Chicagoist: Quinn Backs Off Of Burris

JAWilson

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:01:31 -0600

IMHO, the race card has trumped Quinn's reformer label. If Quinn converts to just another Illinois politician, he'll be a weak candidate the next election. I'm disappointed in Quinn for this backflip.

Speedster

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:03:03 -0600

Well being that there's only 2 senator positions for the state, (with one senator election at a time) you HAVE to base merit over diversity. You try and do the opposite, and you're going to piss off other minorities. The House of Representatives is more able to reflect diversity, being that they represent (19) different districts.

Marcus Gilmer

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:43:58 -0600

There was the same issue when Rep. Rush called for a black replacement before Burris was appointed. How do you weigh the need for diversity against merit?

Speedster

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:37:32 -0600

While I'm not crazy about Sen. Burris, being that I am not sure he holds the interests of the people of Illinois as he is on holding high public offices, I'm not less interested in wasting taxpayer dollars for a special election for the 2 remaining years in office. I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping that we can coast to a better candidate in the 2010 election. If he does make some great changes for this state, well it's an unexpected benefit, but I'm not holding my breath. As far as the quote from Ald. Burnett, "Burris' Senate seat is really bigger than Burris as far as race goes, because he's the only African-American Senator in the United States of America. So this is a big deal to the African-American community." I think anybody who reads past political headlines knows he's the only black senator out there right now, but that quote really, NO I MEAN REALLY, seems like affirmative action puts Sen. Burris in the office. I know that's not what you mean, but please don't defend his right to be there by saying - despite all the questionable ethics of his appointment, that he deserves to be there simply because of race, and not merit.