ABC News Claims Dems Racist For Barring Burris

Eric Boehlert highlights this astoundingly daffy statement from ABC News' David Wright:

"Not since Mr. Smith came to Washington, in that old Frank Capra film, has an idealistic senator appointed by a corrupt party boss been so unwelcome at the Capitol. But at least Mr. Smith got his seat," David Wright reported on ABC's "Good Morning America" Tuesday. "But it's also distinctly possible the scene will look more like 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?' The senators may seem out of touch, if this overwhelmingly white group refuses to admit the one and only black man seeking to join their exclusive club."

I think this analogy is out of touch. In the first place, it cannot be credibly argued that the Senate's exclusivity -- racial or otherwise -- is foundational to their decision to bar the appointment of Roland Burris. It was made very clear in advance that the Senate would refuse to seat even the most Caucasian of potential Rod Blagojevich appointees to the Senate. The fact that Burris happens to be "a black man seeking to join" the Senate is an irrelevant and coincidental detail.

I'd point out again that mere weeks ago, when the media was kvetching about the Obama transition team delaying their report on who had contacted Blagojevich and when, the pounding message coming out of the newshole was that Blago was corrupt to the core, and that any appointment made would bring taint to the door of the Senate. Now, the message has shifted: Blago is just doing his duty! What else could the man do? It's not Burris fault! And, indeed, Burris has repeatedly asked that his personal considerations be separated from Blagojevich's scandals. I think that the Senate could more credibly be separated from these shallow race-card concerns. Anyway, it's clearly the press that wants to position themselves on the "right" side of a racial issue that they've midwifed into reality, all of which neatly serves the ends of an Illinois Governor that everyone agreed was tainted beyond repair a fortnight ago.

Beyond that, I just think that the allusion to Guess Who's Coming To Dinner is unusually seedy. Clearly, the only impediment to Roland Burris marrying Katharine Houghton is her current husband, Ken Jenkins.

Comments

[apoyo]

Regardless of his color, they cannot bar him. Blago is still the sitting gov.
The longer they resist the more Blago triumphs. He wanted to throw a corkscrew into the works.
And Harry Reid fell into the quicksand.

[JZ735]

Blago's tactic was brazen, but effective...his appointment will prevail, simply because until he is convicted, he is still legally entitled to choose a candidate.

[CommonSenseMom]

NOBODY cares that this man is black. REALLY.

This is not about the black man...it's about the corrupt governor with the bad hairdo.

Leave it to ABC to say anything for ratings. And racism lives on.....

[lisakaz2]

Of course they did. They wanna forget who was elected president.

[AVOICEFROMOHIO]

Once again ABC has it totally wrong. They do however have it correct that this was a race issue, however they are focusing the blame in the wrong direction.
When Blago made his selection of Burris it was with full intent to instigate this type of disturbance to detract the press away from his political problems. It was also Burris upon accepting Blago's selection made it clear that he fully intended to take his position in the Senate even if he didn't have the necessary certification from the state of Illinois prior to today. It was at that time comments were made regarding "seeing if the Senate would block this selection being he would be the only black in this all white club".
If Burris did not want the magnitude of publicity, or to make a scene, then he needed to come with the necessary certification documents from the state of Illinois signed off by both Blago & White. White has refused to sign off at this time due to the situation with Blago. If White and Blago had both approved and signed off certifying Burris's selection then the US Senate per the Consititution could not stop him from occupying the vacant Illinois seat.

[CommonSenseMom]

This is not about the black man. This is about the governor with the bad hairdo. Really.

[freedomthrutruth]

The main issue here should be the rule of law and whether or not democrats have chosen to ignore it.

[SabrinaFair]

Ridiculous. They must have lost their minds over there at ABC. All this is about is a guy who got appointed by a crook, who was told upfront that he would not be seated, and who now walks around like somebody took something from him.

For all of the hatchet pieces that ABC did on Obama during the campaign, including some by this reporter in particular, I find it funny that they would say this.

[freedomthrutruth]

Though Blago may be a crook like much of the Congress and the Executive and some on the Supreme Court, by law he has the right and duty to appoint a qualified person to replace Obama. If you don't like Blago, fine. But you can't strip him of his state and Constitutional obligations just because you think he is a crook. You are therefore taking a position contrary to the law of the land.

[JZ735]

and who now walks around like somebody took something from him.

The Senate cannot decide to not seat someone based on allegations made that have not resulted in a conviction...Blago is therefore free to choose his appointment, and the Senate have no standing to refuse it.

[lynettema]

ABC needs to fire or demote Wright. Does he get his talking points from Rove?

