Former U.S. Atty: Blagojevich appointment shows he’s ‘crazy like a fox,’ playing to future black jurors.
Former U.S. Atty: Blagojevich appointment shows he’s ‘crazy like a fox,’ playing to future black jurors.
Earlier today, Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) appointed Roland Burris, the first African-American elected to statewide office in Illinois, to take Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat. Democratic leaders have indicated they are planning to block the appointment. Speculating on Blagojevich’s motives, former U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey told CNN that the Illinois governor may be acting “crazy like a fox” and looking ahead to his own potential trial. Coffey said Blagojevich’s “conniving strategy” may be an effort to persuade future African-American jurors:
COFFEY: My question is: is he crazy or is he crazy like a fox? Rick, consider the fact that everything that Rod Blagojevich does at this point is with reference to his concern about spending a lot of prison time. So what does this appointment do for him? [...]
Let’s get to what may be the more conniving strategy of Rod Blagojevich. He has now put an extremely prominent African-American in play, he says, to replace the ultimate respected African-American in politics right now, Barack Obama. And he is going to say, no matter what the Senate does, I did what I could, and those guys in the Senate blocked it, that Secretary of State blocked it, but I did the right thing. And how will that play if at all to African-American jurors on the Rod Blagojevich jury panel trial one day? He may be trying to get a few points down the road, because he is surely going to need all of the points he can get.
Watch it:
Transcript:
COFFEY: My question is: is he crazy or is he crazy like a fox? Rick, consider the fact that everything that Rod Blagojevich does at this point is with reference to his concern about spending a lot of prison time. So what does this appointment do for him? Maybe a couple of things. First of all, he was accused of selling the Senate position. Now he’s basically given it to a perfectly honorable legitimate guy, and he will arguably use that in his defense.
But let’s get to what may be the more conniving strategy of Rod Blagojevich. He has now put an extremely prominent African-American in play he says to replace the ultimate respected African-American in politics right now, Barack Obama. And he is going to say, no matter what the Senate does, I did what I could, and those guys in the Senate blocked it, that Secretary of State blocked it, but I did the right thing. And how will that play if at all to African-American jurors on the Rod Blagojevich jury panel trial one day? He may be trying to get a few points down the road, because he is surely going to need all of the points he can get.
Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy.
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Blagojevich appointment shows he’s ‘crazy like a fox,’ playing to future black jurors.»
– - Wow, this may be a more offensive statement to African-Americans than “Barack The Magic Negro.”
December 30th, 2008 at 5:21 pmUgh, I’m really not liking the spin on this. Why does this have to be about race? I’d think the point is that Burris is an upstanding guy with a good reputation, and by appointing him, Blago’s playing to any Illinois citizen ends up on his jury. But instead all I’m hearing on this is black, black, black.
Either way it’s still a clever move by Blago, but it’s a good thing for Illinois that his finagling is reduced to trying to keep himself out of jail rather than making money.
December 30th, 2008 at 5:24 pmThis isn’t about Roland Burris or potential juries, it’s about Blago. Blago is just rubbing his shit in everyone’s nose — because he can.
Kendall Coffey is an all out racist.
December 30th, 2008 at 5:41 pmJust wait until Obama’s actually ‘in office’, then these racists will find every excuse to label what he does ‘all for blacks’. Oh, sorry, ‘all for negros’
December 30th, 2008 at 5:46 pmYeah, he needs all the points he can get. Right now the score is Feds 134, Blagoheart 3.
December 30th, 2008 at 5:48 pmWhat’s worse than racism?
Cynical racism.
December 30th, 2008 at 5:48 pmDo these people think that black people are so shallow that they’ll forgive Blago for anything just because he appointed a black man to the Senate? Do they really think black people will put more importance on this Senate appointment than on Blago’s actual guilt or innocence?
December 30th, 2008 at 5:48 pmI think the Republicans find it remarkable that a black guy is getting the appointment. This is a Dem appointment from Chicago’s South Side! It would be remarkable if he wasn’t black.
But think about it from the Republican point of view – if they ever appointed a black guy to anything, they’d have to throw a big circular parade just to pat each other on the back.
With Dems, it’s just another Tuesday.
December 30th, 2008 at 5:52 pmIt’s simple: Do the Right Thing!
