Weighing in on Burris
By Kevin Robinson in News on Feb 23, 2009 3:20PM
Governor Pat Quinn has called on Roland Burris to resign his senate seat in light of recent revelations about the newly minted senator's contact with impeached governor Rod Blagojevich. But not everyone is ready to call for his resignation just yet. In statements to the press late last week, Mayor Daley, who has been in the Persian Gulf, refused to call on Burris to step down. “Let’s put everything in perspective and give him an opportunity to explain himself," Daley said. "Automatically, every time something happens people want everybody to resign. Is it becoming very common now to tell people to resign after he was appointed?" When asked if Burris can effectively represent Illinois in congress given the controversy, the mayor waxed poetical: “He’ll have to explain that himself,” Daley said. “If there’s a cloud, I guess he’ll have to say what cloud it is. Is it a heavy or a light cloud? It’s up to him … I don’t know," he said, noting that the economic recovery bill "never would have passed" without Burris.
Daley isn't the only local pol that won't directly call on Burris to resign. In an interview Saturday with ABC7 news, Congressman (and one-time senate hopeful) Jesse Jackson Jr said "This embarrassing episode in Illinois politics needs to end," adding "What's the message we are sending our children with the half truths and deceptions? So, let the chips fall where they may." Jackson echoed Senator Dick Durbin and President Barack Obama, who have said that Roland Burris needs to give a full account of what happened between him and Rod Blagojevich, and then consider his options. "I think Roland will determine how to handle this, and he'll decide what he's going to do. I don't expect that's he's going to resign," Rep. Danny Davis told ABC7.
And it appears that's just what's happening. Burris evaded the media during a visit to the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Great Lakes Naval Training Center Friday, and giving only a quick "good morning" to reporters outside his South side home on Sunday. Nevertheless, Burris isn't without his supporters. Pastor Anthony Williams of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church supports Burris because of his 30 years of public service. "If I'm the only person standing for Roland, I'll stand for Roland," Williams said. "If this became an issue before February 5th, Roland wouldn't have been able to vote for the stimulus package," he told CBS2. "Now that Roland has voted for the stimulus package, it's time to get rid of him. I think it's a disgrace."