used vague enough language to get away with it. "I will personally do something" clearly means he's offering to buy the seat, but not clearly enough to convict. Politicians never want to use direct language for a reason.

One thing I thought was funny: "Blagojevich says he appointed Burris because he believed Burris's ego made him the only person who would fight to be seated."

His alibi is that he's a huge asshole. That's his out.

[soylentgreen]

Originally Posted by BooRadley

One thing I thought was funny: "Blagojevich says he appointed Burris because he believed Burris's ego made him the only person who would fight to be seated."

You'd have to be a massive egomaniac to accept an appointment from Blago during that shit storm. Just the sort of person we should be sending to do the people's business in Washington.

I'm more concerned about how Blago and Burris have now dragged the entire Senate into the mud. They're all unethical. Burris should be expelled. But, as I said, they need his vote, so they don't care about ethics.