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Report: Burris Promised To Write Check To Blago
The Blago-Burris affair has been simmering away quietly in the background for the last few months. And today brought some interesting news, via the Chicago Sun-Times.
Burris' lawyer said that last November -- about a month before Blagojevich picked him to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat -- Burris promised Blago's brother he'd write a check to the then-governor's campaign.
The conversation was picked up on the FBI's wiretap of Blago, and was released as part of the ongoing Senate Ethics committee investigation into the circumstances around Burris' appointment, and Burris' shifting explanations of it.
Burris' lawyer said Burris never followed through on the pledge "because it wouldn't look good."
Burris has said he never promised Blago anything in return for the Senate seat. And the recorded conversation does not appear to show Burris making his promise of a check conditional on any favor from Blago. Still, the news that Burris had previously pledged to contribute campaign cash to the then-guv won't do much to burnish Burris' already tarnished image.
Josh
Zachary
The Dims are replete with skeevy shit-heels, from Burris to Nelson to Loserman, plus Bennet, Johnson, Pryor, Lincoln and Landrieu...
What do they need the ultimate skeevy fucker, Snarlin Arlen, for? to round out a four-some at golf?
May 26, 2009 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
re: Arlen Specter
He is not a radical liberal who will actually change something meaningful. He is a pragmatist, moderate, like his #1 benefactor Obama.
May 26, 2009 9:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I listened to a local reporter read the conversation transcript released by Fitzy's prosecutors office tonight on the local Chicago PBS station, hot off the presses.
It's pretty pathetic, at one point Blago's brother asks how Burris's law practice is going and he says terrible, not one client has re-upped for next year, his partner is in NY trying to drum up some business and if nothing happens before the end of the year they'll go their separate ways and try to sign on with other firms.
Burris doesn't have any cash, realizes how bad raising cash for Blago would look, doesn't really want to admit it, but all but says, he doesn't have the clout to raise more than a pittance for Blago or anyone else for that matter, then he promises he'll send a personal check by 12/15 no matter what anyway, no strings attached but please make sure Blago thinks of him when it comes to making that appointment.
Reminded me of the old Johnny Cash song Ray Charles made famous:
"So I called on my brother to ask for a loan
'Cause I was Busted
I hate to beg like a dog for a bone,
But I'm Busted
My brother said, "there's not a thing I can do,
My wife and my kids
Are all down with the flu
And I was just thinkin' about callin' on you,
'Cause I'm Busted."
May 26, 2009 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since when is it illegal for one politician to promise financial support for another politician?
Watching Tweety on Hardball last night, I got really tired of Tweety trying to put words in Burris' mouth - assuming that there was a quid-pro-quo when there was nothing of the sort stated on the tape he played.
Anyone who thinks that corporations, or anyone, gives money to politicians out of the goodness of their hearts and not for getting anything in return, is snorting or smoking illegal substances.
All politics is quid-pro-quo, pay to play, I'll give you something, but I will want something in return. It is not always money, it includes votes and co-sponsorship on legislation.
Singling out Burris for persecution for what every politician is doing on a regular basis is the ultimate in hypocracy.
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May 28, 2009 9:00 AM | Reply | Permalink