Jack & Jill Politics

Breaking News — Roland has gotten the backhand while trying to join the 111th Congress today. Apparently:

Standing amid a huge throng of reporters and television cameras in a cold and steady rain, Burris, 71, declared that he had been informed that “my credentials are not in order and will not be accepted.”

You know I have to hand it to Blagojevich. It was like a lesson out of Sun Tzu’s Art of War — Attack While the Enemy Feasts. While everyone was getting there Christmas on, BAM! Out of nowhere he strikes and appoints long time crony Roland Burris.

CNN’s Political Ticker called it “racial chicken” in which each party rushes the other aggressively until one backs down – the chicken. That’s a good analogy. I was sure Harry Reid was going to cave. On Meet the Press, he named practically every black person who knows and told America how much he loves black people. Although, that kind of behavior often precedes some racially antagonistic behavior a la: “I’m not a racist but…” I really thought he was going to break out some bongos and sing Day-O! or do a breakdance routine for realz. I’m telling you, David Gregory NEEDS to start dancing with his guests. Here’s the clip I’m talking about:

Chris Bowers at Open Left had this to say:

Harry Reid was on Meet the Press this morning and, in regards to the Roland Burris situation, actually broke some real news on the program. This includes denying a report from yesterday that he urged Blagojevich not to appoint any of three leading Illinois African-American politicians to Obama’s vacant seat. No transcript yet, so here is the AP

* Reid also denies telling Blagojevich that appointing three African-American lawmakers – Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Danny Davis or state lawmaker Emil Jones – would be unacceptable. He says Blagojevich is “making all this up.”Additionally, Reid pushed back against Bobby Rush’s charge that Burris should be seated because there are no African-Americans in the Senate, by pointing out that Rush did not support Barack Obama in the 2004 Illinois Senate primary when there were also no African-Americans in the Senate. Zing!

Actually I think this is a classic Uncle Clarence Thomas maneuver — select a quasi-qualified or qualified enough black stooge, insert into office, call everyone who opposes stooge’s entrance to power racist, lather, rinse.

Burris may have an ego the size of all creation, but he does have a long line of achievements. Blago was smart to try and create an ally in a powerful place. Yet, the Senate would be smart not to admit Burris. His career is indeed admirable — He was the first African American to be elected to a statewide office in the state of Illinois, and has run for Senate and Governor several times, including a 2002 run supported by Barack Obama). Blago’s alleged crimes inevitably taint Burris and would leave him weak as our only black leader in the Senate. African Americans deserve better than this and probably so does Burris.