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The controversy related to Illinois’ Governor Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris to the United States Senate is easily resolvable. While it is true the Governor stands earlier accused of seeking monitory gains for appointing a replacement for the vacated Senate seat of Barack Obama, no such accusation exists in the case of his actual appointment. There is no quid pro quo. The appointment is consistent with, indeed mandated by, the Illinois Constitution.The earlier accusation of Governor Blagojevich will be resolved by impeachment, federal court, or both as it should be.
As to quid pro quo and acceptance of monitory gains by Senate Democrats, as is true for all members of Congress regardless of party, citizens need look no further than the correlation between acceptance of substantial political contributions and individual voting records. There is a reason that more than 35,000 individuals are Washington registered lobbyists. Their job is to understand who to give how much to whom for what, then implement the transaction(s). Quid pro quo; if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, you can be pretty sure that it is a duck.
The above quid pro quo will continue until such time as the U.S. Constitution is amended to this or something similar: “Candidates for and members of Federal Legislative and Executive branches of government shall be reimbursed from the public treasury for all those expenses associated with running for or with fulfilling the duties of their elected office including travel and imposed additional living expenses while denied receipt of anything of any value from any other source for whatever purpose, other than the franking privilege, except upon pain of death.” Don’t hold your breath.
The current position articulated by Senate Democrats is no more than “the pot calling the kettle black”. Senate Democrats should reject the notion of “passing on (alleged) sins of the father” and accept Governor Blagojevich’s position for what it is; a legal appointment while giving them the finger. Such acceptance of reality would completely resolve the current dilemma with no further embarrassment to themselves.
