Washington (CNN) –The Senate Ethics Committee issued a letter Friday admonishing embattled Illinois Sen. Roland Burris "for actions and statements reflecting unfavorably upon the Senate" in connection with his controversial appointment by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
"While the committee did not find that the evidence before it supported
any actionable violations of law, senators must meet a much higher standard of conduct," the letter stated.
Burris, currently the only African-American U.S. senator, is serving the remaining two years of President Barack Obama's Senate term, but he has never been embraced by his party's leaders in Illinois or Capitol Hill.
He was appointed to the seat last December by Blagojevich, who was later impeached, removed from office and arrested on federal corruption charges alleging that he tried to sell Obama's seat to the highest bidder.
Democratic leaders urged Blagojevich, who has maintained his innocence, not to make an appointment. He disregarded those wishes by naming Burris, a former state attorney general and state comptroller, to the seat.
Burris, for his part, was suspected of perjury in connection with his testimony on Blagojevich's alleged "pay for play" scheme to fill the Senate seat. But in June, the state's attorney in Sangamon County, Illinois, said he would not charge Burris.
The state's attorney, John Schmidt, said Burris gave incomplete but truthful answers to questions about his conversations with Blagojevich's representatives.
In July, Burris said he would not run for a full six-year term in 2010.
(Updated 12pm)
From CNN Politics
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I'm getting worried about you CNN, is everything alright? It's nearly noon (EST) and there hasn't been a single Palin story yet today.
Pot, meet kettle...!
Senate Ethics Committee. Talk about an oxymoron.
Of course the crooked DUMocRATS cleared him.
"Senate Ethics Comittee"
isn't that an ironic title
Let the republican bashing begin. Poor Roland. He won't get re-elected if he wanted to.
First the Democratic dominated panel clears Domocratic Senator Dodd, and now Democratic Senator Burris. Change we can believe in.
But, of course, Democrats are always innocent.
Just ask them...
How's that hopey-changey thing workin' out for all you maggots?
That's crap! He intentionally left information out in his hearings about discussions he previously had with the former Governors assocites. He should be censured. They just did not want this to be another distraction with all that's going on. FYI, I am a loyal staunch Democrat. The kind that, if a close family member of mine came to me a said that they were running for office on the (R) ticket, I would immediately release any trash on them that I had.
Yeah, and he will keep denying any wrong doing and running for office like all the other Democrats. And they have the gall to keep on lying to their supporters and their supporters have the stupidity to keep on voting for them.
Theres a big SURPRISE!
Of course. A Dumb-o-CRAP found a crook innocent. Gotta love the congressional crooks!
Imagine that....a bunch of crooks letting another crook slip by. We need to clean all these people out of congress. I am tired of the do as we say not as we do.....not paying taxes, getting favorable loans, running our country into debt and telling us what is good for us. Last time I checked they work for us.
Big shock there.. typical Chicago politics.
gee... thats a news i was sure they would nail him,,,, not,,,,fox guarding the hen house,,,,,ugh....
How can congressmen admonish another for failing to meet a much higher standard when each of them stoop to taking money from the treasury to fund a lavish retirement plan for themselves.
Give us a break. Repeal any retirement plan for congress. They all earn much more for speaking engagments, lobbying, etc. just for their congressional experience. Not having a lavish retirement plan might encourage them to not make being a congressmen a lifetime endeavor. Do your duty then get a normal job. Our congress seem to me to have this high level of 'entitlement' while telling the american citizen to make do with what they have. Cut backs should begin at the top, one laid off high administrator creates money for 5 average employees.
Legal and Ethics have different connotations.
It is clear the Senate committee is made up of those who stay in the legal limits while mauling ethics. Business as usual in Washington.
BUT, sometimes they stray outside the legal limits, in which case they get to go to their rooms and miss dinner that night, nothing more serious. What a joke our "leaders" are.
Its the same old-boy system at it finest...once you are cleared of
wrong-doing...sure we will put it in writing and smile and kee-kee with
you doing conversations at lunch and social gatherings. However we
will not forget your conduct and we will always remember it especially
after a few drinks at the watering holes around town...It seems to me
a hard pill to swallow working around those who have accused me
consistently in the past only to turn face and admonish me so that the
public can at least stop growling about it...If the man did no wrong-doing it not only should be admonished but also forgotten completely and buried along with the hatchet of ill will.
