Burris Getting Blasted for Contradictions
Sen. Roland Burris’ political life seems to get more precarious with every turn. Burris, currently the only African American in the U.S. Senate after being named to the seat once held by President Barack Obama, has come under fire for his conflicting stories about his relationship with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Contradicting earlier testimony regarding his ties to the governor, Burris has acknowledged that he tried to raise money for Blagojevich, who has been impeached and booted out of office amid charges that he sought to sell Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder. He has also admitted, after the appointment, that he had contact with a number of the governor’s aides during the time he was being considered for the seat. But in yet another seemingly unsavory revelation, The Chicago Sun Times reports that Burris’ son was hired as a senior counsel for the Illinois Housing Development Authority by Blagojevich’s administration last September. Roland Burris II was facing a $34,163 tax lien and a foreclosure proceeding on his Chicago home at the time of the hiring, the newspaper reports. This news is just further fueling the outrage among those who are calling for the senator to step down. One of those vociferous opponents is Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “I told him that under the circumstances, I would resign. He said, ‘I’m not going to resign.’ I can’t force him,” Durbin said.

Obama’s Budget Battle Begins
This week, the president will send his top adviser to Capitol Hill to defend his budget and spending priorities as outlined last week. In his weekly radio address Saturday, he challenged his critics and called for the American people and Congress to understand the change he’s determine to bring about.

Duke Enthroned on U.S. Coin
A U.S. coin now dons the image of true African-American royalty. Edward “Duke” Ellington, who during his illustrious career as a jazz musician and composer penned more than 3,000 songs and won 13 Grammys, became the first Black person to appear by himself on a circulating U.S. coin. Among Ellington’s many classic tunes were such notables as “Satin Doll,” “Perdido” and “Don’t Get Around Much Any More.” His “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing,” which helped usher in the Swing Era of jazz, appears on the “tails” side of the new D.C. quarter. Ellington died in 1974 at the age of 75. George Washington is on the “heads” side, as is the norm with U.S. quarters. The coin was issued to celebrate Ellington’s birthplace, the District of Columbia. Also on the coin is the phrase “Justice for all.” The Mint rejected the first inscription choice of D.C. voters, which was “taxation without representation,” in protest of the district’s lack of voting representation in Congress.

Democratic Whip Asks Burris to Resign
Saying that he had warned Sen. Roland Burris to steer clear of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich amid news of a potential scandal, Sen. Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, said Tuesday the time has come for Burris to resign. Blagojevich – who has been charged with trying to sell the open Illinois Senate seat that was left vacant when Barack Obama headed to the White House – appointed Burris. The former Illinois comptroller and state attorney general has been lambasted in the media for repeatedly changing his story about circumstances surrounding his appointment. In his latest shocker, he has acknowledged attempting to raise money for the embattled governor.
 

Nororious Klansman Dies
An infamous North Carolina Klansman was buried last week. Virgil Griffin, best known for leading a Ku Klux Klan chapter that was involved in a deadly clash with members of the Communist Party two decades ago, died last Wednesday at Gaston Memorial Hospital. He was 64. Griffin, who during his 40 years in the hate group – he rose to become imperial wizard of the Cleveland Knights of the KKK – was cast into the public spotlight after five members of the Communist Party were killed and 10 injured in a clash with the Klan in Greensboro in 1979. Many civil rights advocates believe that justice was denied when Griffin and several of his fellow Klansmen were tried and cleared of state murder charges and federal civil rights conspiracy charges. In a civil trial, the Klan, the American Nazi Party and the Greensboro Police Department were found jointly liable for the wrongful deaths of the five people killed. The city paid $350,000. He would later tell a Truth and Reconciliation panel investigating the incident that Communist Workers Party members were killed and not Klansmen because “my people hunt for food. Maybe God guided the bullets, I don’t know.”

