Opinion

Burris deserved harsher punishment

Posted November 23, 2009 10:00 pm

A favorite tactic of politicians who don't want to answer or be accountable for their actions is to put out a release late on a Friday. In this way, the matter escapes prime time news, it appears in the more lightly-read Saturday news edition instead of Sunday's, and by Monday their hope is that it's all forgotten.

News of the qualified admonishment of Roland Burris by the Senate Ethics Committee was handled in exactly this fashion this past weekend. Our other Senator, Mr. Durbin, a pillar of putty throughout this national disgrace, had no comment other than to state that the action "speaks for itself," whatever that means.

But since the Burris camp regarded his wrist slap as a vindication of his testimony to the Senate, the citizens of Illinois and all Americans clearly have received disrespect and a denial of justice.

I hope enough voters remember this episode and the performance of the weak-willed politicians who we elected to represent us.

Bernard J. Smith

Barrington

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