5 January 2009
The Senate and the Race Issue
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: What's News .
It bothers me to see the race card played by Roland Burris. There may be a valid point that we should have more blacks, hispanics, etc. in the Senate and House, but for the person in question to play that card is disturbing. Burris should not be seated because of the tainted Illinois governor, Blagojevich, but he wants us to overlook that problem so that we don’t look prejudice. This is emotional blackmail. The article below says that some who are supporting him are not doing so because he is black; that is good. But the fact remains that Burris himself is using race as the main issue.
Also, I do not appreciate Burris claiming that this is ordained from God. That gives religion a nasty taste to many and we can all sense the strain in our country between believers and non-believers right now. I had no opinion on the man before, but after reading this article, I am not supportive of him being seated even if it were done by untainted means. We need people of other races stepping up to the plate who will not use forced acceptance, but instead shows their good character as credentials. I have to admit that Obama did a good job on this issue in his run for the White House.
Burris to go to DC as his fate remains in question
By RUPA SHENOY Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO—Illinois U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris is leaving for Washington on Monday afternoon for a high-stakes showdown on Capitol Hill about whether he’ll succeed President-elect Barack Obama in Congress.Burris, appointed by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was leaving a day after dozens of black leaders and ministers organized by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush gave him a rousing send-of at New Covenant Church on Chicago’s South Side. …
At the church sendoff, Burris took the stage to a crescendo of drums, organ music and applause as hundreds of supporters cheered his appointment.
“We are hoping and praying that they will not be able to deny what the Lord has ordained,” Burris said. “I am not hesitating. I am now the junior Senator from the state of Illinois. Some people may want to question that and that is their prerogative.”
Opponents say Burris’ appointment is tainted because it was made by Blagojevich, who is accused by federal authorities of offering to sell the vacancy to the highest bidder. …
Senate officials have said a Democrat will object to Burris being duly sworn with the rest of his class Tuesday and will propose that his credentials be reviewed for a period of time by the Senate Rules Committee. That would give Burris the status of a senator-elect and buy some time as Democrats hope Blagojevich will be removed from office before the committee completes its investigation.
At New Covenant Church, Rush called the Senate the “last bastion of plantation politics.” The Chicago Democrat said blacks had been “excluded systematically for too long.”
But several people sitting in the pews during the Burris send-off said their support for his appointment has nothing to do with the him being African-American.
“I’m elated, very happy, overjoyed. Burris has served this community for many years,” said 66-year-old D. Shepherd, a retired minister from Chicago. “He’s the best man under the circumstances; it’s not because he’s black.”
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