If you missed the Blagojevich press conference, please look it up on one of the network news sites... as soon as local Chicago media gets it up, I'll embed here.
Burris' statement:
Our crooked, embattled Governor Rod Blagojevich has named Roland Burris, a former rival for the governor's office, former state's Attorney General, and former Comptroller, as Senator Barack Obama's replacement in the Senate.
During a heated press conference in which the Governor responded to questions from the press for the very first time, Democratic Illinois congressman Bobby Rush took the podium in support of the appointment.
Blagojevich Fields Questions:
Rush went to great lengths to point out that Barack Obama was the only African American in the Senate, and that prevented Burris from having the seat would be, in a sense, standing in the way of that.
He even went so far as to warn people not to "lynch" the appointee or the appointer.
Now, let me be clear. I think it's ridiculous that our Senate is such an inexcusably poor representation of our culturally diverse nation. And while we're on the subject, some more women wouldn't hurt. But for Rush to lobby the public to support Burris BECAUSE of his race and not his qualifications is wrong.
The people of Illinois, Burris himself, and this Senate seat have become pawns in a game played between feuding factions in the Illinois Democratic party, and now race is being used to wedge an even larger divide.
A special election would've been costly and yes, would've run the risk of losing a Democratic seat to a Republican. But at less the seat wouldn't be as tainted as this appointment.
I'm disappointed in my state government. Get it together.