* The tapes of Roland Burris talking to Rod Blagojevich’s brother Rob a month before Burris got the US Senate appointment aren’t exactly flattering. Here’s the Tribune’s coverage…
Burris said he would make a personal donation but worried that both he and the governor could eventually “catch hell” for any campaign help Burris gave as he lobbied for Blagojevich to choose him.
“And if I do get appointed, that means I bought it,” Burris was recorded telling Robert Blagojevich, the governor’s brother and chief fundraiser, in a Nov. 13 call captured during the federal probe that led to Rod Blagojevich’s December arrest on corruption charges.
Burris even mentioned having his attorney make the donation — a notion that could have violated state election law against hiding donations. Burris’ attorney said he advised against such a move, and Burris never made such a donation and held no fundraisers for Rod Blagojevich. […]
“God knows number one, I, I wanna help Rod,” Burris said on the recording. “Number two, I also wanna, you know, hope I get a consideration to get that appointment.”
And…
Burris ends the call saying: “I will personally do something OK? And it will come to you before the 15th of December.”
Rod Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on charges that included trying to sell President Obama’s vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.
Burris didn’t make the contribution (at least not directly and as far as we know), which is to his favor. But Burris never mentioned that conversation with Rob Blagojevich in any of his sworn statements or affidavits to the Illinois House Impeachment Committee, which works heavily against him.
Mark Brown…
While Burris may have forgotten the details of their talk by the time he went before state legislators, it could hardly have slipped his mind that less than two months earlier he had been on the phone practically begging to be chosen to replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate while promising to do what he could to get some money into the Blagojevich campaign coffers.
His omission only confirms what has been evident for some time now: With the crowning achievement of his political career within reach, Burris was willing to do whatever was necessary to reel in the big prize and deal with the consequences later.
Yep.
More…
But Burris didn’t want to close the door and take a chance on getting on the governor’s bad side.
Instead, as the discussion proceeded, Burris told Robert Blagojevich he would:
1) Be willing to help with a fund-raiser if it was being hosted by some other Blagojevich supporter with whom Burris had worked in the past, in effect, someone to give him cover.
Sneaky, eh?
* Take a look at the transcript and you’ll see Burris goes right into the Senate stuff at the very beginning…
BURRIS: I, I know you’re calling telling me that you’re gonna make me king of the world, and uh …
BLAGOJEVICH: (laughs)
BURRIS: … and therefore I can go off to, you know, wherever and do all these great things […]
BURRIS: ‘Cause I’ve been, I’ve been trying to figure out what the heck, you know, I can do. Go ahead.
Blagojevich then mentions the need to raise campaign money by the end of December for the January filing period and Burris goes right back to the Senate seat…
BURRIS: Yeah. Right, right and, and now how do, answer me this question because I’m very much interested in, in trying to replace Obama, okay. Now I …
BLAGOJEVICH: So you, let me just tell you Roland, …
BURRIS: Yeah.
BLAGOJEVICH: … you and 1 million other people.
BURRIS: That’s right, that’s right so …
BLAGOJEVICH: Of every race, color, creed and faith, it’s amazing.
Again, from the transcript, it looks more like Burris is finding a way to reconcile the need for pay to play than just be an honest person…
BURRIS: If I don’t get appointed then my people who I’m trying to raise money from are gonna look at me, yeah, what, what’s that all about Roland. I mean, so, Rob, I’m in a, I’m in a, a dilemma right now wanting to help the governor.
BLAGOJEVICH: Yeah.
BURRIS: I mean I, you know I, I have been with him on all of the, all the issues and I’m now trying to figure out what the hell the best thing to do.
And Burris was mighty persistent throughout the conversation. Here’s the end…
BLAGOJEVICH: Hey, you’re a good friend. I’ll pass on your message.
BURRIS: Please do and …
BLAGOJEVICH: Okay.
BURRIS: … tell Rod to keep me in mind for that seat, would ya? (chuckles)
BLAGOJEVICH: I’ll let him know.
BURRIS: Okay.
BLAGOJEVICH: Bye Roland.
BURRIS: Alright. Bye-bye.
BLAGOJEVICH: Bye.
Bye.
- OneMan - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:23 am:
On WBBM the national news at the top of the hour I think they had a guy use the phrase ‘Quid Pro-Quo’(sp).
Hope it was worth it Rolland.