He Lied, He Cheated, and He was appointed by a crooked Govenor . But, he is still allowed to be a senator. Come to think of it 2 out of the 3 are requirements for the senate!
I have a novel idea, let's award Burris the Nobel Prize! He's outstanding Senator who wears nice ties and smiles too.
What a joke.
Sure they cleared him. They are all unethical themselves and don't want to blacken their own eyes.
This is a Classic example of why this country is headed towards a- third world- country status!
Wonder how much manipulation and legal wrangling this decision cost? Just obfuscate, manipulate, and pay your way through legal processes–the revolving doors of Just-Us, er justice. One door opens to the great freedom of wealth ass the other slams shut on the poor and un-lawyered up! So many ethical issues surface to just get swept back under the rug as the tickers keep ticking and switching from topic to topic. It's enough to make a multi-tasker loose track! Integrity is a terrible thing to not find in one's ruling classes-from corporate bottom lines to complicit governments. Peace
When you can't get take a man wdown with the truth and the facts .... rumor and innuedo to attack his character and integrity are the next best thing .... this from the Devil's handbook.
Whether you like or dislike Mr. Burris, you'll have to agree with that.
Overall, we'd be a much better country if we'd stop working so hard to manufacture dirt on people.
This guy should have NEVER been given the title of U.S. Senator. The people of this State would have NEVER voted him into that office. We'll can't wait for 2010 so we can vote a real Senator into office and send Burris packing.
It is sad when you have those with questionable association ruling on ethical issues. This is a sad day for America.. Jail time.. is needed here..
Surprise ...surprise...surpise.....Murtha, Dodd, Schumer, Waters, Franks are just as unethical and crooks....Nancy ain't going to touch her boys and girls.....Not going to happen....so you do it voters.
Burris is to the Democrats what Palin is to the Republicans.
I know the ideal is that anyone can get into politics, but does it really have to be ANYone?
This is the man that Obama and the rest of the Democrats welcomed into the sentate in order to get his vote. How about they be held to the same high standards?
What am I saying, never mind. That doesn't make any sense. A bout of reason hit me. Sorry.
It has not happened, getting 60 votes, why would they get their stuff together now? Maybe somthing good would happen for once.
Now Burris can run for re-election. All of those ethics issues were just a big misunderstanding. By the time of the election in 2010 this will be old news.
This is just another sad example of the real problem in this country. The biggest problem is not health care reform but getting honorable people in Washington. It is just hard to understand why politics is so corrupting and that those that should be serving us are more interested in power, getting reelected, greed, and ideology than they are in doing what is right for our children and grandchildren.
By the way, he lied about his contacts with the Blago camp under oath. But we don't need to hold our politicians to a standard that requires them to be truthful.
Illinois, the only state giving Louisiana a run for its money for being the king of political corruption.
This wheeler-dealer deserved to be admonished for his less than honorable actions. He seriously flirted with perjury in his answers to questions about his relationship and actions with the Blagojevich administration.
The only Good news here is that Burris has already announced he won't run again! Sounds like a backroom compromise to me.
Why are you Republicans complaining? This keeps one Senate seat weak, embattled, and up for change come the next election...isn't that what you WANT?
Finally, Give Me a Break.....Palin went thru EIGHT ethics investigations...where are your complaints abour Her going free?? Obvious wrongdoing there also. Let's call it the same for both teams.
They can't stop the OBAMA appointments. He is getting his men in place. BEWARE of the Islamic movement.
Roland Burris should have not taken the position in the first place cause only a disaster could happen when dealing with Blagojevich. BUT, capitol hill and others are acting as if they are shocked. This goes on all day, everyday in politics and I say don't just admonish one, admonish all who are found to be in unethical. That is one thing that disturbs me about America, we have such a double standard about everything!
Congress won't throw the questionable out because they know they might be in the hot seat as soon as they are caught.
Another whitewash; do they punish one their own?
More Dem cover-up...why no mention about Jesse Jackson's latest ugly remarks at the CBC and his admonishing a member for not walking the line with other blacks?...this man is a disgrace...the last thing he wants is equality or social justice...a tired parasite to the people who believed his self-serving tirades.
"Let the republican bashing begin. Poor Roland. He won't get re-elected if he wanted to."
Last time I checked, you had to get ELECTED before you get re-elected.
