Blogojevich Plays The Race Card

I knew there was a reason Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was meeting with all those black ministers the other day. He’s obviously trying to curry favor with blacks, figuring he’ll soon be facing a jury comprised of them, and they’ll be deciding his fate when it comes to the massive corruption charges he’s facing. Hey, it worked for Richard Scrushy of HealthSouth infamy. More here.

Blagojevich may be stupid and corrupt, but he’s not a complete idiot. And now he’s raising the stakes even further. He just named former IL Attorney General Roland Burris to take Obama’s seat in the US Senate. Burris is black, of course. He accepted in a heartbeat. And then at the press conference another black Congressman chimed in that if people try to block Burris from the Senate, they’re racists. He warned people not to “hang or lynch” Burris.

In one of the most surreal press conferences of a year festooned with them, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) more or less dared any Democrat to oppose Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris to replace Barack Obama in the Senate.

A passionate Rush, appearing besides the former Illinois AG and the indicted governor, said he challenged any pol to try to block Burris, who would become the only “black senator.”

Rush — who defeated Obama in a 1990s congressional race — went on to implore reporters gathered in Chicago not to “hang or lynch” Burris, despite the bizarre circumstances of his appointment.

“This is a good decision,” Rush told reporters. “Roland Burris is worthy. He has not, in 20 years of public service, had one iota of taint on his record as a public servant. He is an esteemed member of this state and this community.”

“I would ask you not to hang or lynch the appointee as you try to casitgate the appointor,” Rush added. “Separate, if you will, the appointee from the appointor. Roland Burris is worthy.”

And now it turns out that Burris wasn’t Blagojevich’s first choice. Before calling Burris, he offered the Senate appointment to another black politician, Rep. Danny Davis, who had the good sense to turn it down.

Well, if Burris does somehow wind up getting “hung” or “lynched” over this, at least he’ll be ready. He’s already got his “headstone” prepared. Check out the monstrosity this egotist had designed for himself.

If you can’t read it, on the right side it lists his Major Accomplishments, and on the left side his Other Major Accomplishments, with plenty of room to add more. The center part calls him a Trail Blazer, and lists several other things. You can click here for a close up of the inscriptions.