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

[TiredOfLiars]

Where's Al, Jesse Sr., and the NAACP when you need them? Burris should be seated since he was appointed by a sitting governor. Dems are really sitting on a powder keg with this entire fiasco.

[richdoll]

burris embarssed himself by showing up bobby rush brought race into it .

[robXdion]

This is about conservatives in the media (Disney) who want to embarrass Democrats. That's all this is.

[bujeeboo]

Not that I am justifying ANYTHING ABC says, but this is why Reid is making a huge blunder simply not seating Burris.

Someone would start trumpeting this nonsense eventually, and Reid has no Constitutional right to intervene on the Burris appointment. Sorry, but it is true.

[plymkr]

Let me see 99 White Senators denying the only Black Senator...­...hmmm...­..yeah that smells RACIST!

Especially when Harry Reid previously told Gov. Blog that the other two black candidates were also not acceptable.

[manyamile]

Ok Huff post, it's getting difficult for me to sort out what is news vs. rumor.vs. blog vs. sensational headlines with little content vs. fact vs. speculation vs. so and so said based on what so and so said.
plus, seeing Ann Coulter splattered all across the top of the page this am was just plain ridiculous.

Maybe it is the exclamatory headlines, maybe the challenge of keeping a constant feed and dangling something new before our eyes. which must be a huge challenge.
i'm not sure, but it is getting harder to ferret out the hard news and valuabe commentary from your content lately.

keep your eye on the prize, which in my mind, is excellence in reporting and analysis and a challenge for us to think...not to simply titillate us.

let's give it our best.

[CharlesJ]

Well darn, ABC just went on my not to watch list.
Everyone knows that race has nothing to do with it. This is about the tainted record of Blango, that the Senate did not want on the seat. Why? Anyone that is seated by Blango, will NOT win come re-election as this will be a strong issue for the Republican that goes up against Burris. I am very surprised that Burris is so blinded by his own ego and desire to add one more accomplishment to his head stone that he can not see this.
Wow is all I can say. A crooked Govenor that got caught, puts a shady person that has not been able to be elected to any office for the past nearly 16 years and now the republicans have a great chance of gaining a seat come 2010

[Pupster]

Who is this David Wright and what is his contact number?

[lincheryl]

Shame on you, ABC. You are the one inciting race problems. It is when we are NOT looking at race that we can take either side of an issue that concerns AAs, depending on the facts. The Dems had already said they didn't want to seat ANYONE that Blogo appointed EVEN BEFORE he announced a name.

[concernvoter]

It is not about been racist. It's all about politics. Now is the time to put people in positions who cares about the United States. We are tired of chaos. ABC take a nap and call us back tomorrow.

[getoffmedz]

Each and every day MSM loses credibility with garbage like this.

heckofajob ABC

[HWNA]

I agree, it is like they are giving C students jobs as producers.

[loucreattie]

Or as I like to call them....FOX-Lite

[whiteboyblues]

The MEDIA is officially dead meat

[chalo]

Dems. are racist!?!? Uh, who is our President-Elect? And what party does he belong to!? Nice try ABC - friggin' corporate dummies!!

[ShanniC]

What else do you call a man who is the only African American designatee for a position in the Senate? I find it RACIST that Burris has not been seated. It brings up the specter of racism and prejudice.

[HyperInfluential]

Well I find it racist that the Governor of Illinois is apparently getting away with diverting attention away from his crimes by hiding behind a black man, as if to say "I'm a friend of the black community, so criticizing me is off limits." The senators informed the governor they would not seat any appointee from him. To say now that they should seat Burris, since he turns out to be black, THAT is racist.

[AfroLatina21]

This coming from a black woman, I don't think this has anything to do with race and I wish people would stop using the race card in this whole thing, both whites and blacks.