The Senate has standards??? Now THAT is news!
Actually, if they did have standards, Harry Reid, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank would have been thrown out years ago.
When Senator Obama was elected to be President there should have been an eleection to replace him. The people of the state should have choosen. Not a corrupt system installing a corrupt unethical poliltician to fill the open senate seat. Corruption breads corruption.
What did anyone expect? We can only hope for a true revolution during the next elections. Every incumbant – OUT! Send the message America, if you truly don't like the current business as usual, get off your collective butts, tell your representatives that they're out. Not out if they don't change. That's been said. Tell them OUT no matter what and not to waste any campaign money. We need a national "RECALL-THEM-ALL" web site similar to the one for CA. Burris, Murtha, Frist, Santorum and many more need to be gone.
Man, if this scoundrel were GOP, he'd be all over the news as a poster-child for political corruption.
pass this health care and talk...
"...senators must meet a much higher standard of conduct" What a joke. Congress members, both Democrat and Republican, are constantly getting arrested or charged with crimes or shady morals. Their standard of conduct seems to be much lower than the average person on the street. I really wish we would limit everyone to two terms or 6 years so these people couldn't get so entrenched they feel like they can take all the money people throw at them.
We have here the typical vile GOPers comments. The name calling, the branding of Liberals as ........ socialists!
People need to look up the meaning of socialism and communism!
Believe me (I lived in a communist country) IF President Obama was a socialist or a communist. you, GOPers, would not be allowed to rant about him everyday! You couldn't own your own homes, businesses would have been confiscated; Freedoms of Speech, etc., would have ended already!
GOPers have to be careful, because YOU TOO have a LONG LIST OF CROOKS! People who live in glass houses, should not throw stones!
Its same old story over and over .burris is just nat ,compared to the ones who did the investigation and all them are worse than Burris to begin with
unless the Free Americans change the rules of the game tiutled Washington fill the Pocket
,but don't get caught deal .Happy Days to burris
gotta love all the name callers condeming democrats. Don't you guys have recess or lunch to go to. Let's not forget GOP scandal and skeletons in the closets. Heck the last administration should be charged with war crimes and fraud but I don't see any of you actively persuing that. Go figure. For one to find an honest politician is like finding the pot at the end of the rainbow. It will never happen. If you're blind enough to think that there is an honest politician I'd like to sell you some dehydrated water.
The reason that this guy fought so hard to get this seat, even temporarily, is that once seated, even for a partial term, he is locked for a lifetime of FULL PENSION at, what? $130K? PLUS, lifetime coverage of the MEDICAL PLAN that these crooks voted for themselves!!! Not the scruffy medical plan that the BEST of us have even. Gold Plated Medical Coverage!
What does ADMONISHES mean?...oh, i see, it´s under the picture!!...Americans always going from available English to Slang and vice versa.
Burris gets a slap on the wrist for lying to Congress? No wonder there is so much lying rampant in Congress.
These Democrats up there slither with the best of them.
"Senators must meet a much higher standard of conduct".
1. Since when?
2. Who in the Senate wrote that "higher standard of conduct"?
3. Most career politicians are out for themselves..money and power! They need to be tossed out as they seemed to have forgotten who they work for and it is NOT a party, NOT the unions, NOT undercover billionaires! They work for us!
Dutch/Bad Newz, said "Let the republican bashing begin. Poor Roland. He won't get re-elected if he wanted to."
Umm, Burris is a DEMOCRAT.
The fact that democrat bloggers are bashing him is because of the corruption. Remember, republicans were not kind to governor Sanford...
I never seen a man from Africa look like Senator Burris ! it must be politic! maybe a dark skin Cau....
"Pay to Play" is actually a prerequisite for democrats now days.
All the Democrats need is someone to not think and vote yes when told to do so. Durbin and Burris are perfect.
"Let the republican bashing begin"? Begin? You mean the bashing of repubicans haven't started? Really?
Oooooh, admonished! That'll show 'em. Bet he's quaking in his boots.
I'm a Democrat. I voted for Obama. Burris is a jerk and a sleazeball. They should kick him out now.
Interesting how the Democrats get their 60 vote majority... First they accept this fraud of an appointment instead of having a special election and then the Democrats in Mass. change the laws so the Democrat governor can appoint somebody when they voted to REMOVE that ability from the Republican governeor just a few years ago.