[SabrinaFair]

They must have lost their minds over there at ABC. All this is about is a guy who got appointed by a crook, who was told upfront that he would not be seated, and who now walks around like somebody stole something from him.

For all of the hatchet pieces that ABC did on Obama during the campaign, including some by this reporter in particular, I find it funny that they would invoke the race card here.

[handyallen1]

the democrats are shooting them selves in the foot seat the man already dont drag this out any longer

[freedomthrutruth]

Their biases, prejudices, and racism is too strong, so they can't help it.

[donjov]

This is funny. . The whole country elected a black president. Which proves most of America is not racist. To call the senate racist for not having a black man is insane. Each state has to vote to elect its senators. ABC sucks except for "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." It's continued to suck since Peter Jennings died.

[FaceYourFears]

I mean the whole thing about race is absurd....after Obama was elected, racism disappeared....deal with it people, racism is dead!

[GravitonX]

Obama's election was only window-dressing. Racism is alive and running the 100m in 9 seconds flat.

[MsAttitude]

After a discussion with a black co-worker yesterday about racism I would have to agree with him that racism is not dead. I try to be open minded and see where another person is coming from and the stories he told me, shocked me. I think it's hard for most whites to understand racism because we were not raised being descriminated against. I know as a woman I have been passed over because of my gender and I know that I have been passed over for positons because of affirmative action. But that has only happened a couple of times, I couldn't imagine having to live my life with that happening on a daily basis.

[freedomthrutruth]

It doesn't prove the country is not racist; it proves it is desperate. Racism is alive and well in this country and if you don't understand that, then you have much to learn about race relations in the United States.

[JZ735]

People who think the country suddenly became an oasis of racial harmony when Obama was elected are sadly and woefully ignorant.

[Pronto]

Another m i s l e a d i n g headline. ABC never claimed the Dems to be "r a c i s t".

[DrBuzz]

Umm, ever see the movie???

[Big0725]

Still defending the indefensible I see.

[Roberto2201]

WTF? What GOP talking point is this guy David Wright spewing? Has ABC News repudiated his comments yet? The argument that the Democratic Party leaders are barring Burris from the Senate because he's black is insane. The party just nominated and its faithful - plus millions more -- elected the first African-American president in U.S. history. By what crack-induced hallucination of logic does it follow that leaders of same Democratic party would turn around and bar someone from taking a seat in the U.S. Senate because he's African-American? If Blagojevich resigns or is impeached and removed from office, and Lt. Gov. Quinn then names Burris to the seat, there will be no problem. It is bad enough that one report brings the issue of race into this controversy. It'll only be worse if others in MSM repeat this canard in the interest of tough reporting by asking over and over again, "What about this!?" I would be disappointed in MSM if every one of them does a "Is race the issue here?" report only to conclude, as they should that, "No, it isn't." Stop. Move on.

[sue805]

Burris has not held any office for 14 years, because the voters of this state (IL) would not vote him in. It was not for a lack of trying. He was REJECTED by this state's voters, numerous times. What has he been doing for 14 years? He has become a lobbyist. He has donated much money to the govenor's campaign fund. His clients have also donated to the govenor's campaign fund. His clients have recieved lucrative state contracts handed out by the govenor of Illinois. That he has aligned himself with the govenor and accepted this appointment shows that he has only his own ambitions at heart, not the voters. This seat does not belong to the govenor, the democrats, or Mr. Burris. It belongs to the citizens of the state of Illinois. There is not racism in this rejection of his "claim" to the senate seat. There is no support for Mr. Burris, beyond a small enclave of people, that see personal benefit in this appointment and helping Mr. Burris press his claim. His insistance that he is the senator from Illinois is delusional. He does not represent me, and he hopefully never will. Let the voters in Illinois decide who should sit in that seat-NOW. We're about to vote on a replacement for Rahm's seat. Let's piggy back the senate seat onto that ballot. The money for this special election, is minimal compared to the damage this govenor and faux senator are doing to this good state.

[BeasleysMom]

What a stu pid thing for David Wright to say after the Dems elected the first black man to the presidency. Haven't heard him commenting on the racism of the gops on the Magic N. CD. What a jerk I constantly question why news organizations hire people with such a lack of intellect..

[PallinAround]

And I'm calling ABC News a bunch of tabloid hacks for throwing journalistic integrity out the window with their sensationalistic editorializing. If they had any self-respect, they'd be ashamed. I guess they'd rather have ratings than honor. Makes me realize what a good choice I've made for ignoring ABC ever since Peter Jennings died.