- Dan - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:31 am:
So basically, the only reason Burris didn’t make the contribution is because Blago was arrested a few days before he had promised to make it.
- Ghost - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:31 am:
The Senate needs to remove him, NOW, and stop trying to dodge the bullet by waiting for his term to run out.
Schmidt needs to prosecute him for perjury.
Burris should not be allowed to cash in on his clear attempt to buy the seat; including his plots to cover the deed by going through his attorney or fundraising through a straw man.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:32 am:
I don’t think 1500 is enough to buy the seat but it’s pretty clear he didn’t want to upset Rod while he lobbied for the seat. But the main point is he lied to the impeachment committee multiple times.
Durkin specifically asked about Rob Blagojevich. Roland said he didn’t recall. Either he’s lying or he’s lost his memory and therefore can’t do his job. Either way it’s just another nail in the coffin.
- John in Chicago - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:35 am:
So much for the honesty and integrity of Roland Burris. He should be ashamed and resign but the sad part is he is probably loving the fact that his name is in print even though it isn’t for being an honest statesman.
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:46 am:
Get him out of there. It STINKS. When is Rush going to come out and tell us this is not what we are hearing?
Get him out NOW.
- Amy - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:50 am:
roland…..a new term for arrogance and deceit.
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:51 am:
The water is over the dam, the genie is out of the bottle…… The junior Senator from Illinois will be Roland Burris for the next 20 months or so.
Does anyone really expect the Senate to apply a severe sanction or for the Senator to get religion and resign himself? I certainly don’t.
There is a possibility of damaging him financially and by extension his old law firm with all the costs of defending various lawsuits, but whether anyone has the backbone to prosecute for perjury is yet to be seen
- Out There - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:52 am:
It’s contemptible that Burris’ number one goal was to take care of Rod and not the people of Illinois. My God do I sound naive and stupid, or both?! Sickening.
- GetOverIt - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:56 am:
Nothing here folks! Roland reacted as anyone who was interested in the seat would. It is clear, that anyone who made a contribution to the former Gov. during the appointment period would cause a media circus if ultimately appointed.
Roland’s concern is well grounded. That is, how does he support someone he agrees with some of the time, while at the same time not coming off as paying for consideration? Nothing in the transcript strikes me as shocking. Quite the opposite is true, it is rather lame.
Nothing here folks, move on.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:57 am:
Actually Amy, Roland is an old term for arrogance and deceit. It’s just that people are now understanding what was pretty clear to me for 20 years.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:58 am:
Burris doesn’t sound like he’s against buying the seat, but he is concerned about the appearance of buying the seat. What makes it more pathetic for him is that he obviously doesn’t have the means to do so.
That makes Blago’s appointment of Burris so deviously cynical. “Pay to play? I gave it the one guy who didn’t have any money.”
Burris will continue with his Uncle Leo- at-the-bookstore defense. Don’t expect the Senate Ethics Committee to move fast. Summer’s here, and I suspect they’re confident the country really isn’t paying attention to this anymore.
- Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 9:58 am:
The next engraving on the mosoleum will be “Disgraced Former US Senator”.
- The Doc - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:01 am:
At best, Burris’ flip-flopping make him appear intellectually dishonest, an illness that afflicts quite a few elected officials here in Illinois. It’s probably more sinister, but not enough so that the Sangamon County or Senate Ethics probe will result in anything more than a symbolic slap on the wrist, accompanied by the usual statements of righteous indignation.
Frankly, I don’t much care at this point. He’s a dead man walking politically, and doesn’t have the clout or seniority to make much of an impact over the next year-plus. IMHO, this is little more than a poorly timed, yet coincidental, distraction from the much more important happenings in Springfield.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:04 am:
In a rational world, Burris would resign, or be frog-marched out of the Senate after a short investigation and hearing. However, TII. It is not out of the realm of possibility that he gets some sympathy for his “misunderstood” comments, runs in 2010, gets a solid 25% of the vote in a fractured primary field, and comes close to the unthinkable.
- Ghost - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:04 am:
=== Roland’s concern is well grounded. ===
You mean his concenr that he wanted to do somthing, but not get caught? So he would use a lawyer to give money on his behalf; a sugestion which was illegal when he made it…
or the suggestion that he would do a starw fund raiser using another individual, but he woudl do the fundraiser to buy the job…
Or do you mean the fact that after multiple reassruances that he wanted to pay for the position and not get caught, he denied the existance of these conversations under oath.