The Democrats have shown there is no law they will break or manipulate to get what they want. Tax cheats in the Whitehouse on top of it. Truly the part of corruption.
I don't think Mr. Burris will be having this accomplishment carved onto the front of his mausoleum.
This man was appointed by a sitting governor. Why are they attacking him? The governor was charged with corruption, not the senator.
Let's see, he was admonished by Dodd, Reid, Kerry, Schumer, Boxer, Feinstein and Durbin.
I'm surprised they found anything unethical about Burris.
Senate Ethics Committee these words tell it all there is something
wrong there those words can't go together and what it really means
we take care of our own plain and simple.
At least the insurance companies did not place him there. Good luck senator
In otherwords, they caught him with his hands in the cookie jar, but they're giving him a pass because he's one of them. Typical Beltway behavior.
We have here the typical vile GOPers comments. The name calling, the branding of Liberals as ........ socialists!
gotta love all the name callers condeming democrats
----------------------------
I can admit that both parties do the same name calling. Can you?
Please stop playing the victim!
The mans a political crook just like all his other Chicago buddies in the presidents administration.
The chick-uhhhhhhnnnnssssss are coming home to roost for all the Illinois/Chicago knuckleheads in power in Washington. This guy, Axelrod, Emanuel, and of course – Lord Obama.
Democrats – enjoy your butt-kicking in 2010. It's a gonna be a big one!
He is more crooked and has fewer ethics than Blagojevich. To think he was admonished by an ethics committee. They have alot to be proud of themselves. Somehow the libs who generally flood this and write remarks will blame it on Republicans like they always do. I wish they'd get a job. I'm sick of supporting them.
"...senators must meet a much higher standard of conduct," what perpendicular universe do they live in?
Have any of you folks saying "dems are this" or "republicans are that" noticed that both parties are two sides of the same coin? Not many in washington really do anything for you and I. We sit and argue about which party is the scum but they've both forgotten who they're there for...US! Nothing that benefits you or I will ever get done by our government if it means that the career people in our government lose out on something. Period! You can waste your time with the dem/repub all you want but neither party is going to do anything for you before they do wonders for themselves.
Yea we all love him here in Illinois. Set to the seat by a crook named Blago and told it would cost 10G's But i guess the article is correct, they are holding him up to the Senates unbelievabley high standards of conduct. Moronic
Lie to Congress – Lie Under Oath (Bill Clinton) that's what Democrats do and nothing happens but a slap on the hand.
How pathetic.
I was hoping this was about Plaxico
All dems are crooks and all republicans are totally honest and ethical.
This article is just an excuse for Republicans, who lost the public trust to claim they are the good guys when they are out of power. they certainly weren't any good when they were in. By the way the mess we are in that president Obama is dealing with was cause by the previous administration that swept most of their ethical problems under the rug. It works the same no matter what party does it.
Just another stooge of Illinois politics. Burris should not have gone forward on the senate job with the stain of Blagoyevich all over it.
We citizens of Illinois deserve better, but many of our politicians are a bunch of corrupt, unethical, arrogant, and pompous asses.
i supports the dems against the crazy gop but truly burris is a mess. he looks just as confused as palin. both could be statutes for deer in headlights. the true shame is he gets a lifetime pension for being an ignorant fool
He deserved it. An opportunist if ever there was one.
Once again, CNN fails to identify the malfactor as a Democrat. The article only refers to "Democratic leaders," from which one is left to infer that Burris, too, is a Democrat.
There is nothing ethical about the Obama administration. Burris has no business fulfilling the remainder of Obama's seat. Then again, one must remember we are dealing with DemoCraps!
Major Dope.
As a Democrat I agree that he should have been admonsihed. He was misleading, although he did not flat out lie. So this was apropriate. He announced a while ago that he would not run for a full term. So there you have it. It isn't like he was trying to fondle boy pages.....
"Burris is to the Democrats what Palin is to the Republicans."
really, how long did it take to get a Palin comment in there. that is hilarious...
I don't care what the ethics committee says, he donated to Blago and therefore played some part in Blago's "Senate seat for sale" fiasco. He'll lose in the next primary anyway
I still wonder what self respecting person would even want to touch that vacant seat if Blagovich was the going to fill it? It's was tainted and any one who involved themselves in it became tainted too. Burris reminds me of the guy who just wanted to cap his career with that title and ensure it was written on his self grandizing mausoleum. ......and let others choose the writings on your tombstone, its poor taste and extremely narcissistic to do that yourself before you die.
