Help me understand why it would have been a problem for Burris

[napi21]

to host a fund raiser for Blogo. I think Burris is a real dumb shit and shouldn't ever be a senator, but it seems perfectly reasonable to me for a fellow politician to host a fund raiser for a friend to get reelected. What am I missing.

Wasn't Burris' problem just mentioning that it would be a problem that makes it perceptively wrong?

[hlthe2b]

1. Three words: Quid Pro Quo

He can do a fund raiser but not for personal benefit... The implications to most listening to these tapes, is that he was setting up a "trade" while trying to do so in a way that covers his tracks... I know he has a few loyal supporters here, but he has always struck me as sleazy... Increasingly, it looks like those of us who thought so may be right.

[napi21]

2. I understand QPQ. What I'm asking is IF Burris had not tried to hide

his potential fund raiser & simply said sure, how about in two weeks at xxxx, would that have been a problem?

[Stephanie]

6. The fact that he said it in the same breath that he was asking if he'd gotten the appointment

Makes it a problem. Paying cash for a Senate appointment is a problem, hence the FBI investigation.

[Stephanie]

5. And he said he would do it through his law partner

Norman Hsu was just convicted of crimes along those lines. You don't fund a candidate through a surrogate. That's illegal. You don't ask for an appointment and them make financial promises. Also illegal. In short, you don't buy your way into office by hook or by crook.

[bigtree]

9. so, did he 'buy' his way into office?

did he 'fund' a candidate through a surrogate?

[global1]

11. Then What Is The Difference In This And A Insurance Or Big Pharma Lobbyist........

giving a Congressman or Senator money for a vote?

I don't think their is a politician out there that doesn't do something without getting something in return.

Isn't it in Chicago where if you want a new garbage can - you have to promise to vote for Mayor Daley?

[hlthe2b]

13. I detest the effect on the political system from big $$ lobbyists

but there IS a big difference. No single lobbyist holds the power to decide who gets a Senate seat. All they can do is support a campaign. No matter how corrupt they may be, they don't hold the singular power to turn over a Senate seat to anyone for favors. Blago did have that power and it certainly sounds like Burris was, at a minimum, negotiating the deal.

[Redbear]

3. I understood that he wanted to give his own money to Blago

And after realizing that would look like he was trying to buy the Senate appointment, he then discussed if he could launder the donation through his lawyer.

[madrchsod]

4. the key word you just wrote sums up the whole issue-launder

burris should have never been seated in the senate. reid was such a big ass hurry to get the seat filled that he could`t wait till blago was thrown out of office. i have a feeling that reid and durbin did`t want pat guinn to select the democrat to the senate.

in my opinion the odds of the republicans taking the obama`s senate seat is just about made it a sure bet.

[Stephanie]

7. Through his law partner

And that's what I heard in those tapes too - an offer to funnel contributions through his law partner.

[bigtree]

8. he 'discussed' it in a theoretical context and rejected the idea

never happened did it? He never 'laundered any money through his lawyer, so I think this is a big nothing. Apparently, so did the prosecutor.

[napi21]

10. I agree with you in part, BUT....he DID say he would do SOMETHING.

I realize now he;s saying he lied and never intended to do anything, but making the promise constitutes sap to play doesn't it? Even if he didn't follow through he did comit to support money.

[bigtree]

12. two things

One: he was being pressed to help the governors campaign, Not unusual.

Two: Burris realized, and said so from the beginning, that he was reluctant to do so because he was interested in the seat and he was concerned about how the 'help' would look. Not unusual for a state official to help build a Governor's war chest. Burris didn't create the special circumstances surrounding the open seat and he was subject to Illinois politics as usual which was going on outside of that. He was trying to find a way to serve both interests. His desire for the appointment and his need to keep supporting the Democratic governor along with the other politicians he would expect to support him. He didn't run afoul of any of the law or ethics in the end, I believe. That's what counts to me. The political talk which occurred in-between was inconsequential.