Sen. Burris Under Fire in Illinois
Illinois Republicans said Sunday that they want the senator who filled President Barack Obama’s seat in Congress investigated for perjury, saying he misled the public regarding then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Sen. Roland Burris had previously told a panel probing the governor’s alleged attempt to sell the Senate seat that he had never been asked by the governor to contribute to his campaign. On Sunday, in what his opponents say was deliberately misleading, Burris acknowledged being hit up by Rod Blagojevich’s brother for contributions. “I made clear to him I would not contribute [to the governor's campaign] because it would be inappropriate because I had expressed my interest in the Senate seat,” Burris, a Democrat, told reporters at a news conference. “I did not donate one single dollar.” But state Rep. Jim Durkin, who headed the Republican questioning of Burris at the impeachment hearing, said in a statement, “I’m very disappointed.” A spokesman for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Jim Manley, said that the Democratic senator is looking into the matter. “Clearly it would have been better if Sen. Burris had provided this information when he first testified,” Manley said. “Sen. Reid is reviewing the affidavit and will await any action by Illinois legislative leaders after they review the matter.” In an affidavit, Burris said the governor’s brother called him three times to “seek my assistance in fundraising for Gov. Blagojevich.”

The Congressional Black Caucus Monday praised the decision by the U.S. Senate to put Roland Burris in Barack Obama’s old seat. “The CBC is very pleased with the decision of Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate leadership to seat Roland Burris,” said Rep. Barbara Lee, chairwoman of the caucus. “Mr. Burris has long been a public servant for the people of Illinois. He will be a wonderful addition to our caucus and we look forward to working with him as we move forward with our agenda in Congress.” Read more here.

 Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris isn’t getting much love from President-elect Barack Obama or members of Congress these days, but scores of African-American clergy are lining up to support the controversial appointment of embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich. On Sunday, about 60 ministers were called together by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), who has been critical of his fellow Democrats in Congress for rejecting Burris. Read the rest and see video here.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Sunday that the U.S. Senate has the legal authority to block Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s appointment to replace Barack Obama. Blagojevich, who has been charged with trying to sell Obama’s now vacant Senate seat, defied the demands of Obama, Reid and other Democrats who asked him to forego naming a replacement because of the cloud that would hang over the selection. Speaking on “Meet The Press” Sunday, Reid said that the U.S. Constitution gives senators the power to “determine who sits in the Senate, and the House determines who sits in the House. So there’s clearly legal authority for us to do whatever we want to do. Read more here.

While few Black leaders argue about the qualifications of former state Attorney General Roland Burris, who was appointed by scandalized Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat, there is wide disagreement over whether the governor should have been the one to make the appointment. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) is one lawmaker who vehemently called for an African American to replace Obama, so that Congress’ upper chamber would not lose its only Black senator. But everybody isn’t so sure that Blagojevich’s appointment should stand. “I understand Congressman Rush’s concern about having an African-American senator, but there are concerns about the cloud that has gone on regarding the current governor,” Rep.  Gregory W. Meeks (R-N.Y.) told The Washington Post. “His qualifications are impeccable, his name has not been involved in scandal, but that has to be considered.” Karen A. Yarbrough, an Illinois state representative who represents a district just outside of Chicago, said: “I don’t think this governor should be appointing.” But National Urban League President Marc Morial questioned the power of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to stamp out the appointment, telling the Post that Reid’s authority in the matter is “very, very limited.”
 

 President-elect Barack Obama and congressional Democrats were in lockstep Tuesday in their rejection of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s appointment to take the U.S. Senate seat once occupied by Obama. Democrats had made it clear that they wanted Blagojevich to relinquish his power of appointment given his current legal problems. The governor is accused of trying to sell the Senate seat to the highest bidder. Federal investigators say they taped Blagojevich discussing the worth of the seat. But in a surprise move on Tuesday, the governor defied the Dems and named Roland Burris, a 71-year-old former state attorney general to take Obama’s place in the Senate. Read the rest here.