What a surprise. Obummie and Chicago politics.
Wow.....this is news but NOT HEADLINE stuff......
I'm glad for Senator Burris.....
Now let's move on with more business at hand...HEALTHCARE....
Wow, people should really do their homework before posting and name calling. First off, let me say that I wish Burris was never appointed. Blagojevich caused a huge headache by appointing someone, and Burris should have never been allowed to sit. However, I am thrilled that he is not going to run again, so he will be out of the spotlight after next year. But for those who say the Democrats got him out of this, let me remind you (or in all likelyhood tell you for the first time), that the Senate Ethics Committee has three Democrats, and three Republicans. The fact that Burris got away is just as much the blame of the Republicans as it is the Democrats. So stop being immature and agree that it's not all the Democrats fault this time. I know, it's hard, what being a partisan hack and all, but come on now. Grow up and read a civics book before you try an intellegent political discussion.
Republicans, please, get a L-I-F-E !!!!!!!!!!
They let him go because they need his vote on this POS healthcare bill.
The fraud was not in the appointment process itself, it was that Blagojevich was corrupt and Burris was susceptible to corruption and he is a liar. The notion that the special election is necessarily better is ridiculous. Many states have provisions for senatorial openings to be filled by gubernatorial appointments. I don't hear the GOP calling for sweeping national change. You can bet if the governor had been a Republican, they would have been just fine with the appointment process.
OH boy! Looks like my mom hasn't taken her medicine again! Luckily Roland Burris isn't running for re-election. It's clear the guy is corrupt and they are just playing Chicago style politics.
The only reason Burris was seated was because Congressman Bobby Rush publicly played the race card. Rush backed the Senate into a corner by observing they were going to block what would be the only African American in the Senate. Burris hurt his legacy by taking this appointment. He should have excused his appointment and let the new Governor of Illionis, Pat Quinn, appoint the replacement. Instead Burris let an alleged ciminal, Blagodvocich, appoint thereby tarnishing him as a Senator.
Blago appointed Burris as a final middle finger salute just before Blago was indicted and kicked-out of office. I have to think that most of the gentle-handling here is because Burris isn't running for re-election. He's a joke here in Illinois. We're counting the days until he's gone.
"senators must meet a much higher standard of conduct"
Just who do they think they are fooling?
Senators/congressional members have completely done away with anything remotely near "higher standards of conduct"?
Any and all of our elected officials are nothing more than a bunch of self serving criminals.
Criminal pieces of @&^$!
Of course, why proceed any further to investigate this. After all, it will only lead back to Rahm Emanuel and they can't let that happen.
for the haters here...the ethics committee is made up of Repubs/Dems evenly divided...thus the Repubs were also involved in the investigation as well as the decision. Know your facts before expounding your hate for a change!
The only way this decision by the Senate Ethics Committee would be ok with Republican'ts is if Burris WAS a Republican't! Then they'd be just fine with it. In fact, they'd be yelling about the "conspiracy" of the Democrats in even investigating him if he was a Republican't. But since Burris is a Democrat and there's a majority of Democrats in the Senate, then of course according to the right-wing-nut-jobs, THAT'S the conspiracy now! You people make me tired with all your crap.
Burris is a sleaze. Don't forget folks, he gets TWO pensions – yes, two – that he will collect on and that we will pay for. One comes from Illinois and the other from the government.
Bad Bad Burris you payetd to play. Next time like the rest of us. "Dont get caught"
whew!!! that is a relife. we need all the liers and theifs we can get into office right now if we want to continue to dismantle america. just like the banks we have to keep these people in order to really screw things up.....if they dont work for the government where would they be? probably lobbiest and that would do us no good.
besides i see no reason to get rid of him simply based on a trust issue. he lies steals works out payola sceams and then continues to lie.. gotta love it on in american politics is this acceptable... but who knows what he promissed to tell if they did not leave him alone????
And they ask if the Army could have done more? Why don't you start looking at yourselves first. You lie, cheat, steal and embezzel. How dare you quesiton the military when you people can't do anything right with yourselves!!!
another whitewash by ther democrats
Lacrosse Mom States
"GOPers have to be careful, because YOU TOO have a LONG LIST OF CROOKS! People who live in glass houses, should not throw stones!"