What is truly not here is innocence; what is deffinetly here is perjury and pay to play.
- Downstater - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:13 am:
I would love to hear Jesse Jackson Jr.’s comments on the situation with Roland.
- choo choo charlie - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:19 am:
Burris is not a campaign finance reform issue - it’s a bribery issue for the US Atty to explore.
But there is a campaign finance reform issue that no one has yet to bring to light, and it is pretty bad. I understand that the 5 state executive IG offices and the Ethics Commission all have different political support and campaign donation policies, and that the Ethics Commission has the weakest. I think you’d be surprised how many Commission members’ spouses and owned businesses make campaign donations, often to legislators linked to the EEC. I was curious, so I looked through the donation sites.
- sal-says - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:20 am:
If it were only as easy as saying “Bye, Bye” to get rid of his-egoness.
- James the Intolerant - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:23 am:
Burris is like Homer Simpson talks about alcohol, makes you virtually impenetrable to insult. Saw Durbin on the news, he’s against Burris again, after he was for him. What sad representation we have.
- Legaleagle - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:26 am:
Read the transcript. It doesn’t say anything about $1500 - that’s an invention of Burris’ attorney. Burris ponders on the tape at least four additional felonies to cover up his Blago fund raising. Disgusting. But politics will trump ethics, as always in Washington and Springfield. US Senate Dems will never expel the Senate’s only African-American. Our only hope is for a perjury indictment.
- Blah, blah, blah - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:24 am:
I’m a Democrat (at least by ideology) and I think Burris needs to be removed from office, the sooner, the better. He won’t have the decency to resign (heck, he’ll probably run again if he’s not thrown out first), but I hope that Burris is indicted for perjury ASAP.
Sadly, our entire party is going to take a (deserved) black-eye for this debacle. Instead of doing the right thing (refusing to seat Burris from the get-go) the Dems decided to do the expedient thing.
And people wonder why I tend to vote anti-incumbent instead of along party lines…
- sal-says - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:36 am:
Wouldn’t it have been interesting if the US Atty could have waited a week or 2 more before announcing the criminal complaint?
- dupage dan - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:37 am:
Roland has a big problem. He can claim he didn’t pay but that ain’t the issue. He was asked, under oath, if he had any talks re the seat, etc, and said, “no”. Now the tape shows up which proves he did have talks. Perjury, period. Who will prosecute? Sangamon Cty SA?
What will the Senate do? Hold an ethics hearing and wring their hands, make a finding, close the hearings. They will not kick him out. If Roland is found guilty of perjury I wonder how the Senate would respond? More ethics hearings? More hand wringing? I would be surprised if they did anything more than a censure.
- Blah, blah, blah - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:37 am:
@ Sal,
Yep. He could’ve nabbed Jesse and Roland as Rod sold the seat to the highest bidder.
- Northside Blogger - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:45 am:
One important thing about these tape recordings is that the brother, Rob, does not appear to have done anything wrong. Calling up potential campaign donors has always been permitted and continues to be acceptable. Burris is the one to change the conversation to the Senate seat!!!!
- Macbeth - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:47 am:
I love Illinois politics.
Bring it on, Roland.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 12:29 pm:
Northside Blogger,
Rob Blago is indicted, Burris is not-so I think it is fair to assume there is lots more floatin’ around about big bro that the feds have released.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 12:36 pm:
Sorry to have this attitude, but unless Senator Burris serves time in prison, he will have gotten a sweetheart of a deal: plenty of attention and the title of U.S. Senator (albeit it for only a couple of years). If he has to pay a fine and his legal bills, he will just make every necessary campaign call and solicitation until he dies.
- Hank - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 12:49 pm:
Sal, I agree
Yes I have my tinfoil hat on but I think this is another example of why Mr Fitgerald’s timing on 12/9 is so very curious
- A Citizen - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 1:18 pm:
At Burris’ age, almost as good as the bribe cash in the bank would be a life insurance policy payable to exguv. Just a thought.
