I Wonder... More Comments on Chicago Politics
You'll notice I titled this with a reference to "Chicago Politics" not Illinois Politics.
This is partly because the media are still reporting the on-going insanity from Chicago as if that city was in fact the capitol. I say again... it is not. Now Senator Burris seems to be gathering support from Chicago which, in my opinion, ought to make anyone with half a brain suspicious.
The state governmental seat is in Springfield, a good 4 to 5 hours south of the windy city. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, how about if we start reporting on statewide governmental matters from there? The Trib will still be commenting and you can gather quotes from them with those new-fangled telephone things. Or - oh hey! - the Internet!
I find it interesting that the support being rolled out by the media for Senator Burris is coming from this or that pastor of this or that African-American church. That's nice. That's fine. Is it the only support though? And - I'm sorry I have to go "there" - I have to wonder are they (these pastors) truly supporting him because they believe in him and think he made an honest mistake (instead oh, say perjury). The rhetoric I'm hearing all seems to be racially slanted. And perhaps that is the media playing the usual media game but ... it makes you think.
If we don't want race to be an issue, if we're going to get all fired up when some dope makes it an issue when he/she shouldn't then we have to stop dragging it into every little thing.
Yes, the gentleman Senator is African American and yes the former holder of that Senate seat was too. But that does not mean that the successor to the seat "needs" to be of the same race. How about appointing the most QUALIFIED person? If that person happens to be African American so much the better. But he/she could just as easily be Hispanic, Native American, Asian... heck, pink with purple poka-dots would work so long as they do not perjure themselves during confirmation and are in fact the most qualified.
The point of getting minorities into public service or giving them a leg up for jobs or what have you was to make sure the MOST QUALIFIED person got the position no matter what color (or gender) they happened to be. It was supposed to prevent an all-white male workforce of so-so talent that excluded the brilliant not-white talent folks. It was supposed to give people a chance, not be an entitlement.
So if Mr. Burris is the most qualified, that's fine. If he did not perjure himself that too is fine and he should be supported. But if his "omissions" regarding his contact with former governor Blago constituted perjury then he broke the law and should resign. No matter what color he is and no press conference blitz by supporters should make a difference.
This is partly because the media are still reporting the on-going insanity from Chicago as if that city was in fact the capitol. I say again... it is not. Now Senator Burris seems to be gathering support from Chicago which, in my opinion, ought to make anyone with half a brain suspicious.
The state governmental seat is in Springfield, a good 4 to 5 hours south of the windy city. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, how about if we start reporting on statewide governmental matters from there? The Trib will still be commenting and you can gather quotes from them with those new-fangled telephone things. Or - oh hey! - the Internet!
I find it interesting that the support being rolled out by the media for Senator Burris is coming from this or that pastor of this or that African-American church. That's nice. That's fine. Is it the only support though? And - I'm sorry I have to go "there" - I have to wonder are they (these pastors) truly supporting him because they believe in him and think he made an honest mistake (instead oh, say perjury). The rhetoric I'm hearing all seems to be racially slanted. And perhaps that is the media playing the usual media game but ... it makes you think.
If we don't want race to be an issue, if we're going to get all fired up when some dope makes it an issue when he/she shouldn't then we have to stop dragging it into every little thing.
Yes, the gentleman Senator is African American and yes the former holder of that Senate seat was too. But that does not mean that the successor to the seat "needs" to be of the same race. How about appointing the most QUALIFIED person? If that person happens to be African American so much the better. But he/she could just as easily be Hispanic, Native American, Asian... heck, pink with purple poka-dots would work so long as they do not perjure themselves during confirmation and are in fact the most qualified.
The point of getting minorities into public service or giving them a leg up for jobs or what have you was to make sure the MOST QUALIFIED person got the position no matter what color (or gender) they happened to be. It was supposed to prevent an all-white male workforce of so-so talent that excluded the brilliant not-white talent folks. It was supposed to give people a chance, not be an entitlement.
So if Mr. Burris is the most qualified, that's fine. If he did not perjure himself that too is fine and he should be supported. But if his "omissions" regarding his contact with former governor Blago constituted perjury then he broke the law and should resign. No matter what color he is and no press conference blitz by supporters should make a difference.
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