So, the Dems answer is that Republicans have had crooks, so it's OK....
Change you can count on, huh?
LacrosseMom November 20th, 2009 12:29 pm ET
@Believe me (I lived in a communist country) IF President Obama was a socialist or a communist. you, GOPers, would not be allowed to rant about him everyday! You couldn't own your own homes, businesses would have been confiscated; Freedoms of Speech, etc., would have ended already!
======================================================
President Obama is working on it. Fairness Doctrine anyone? Or how about make the citizens SO dependent on a government that you own them?
LacrosseMom,
Are you even a US citizen? If no, then that explains it!
No one here in Illinois expected Burris to get pinched for this. In the Illinois Democrat Party what Bago and Burris did is buisness as usual. This is where our illustrious president got his training on how to fool most of the people most of the time. Just wait, you'll eventually find out what kind of a corrupt self serving moron Obama is.
James November 20th, 2009 12:28 pm ET
"...senators must meet a much higher standard of conduct"
Not to speak ill of the dead, but higher standard of conduct such as Ted Kennedy?
He killed a woman, did not report it for 12 hours, and still got re-elected over and over again.
Good thing he's a Democrat. Otherwise, he would be unemployed by this afternoon. He might even be in prison by now.
Wow, that harsh language will teach him.
Hurry and get that lyin' son of a you know what out of there. I paid five million dollars so my precious son could have that senate seat.
Get him out of there so my boy can get in there. I bought it fair and square. Jesse Jackson, Junior is the rightful heir of that seat.
A crook being admonished by crooks. This is outrageous and I have little hope for America if the people put up with this garbage any longer. We need to clean house people!!!
Burris knows as much as you do “Betty” about President Obama Birth Certificate. President Obama is a US Citizen. You and the rest of your people who can not stand the thought of a black person being in a position to tell you something is beyond your comprehension. I feel sorry for you. You will have to get over it for the time being. January 2010, you may not be here, even if it come out. God is still in control not you, Thank God.
Republicans are afraid of Burris... Burris for president in 2016!!!
"Let's see, he was admonished by Dodd, Reid, Kerry, Schumer, Boxer, Feinstein and Durbin."
This is largely incorrect. You're a tremendous source of misinformation and disinformation.
The ethics committee is required by law to be equally divided amongst democrats and republicans.
The committee who admonished Burris was made up of 3 democrats and 3 republicans. Boxer, Prior, Brown for the democrats, and Isakson, Roberts, Risch for the republicans.
Oh they are all a bunch of corupt crooks, None not one have our
best interest at heart, I can assure you of that.
Why bother.......it's just a slap on the wrist.
Insiders protecting their own. The vote was probably unanimous.
Throw the bum out!
I'm not sure what's the bigger cesspool. What goes on in congress or what goes on in these forums. I'm pretty sure those guys in congress have a tad bit more ehtical scrutiny than you holier than thous tossing stones being anonymous handles on the internet.
So for those of you without sin...please step up to the front of the line....or at least offer up some proof. Yes, the factual kind, not the Palin kind if you're so sure on your convictions.
Anyone? Anyone? I thought not.
Burris/Palin 2016.........lmao
Of course that's all the comittee did was admonish him. Even if the evidence overwhelmingly showed otherwise, which it does, the comittee would only admonish him. Isn't it obvious the democrats need his vote?
Does anyone actually believe they would admit his seating was unjust and illegal by kicking him out? Of course not...this is politics and the dems need his vote so they can push through they're "bad for country" agenda.
I have no idea whether Burris is qualified or not for a seat in the Senate (and I suspect very few people making statements here do), but there are SO MANY Repub Senators that fall short of the mark on truth these days that Burris cannot be much worse.
Illinois has always had agreat contrast in its politics. The Stevensons, and Paul Simon and Obama on one hand, and the string of governors/future inmates on the other. Burris falls somewhere in between. He was out of his league when Blago's people contacted him, and he probably shouldn't have taken the call.
burris' photo should be a caption contest because that smile tells me; "you dirty rotten white scoundrels – i won! now give me the benefits i don't deserve." clearly he's counting his pension benefits in his head.
held to a higher standard? let me get this straight... when i lie during an investigation i go to jail. when senators like burris omit truths they get a slap on the wrist and an overinflated salary and pension benefits? i now have a better caption for burris' photo – all you suckers should have jumped on this fraud train!