- make it so - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 1:22 pm:
Burris will get a slap on the hand and finish his term. He is the only African American Senator and too many people are ready to scream racism if anything tries to remove him. He made it clear that he’s going to run but, does not have any financial backing. So hopefully, this term will be his last and he’ll be forgotton in history.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 1:39 pm:
Take A Chance On Me! - ABBA, enhanced by VanillaMan
Senator “Taj Rolando” Burris sings to Blagojevich…
If you change your mind, I’m the first in line
Honey I’m still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you’ve got no place to go, if you’re feeling down
If you’re all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I’m still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain’t no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
Take a chance on me
(That’s all I ask of you honey)
Take a chance on me
We can go fund raisin’, I’m a Trailblazin’, as long as we’re together
Walk around my Tomb, maybe add a line or two, get to know you better
‘Cos you know I’ve hot
I wanna be “curbin’”,
when I’m alone with Durbin
I’m magic!
You want me to leave it there, afraid that the Press will stare?
But I think you know
That I can’t let go
If your ready to deal, I’m a great third-wheel
Blago I’m still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you’ve to find some cash, I have a huge cache When you’re all alone, cuz the Dems have flown
Honey I’m still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain’t no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
Take a chance on me
(Come on, give me a break will you?)
Take a chance on me
Oh I can replace Obama easy, I’m just as sleazy, know I’m better than Jackson
You don’t want Jarret, you couldn’t bear it, I know how to get it done
Let me tell you now
Black support is strong enough to last when things are rough
Democrat’s magic
You say it’s a [bleepin’] deal, but you know how I [bleepin’] feel
No I can’t let go
‘Cos I need this so
Davis says you’re not his kind, but he likes to whine
Blago I’m still free
Take a chance on me
If you choose me, do it now, gonna be in town
When we’re good to go, you’ll see I astound
You can get a big check, OH what the heck!
Honey I’m still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna mail a check to you by December 15th, you’ll see
Ya gotta put your pre-need political funeral trust on me
(Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)
Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa
Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa ba-ba
Blago, you’ll see!
Take a chance on me!
- Toni H. - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 1:53 pm:
Vanilla Man always wins!
- Tom Joad - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 2:26 pm:
Burris claimed he hung up the phone and said he couldn’t make a donation to Rod, it would look like he was buying the seat. This statement wasn’t on the tape, so who was in the room for him to say it to? His attorney says he didn’t know anything about the $1,500.00 Burris wanted to pass thru him. So did Burris just say it out loud? What a convenient a memory he has.
- Brennan - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 2:32 pm:
Too bad the feds wiretap appears to go dark when Roland starts talking about the law firm he allegedly counsels.
Can hot air short a wiretap?
- A Citizen - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 3:09 pm:
The Roland probably talks to himself and the FBI’s bug in his office probably picked up the amount. Probably a sign of dementia - a known criminal defense.
- envelop - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 3:28 pm:
Identity politics is the rage these days…Sotomayor will rekindle that debate. No way to ever know, but if Burris ran again as the only minority in a Dem primary, I bet he’d win or come embarassingly close
- Anonymous Coward - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 5:36 pm:
Burris “live”:
As part of his two-day tour through central Illinois, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris is scheduled to sit down with sj-r.com’s Bernard Schoenburg about 6:45 p.m. today …
… We plan on live streaming video of the interview so come back about 6:45 p.m.
http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x12073544/Be-here-tonight-for-a-live-interview-with-Sen-Roland-Burris
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 5:44 pm:
Burris just took a beating on the national ABC TV news.
The correspondent flatly said, “Here is the incriminating tape.”
Roland should retire the “context argument.” When you hear the audio and the begging in his voice — “You’re going to make me king of the world” — there’s no question he had all his wits and his eyes on the prize, so to speak.
- Anonymous Coward - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 6:01 pm:
This might be fitting now…
http://is.gd/HzHe
- this voter will remember - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 6:10 pm:
Burris should resign. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if Blago had been arrested at a later date. I agree with Dan, the only reason why he didn’t go through with his promise to “do something for Blago” was because Blago got arrested.
- Wacker Drive - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 8:13 pm:
Roland was to busy helping the University of Illinois staff with their Super Computer today.
He can’t be bothered with trifles.
- X-ray One - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 8:21 pm:
What Roland really means is “God knows number one, I, I wanna help Roland”
This was all based on ego and greed.
- Bobs yer - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 8:22 pm:
Alan Keyes could beat this guy.
- Downstate transplant - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 8:29 pm:
Not only did Burris overtly suggest that he was willing to give consideration for appointment to the senate vacancy, but he also stated that those who contributed to him would wonder what happened if he did not receive the appointment. Pay to play times two?