Race not relevant in Burris debate: Rev. Jackson

Rev. Jackson where were you all this time especially after Rep. Rush made his comments that were seen as incendiary? Crain's:

“I think all discussion of race is a painful diversion,” Rev. Jackson said Wednesday when asked whether he agreed with U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago, that the job should go to an African-American.

“Roland’s case is a legal case, it isn’t about his race, or gender or religion,” Rev. Jackson said. “Does the governor have the power to appoint a successor, yes or no? I think yes.”

The veteran Civil Rights activist, whose son, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago, was widely seen as a potential candidate to fill the slot, praised Mr. Burris, a former Illinois attorney general and comptroller. “He’s always been an outstanding public servant operating with great credibility,” Rev. Jackson said. “There’s almost a consensus on his reputation. The issue has been the governor, not Roland.”

More food for thought is from Crain's Greg Hinz:

Rod Blagojevich disgraced himself, and quite possibly broke the law, allegedly trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat.  But it's the spineless chaps who run the U.S. Senate who are bringing a truly ugly end to the Roland Burris controversy.

   The Senate's two top Dems, Harry Reid of Nevada and Illinois' own Richard Durbin,  Wednesday made it crystal clear that they're ready and willing to let Mr. Burris into the old boys' and girls club, regardless of what they said earlier about Blagojevich "taint."

  They just want someone to get them off the hook, someone to blame, be it Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, the Illinois Supreme Court or the Illinois House panel that's about to move to impeach Mr. Blagojevich.  We can't have people thinking that a bunch of white guys turned down a fine African-American, now, can we?

    A week or so ago, both senators were adamant that neither Mr. Burris nor anyone else selected by this governor could be seated. Rod is just bad, they argued, and we're not moving. President-elect Obama made similar comments

   But Mr. Reid over the weekend indicated a willingness to discuss a deal. And Wednesday, he and Mr. Durbin laid out a clear path for Mr. Burris to get to finally get that title to fill in the blank space on his tombstone. And Mr. Obama said he doesn't have any opinion.

Interesting ending!