Prosecutor: "Did you shoot 3 people in cold blood, as the videotape shows?"
Defendant: "I ate 3 slices of watermelon for dinner!"
A "truthful, but incomplete answer". Who's mother s have taught them that witholding the truth was not a lie?
it seems to me if you are black and a member of congress. "you will be geared for failure" set up for the okey doke..... while the fbi let folks like palin skate and paul bremmer and the vanishing 9 billion dollars go up in smoke w/o a word. and EVERYONE is mumb about.
Just because Blago was wago doesn't mean much. Burris is voting the way he should for IL. He keeps this up he actually could have a chance to keep his seat against Mark "the wannabe" Kirk . Actual a cow pie would keep his seat against Mark "flipper" Kirk.
if you are black and in congress you will be set-up. while in office its called being geared for failure.....
"It takes a democrat to bring down USA"
Senators must meet a higher standard of conduct! That's laughable.
Many of you evase paying taxes, lie, cheat, push bills into law that hurt the people; you think you are above the law. Give me a break.
Except for LacrosseMom's sort of feeble objection to Democrats being called socialists, the silence of the Democrats here is deafening!!!
Essentially, 20 lashes with a wet noodle.
Oh, that has to sting, ouch (louder, fool), Ouch, Ouch.
Before anybody starts crying the Democrats got off one of their own, do a little research people. The Senate Ethics Committee has 6 members, 3 Democrats and 3 Republicans.
Can't wait to see what happens with Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
what twisted probe cleared this criminal?
Burris belongs in jail in the cell next to Blagojevich.
If you are dark as in black you have no chance in this country...
The reason that this guy fought so hard to get this seat, even temporarily, is that once seated, even for a partial term, he is locked for a lifetime of FULL PENSION at, what? $130K? PLUS, lifetime coverage of the MEDICAL PLAN that these crooks voted for themselves!!! Not the scruffy medical plan that the BEST of us have even. Gold Plated Medical Coverage!
*****************************
Is this true? CNN – could you confirm this information? Talk about outrageous. That is much more of a news story than some silly "admonishment." This guy is a joke and an embarassment to the Democratic party.
Pay to play the obama way ....But it was only Bush who had croines....just look at the diplomates and there campaign givings. not to mention the Czars........
@ SocialismBad
You need to educate yourself before making such stupid comments. So what you're saying is that all of the republican corporations are legitimate and don't have bad ethical practices? Stop kidding yourself.
Also, the law that was voted on DIDN"T GET PASSED because of REPUBLICANs blocking it.
I wish you had passed it, then we who actually live in IL and have to deal with these corrupt morons would have been able to VOTE instead of having BLAGO appoint burris.
Burris was cocky from the very beginning, he said 'it was his RIGHT' to become senator...NO Roland... not your RIGHT...you work for the PEOPLE, and none of us wanted you in there either.
I don't care what party you're affiliated with, everyone in politics is looking out for their own personal gain... survival of the fittest, or most corrupt.
Crooked Chicago politics. From ACORN to Pennsylvania Ave.
Can anyone here specifically name something Senator Burris did? I see a lot of slander and ill words towards him in this discussion, but I've yet to actually see what he specifically did to warrant this investigation or the ill words.
CNN:
cindy November 20th, 2009 12:49 pm ET
This man was appointed by a sitting governor. Why are they attacking him? The governor was charged with corruption, not the senator.
Geez Cindy – get a clue. He was charged with lying about taking bribes from Blogo for the senate seat. Try to keep up ok!
is there even ONE ethical senator in congress?
Oh boo freaking hoo. You guys are a laugh riot. Oh he's a terrible guy. Chicago politics. Crooks. He didn't do anything. EOS.
Burris is just one of the players. The President of the SEIU is the most frequent visitor to the White House, so far. The Chicago Tribune reported early in the Blago scandal that one of the "pay for play" offers on the table was a high paying job for Blago or his wife in a new not-for-profit established and paid for by the SEIU in return for their getting to choose the new Senator. Remember? No problem for President Obama to meet frequently with a Blago co-conspirator?
So he lied a little, the Dems need his vote and that was the deal. You stay and you vote Yea. It is the Chicago way.
