Sen. Roland Burris Denies "Pay to Play": "Have You Read It?" (Video)

I forgot this guy was still in the Senate. Where's Blago?

Obama's "Urban Czar": Are Alfonso Carrion's Campaign Donations Pay to Play In The Bronx?

I know. I know. This is just how New York works. Call it pay-to-play, call is bribery or call it politics as usual, but it's oddly reminiscent of the way Chicago politics works.

And despite all the BS Team Obama rhetoric, my prediction is Washington will be full of examples like this as all the CRAPulus, Bailout, Omnibus, etc cash is handed out to "infrastructure", "shovel-ready" projects and other useless non-stimulating earmarks.

From The Daily News:

The man who is President Obama's newly minted urban czar pocketed thousands of dollars in campaign cash from city developers whose projects he approved or funded with taxpayers' money, a Daily News probe found.

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion often received contributions just before or after he sponsored money for projects or approved important zoning changes, records show.

Most donations were organized and well-timed.

In one case, a developer became a Carrion fund-raiser two months before the borough president signed off on his project, raising more than $6,000 in campaign cash.

In another, eight Boricua College officials came up with $8,000 on the same day for Carrion three weeks before the school filed plans to build a new tower. Carrion ultimately approved the project and sponsored millions in taxpayer funds for it.

Carrion resigned as borough president effective Sunday and begins his new job as director of the White House Office on Urban Policy Monday.

Saturday Carrion declined to answer written questions about his receipt of timely campaign contributions. Instead, he issued a terse statement:

"Thousands of people who share the Borough President's vision for building a stronger Bronx and a stronger city have contributed to Carrion NYC. Teachers, parents, police officers, firefighters, members of the business community and concerned citizens have all contributed to the borough president's efforts to strengthen the Bronx and stimulate the local economy and he is proud to have such wide-ranging support."

The Daily News goes on to list the specifics.

I'll let you decide.

Roland Burris Admits To Raising Money For Blagojevich

Whatever, anyone surprised by this lunatic Burris anymore? We all know by now how the Democrats define "contact".

The Associated Press:

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – U.S. Sen. Roland Burris now acknowledges attempting to raise money for ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich — an explosive twist in his ever-changing story on how he landed a coveted Senate appointment from the man accused of trying to sell the seat.

Burris made the admission to reporters on Monday, after releasing an affidavit over the weekend saying he had more contact with Blagojevich aides about the Senate seat than he had described under oath to the state House panel that recommended Blagojevich's impeachment. The Democrat also said in the affidavit, but not before the panel, that the governor's brother asked him for fundraising help.

Though Burris insists he never raised money for Blagojevich while the governor was considering whom to appoint to the seat President Barack Obama vacated, the revelation that he had attempted to do so is likely to increase calls for Burris' resignation and an investigation into whether he committed perjury before the panel. Illinois Democrats have forwarded documents related to Burris' testimony to a county prosecutor for review.

"Pay to Play": The Chicago Poltical Themesong

Sen. Roland Burris Changes His Story On Blagojevich; Illinois State House Seeks Perjury Investigation

Indeed, Blago has, in fact, rubbed his proverbial "taint" on Washington!

Why am I not surprised? Yes, Rod Blagojevich is a tad flaky and, frankly, nuts. But Roland Burris did not act in a completely sane manner by accepting the Senate nod either.

Piece by piece, this entire cluster f*ck will reveal its true colors. Others are involved. Other "high-level officials" from Illinois (ahem) know more than they have said so far.

I'm pretty sure no honest politician has worked in Illinois for years.

The Chicago Sun-Times was the first to report:

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's brother solicited U.S. Sen. Roland Burris for up to $10,000 in campaign cash before Blagojevich named Burris to the coveted post -- something Burris initially failed to disclose under oath before an Illinois House impeachment panel, records and interviews show.

Burris (D-Ill.) acknowledges being hit up for the money in a new affidavit he has sent to the head of the House committee that recommended Blagojevich be removed from office.

The affidavit is dated Feb. 5 -- three weeks after Burris was sworn in to replace President Obama in the Senate.

Burris -- who did not give money to the Blagojevich campaign fund in response to the previously undisclosed solicitation -- provided a copy of the sworn statement to the Chicago Sun-Times Friday in response to questions about his contacts with the Blagojevich camp about fund-raising.

Burris acknowledged having three conversations with Robert Blagojevich, who headed the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund -- and one of those was likely recorded by the FBI.

Members of the Illinois State House want to launch a perjury investigation.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois House Republicans say they want U.S. Sen. Roland Burris investigated for perjury.

State Rep. Jim Durkin told The Associated Press he and GOP leader Tom Cross will ask for an outside investigation into whether Burris perjured himself before a House committee investigating former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment.

Fox News has more.