Time 4 IL Black leaders to Distance themselves from Blag.

For weeks I considered Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (Blag) to be a fool, last weekend I thought Roland Burris was an old fool for willing to be used by Blag.(What, Alan Keyes was too busy?). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the reasons Blag is fronting this guy. Its got nothing to do with how qualified he is to hold the post, it's got everything to do with distraction and fear. People from the IL probably haven't seen this kind of arrogance since Al Capone. Like the depression era gangster, Blag is not really in fear of being exposed. He is quite open about his corruption.

Blagojevich looks like a Russian Mafioso, only with the brain of a political Plaxico Burris, and he's using another Burris as a weapon of political distraction. The bothersome part is, Burris doesn't seem to mind this, in fact he's all for it. Highly unlikely behavior for someone considered a "black political trailblazer" by Associated Press. Doesn't Burris recognize "guilt by association?"

Since Barack Obama's presidential campaign began, guilt by association was imminent; Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers and Louis Farrakahn all became Chicago area personalities tirelessly linked to-and most having little to do with-the President-elect. Most of this was the work of a manipulative national television and radio media. In early December Blagojevich became the latest Chi-town figure being framed as a close friend to Obama due in no small part to his being involved in a scandal. Just how dangerous is Blagojevich? My take is, if this issue came out during election time it could have cost Obama the Oval Office. As it stands now Blag's 12/9 arrest on federal charges in relation to trying to sell Obama's old Senate seat derailed the prospects of another prominent IL African American; Jesse Jackson Jr., who at the time seemed like a shoe-in.

What the 71-year-old former IL Attorney General was hoping for was that his political colleagues forget about Blag and think about black when they see him. This is the closest he's ever been to victory and he'll take it even if it was George Wallace who did the choosing. He is right now (as of this writing) in DC already protesting his US Senate rejection just a couple of days after proclaiming himself the appointed US Senator of IL. Me I'm disturbed at Blag's low regard for blacks; he's either outright trying to bring some key black leaders down or when his back's against the wall he will use one to take attention away from his own issues. I suppose Blag would look too conspicuous threatening other Senators to confirm Burris as Capone did to voters in the 1924 Cicero Town Council elections. Like Wallace, Blag doesn't mind being on the right or wrong side of history when it suits his purposes.

In a driving DC rain Burris disclosed to AP he was told his "credentials were not in order and will not be accepted." Feel free to translate: the Governor who appointed you is not in order. Burris told the media he wasn't seeking any type of confrontation. Were that really the case, then wouldn't he have distanced himself from Blagojevich as opposed to de facto trying to brainwash the Senate and public to distance their sentiments of the troubled Governor from his own desire to be confirmed? The going argument from Burris and Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) is, with Obama's departure, there are no more black US Senators. There is some possibility of a senatorial double-standard since the recent announcement by Blag of an election for Rahm Emanuel's (D-IL) successor to his vacated seat is receiving virtually no such opposition (Emanuel of course was selected to be Obama's Chief of Staff). It's not that his being sworn-in is impossible, his persistent protests is creating cracks. In all honesty I have nothing personally against Burris (as I do against Blagojevich) and yes we do need blacks in statewide positions such as US Senator and Governor, I just don't want them appointed under suspicious circumstances.

Burris may sue, but sir if you are reading this, save your money and be more determined to win a seat on your own merit instead of allowing yourself to be used as a pawn at the behest of a tarnished figure.

Chris Stevenson is a columnist for the Buffalo Challenger, contact him at pointblankdta@yahoo.com