Dont think that Odumbo didn't have his dirty little fingers in this.
Burris acted in poor taste. Lots of politicians do, but Burris must have known he'd be under the spotlight. That made his actions worse and showed his true colors; it's okay to be low class as long as you yourself get ahead, that's the American way. In my view, whatever good Burris did during his political career has been destroyed by this single action on his part. I lost all respect for him when he claimed (wih demand) to have become "Senator".
One question: Why did the author leave out Burris's political party affiliation? Seems if he were a Republican, his affiliation would be there.
Is it any wonder the American public hold these people in contempt.
Birds of a feather they are . . . remember start picking them off from the back of the flock.
Bird season is in November 2010.
Big Game hunting is November 2012.
If he was a Republican they would ask for his head.
Is this a great country or what starting to look Third World.
If this gentleman was a republican, liberals would be calling for his head. Liberals are not bi-partisan AT ALL. Liberals do not see both ends of the spectrum. They just shake their heads every time Obama talks. They don't research facts on their own. Bottom like is this man was in a pay for play scheme and should be taken out.
Charles Rangel should be taken out as well but that will never happen because liberals do not treat both sides with the same fairness unfortunately.
Does anyone else notice the irony in the members of the Senate Ethics Committee admonishing Mr. Burris that "Senators must be held to a higher standard"? Like Larry Craig or any of the other lowlifes currently serving or who previously served?
@Mlhll
The person to feel sorry for is you. You really have to stop with the "you just can't stand seeing a black man as president" mantra. It's tired, old and simply not true.
The only people that reference the ethnic heritage of our president is the left. People on the right never even mention this.
"That's the Chicago way."
Of course the dems won't do anything to him–they need that crucial 60th vote!
One thing you cannot denied in politic a liberal can speak on any subject on a momentt notice. Maybe that why conservative say they lied do tho the fact they don^t have time to reserach every word they say..
.....and he took it with a smile.
I think this guy should not get any more tax payer dollars because he got kick out of Public Office.
What does he care? He still gets the pension and "Senator" placed on his tombstone. Congress is so stupid, they should have kicked him to the curb–and I'm African American.
This dope Burris, gives politics a bad name. He played Congress like a fiddle and now they want to admonish him. Boo hoo, he's not hurting one bit.
I hope the citizens of Illinois get rid of him as soon as possilbe. They never voted to have him there in the first place. He's like a spider that climbed from under a rock and ran into the Congress. Yuck.
The United States Senate acts it is working for America Greed because Congress.org will do anything for money. Six lobby men and women to every Congress 's Members.
Burris is a fine example of the Democrat Party! He's a born liar and ethically-challenged. Of course perjury was declared a legal act by Bill Clinton so no harm, no foul.
I"m a Democrat I can't stand Burris. What has he done for Illinois? NOTHING.
He's riding on the coat tails of Barack Obama and not very well, I might add. He's a poor excuse for a Senator and the sooner he's gone, the better.
What BIASED REPORTING from CNN!! Absolutely NO mention that this guy is a DEMOCRAT. Let me repeat that. A DEMOCRAT!! If this were a Republican, that fact would have been all over this article. I'm an independent but this is somewhat beyond the pale. No wonder CNN is getting its clock cleaned by the other cable networks.
Senator Burris did is not worse than the best sitting Senator! Come on guys, lets give him some chance to contribute his ideas to this great nation!
I still remember that idiot CNN guy Roland Martin chanting"Seat Roland Burriss"!
what a joke.......
If he was a conservative he would already be out on the street. My; how demo's cover their own and get by with it. Pathetic
Where are the tapes between Blagojevich and Obama's staff? Why haven't we heard them? This was a corrupt mess from start to finish, but the serious corruption is little Sen Burris its in the White House. We need to hear those tapes? Why are they being hidden?
Why aren't they investigating Bachmann. After all when you incite to riot and incite people to do harm to representatives shouldn't you be investigated. I think so.
"One question: Why did the author leave out Burris's political party affiliation? Seems if he were a Republican, his affiliation would be there."
The answer: the article makes his party affiliation clear, but you have to actually read it. But more to the point, do you Gopers have any idea how whiny you sound? Like the little kid always complaining that his brother got a bigger toy or piece of cake.
A democrat with this past is warned, if he were a republican he would have been booted.....
Democrats= "The party of No control"