That means Blago should step down and, Burris, if you are the outstanding politician you would like to claim to be, do no accept his nomination.
Blago has basically turned this whole thing into a circus: http://tv1.com/playlists/109
December 30th, 2008 at 5:59 pmDammit, Blago got Obama to say “taint.”
December 30th, 2008 at 6:01 pmPresident-elect Obama is a class act.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:11 pmI find it hard to believe this money grubbing wit wants to twist shit like a repug. I heard some of the tapes and it sounded exactly like he was selling the Senate seat to the highest bidder. I also heard his wife in the background grubbing too.
Thank you President-ELECT Obama I was going to say exactly the same thing;)
I hope the dems will be soft on him like they are with repugs.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:17 pmI can’t help but think that Blago just won his freedom.
How can they prove that he was selling the seat, when he has just given it away for free?
December 30th, 2008 at 6:19 pmCoffey is a money grubbing snake. He’s just trying to stir the pot for Blagojevich.
He must be a first generation dem.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:24 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
Do these people think that black people are so shallow that they’ll forgive Blago for anything just because he appointed a black man to the Senate? Do they really think black people will put more importance on this Senate appointment than on Blago’s actual guilt or innocence?
Right you are.
If he had any bouts about it, he should deny the poison Blagojevich nomination.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:31 pmNettles Says:
@ElBruce- Golly you Dems are just such Saintly Folk!
Well, it’s not so much that Dems are good as that the Republican party has long been turning into nothing but pure moral evil wrapped in the trappings of a political philosophy. Seriously, everything they stand for, particularly in terms of “economic conservatism” merely amounts to nothing but pure evil.
What a truly asinine post.
I bow before the master.
It does, however, reflect how much of an investment you made in your theory that everyone who has dared ever voted Republican is racist.
Not necessarily. You could also be the unwitting stooge of racists.
After you’ve woken up Lazerus, please walk down the Potomac river and turn all that water to wine in time for the inauguration.
See you there. Drinks are on me!
December 30th, 2008 at 6:32 pmYup, them dumass blak gurors won’t be ablta figger out nuttin.
Geez Coffey, drink much?
December 30th, 2008 at 6:33 pmPresident-elect Barack Obama has issued this statement:…
See chimpy this is how real men talk. No drool, clear, no funny facial ticks and everything you ain’t.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:34 pmUmmm, Burress doesn’t have any guns. His appointment is being attempted amidst a scandal that renders Blago’s decision making process moot.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:34 pmGive it up, ProudlyDumas.
repugs you hate it when 1/1000 dems fu and it doesn’t have to do with toe-tapping or child molestation.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:38 pmGoL, and they really hate it when we cheer the prosecution of corrupt dems, something that they just don’t understand…
December 30th, 2008 at 6:41 pmIf Burris were an honorable man, he would respectfully decline the appointment. Burris surely doesn’t want to move his career up the ladder by taking advantage of a tainted system – and Governor. Blago should be standing alone at this point – all alone.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:42 pmProud Says:
- crap crap crap crap -
By the way why is Obama oppossed to a black man taking his seat?
See, this goes back to my point about how it’s all black, black, black for the Republicans. Obama explained his opposition clearly and thoroughly. And yet, a Republican is alarmed that Obama would be opposed to it. Because to the Republican this is all about “a black man taking his seat.” Nothing to do with his background or qualifications, and the whole thing about him being appointed in inappropriate circumstances seems to have gone completely over his head.
Race might be an issue if black folks were particularly rare in the Democratic Caucus, but they’re not. I believe that at present, R’s have 0 black Senators, so you can see how from their point of view race would be a significant factor if it were happening to them.
But it just isn’t a big deal for Dems. Chances are the majority of candidates for that seat who would come up through any process would be black anyways – something else unimaginable to Republicans.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:43 pmThat’s a step in the right direction. I agree with Obama, although I still think it’s premature to ask for the resignation of a guy who isn’t even close to being proved guilty.
Now, before we jump on Obama for every perceived misstep (such as Rick Warren), let’s not forget the mistakes made by John F. Kennedy and to give the new president a chance to learn from his own inevitable failures.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:45 pmProud Says:
If Franken steals the seat in Minn, we will have the the Three Stooges (Wingnut Edition) it will make for great comedy.
By the way why is Obama oppossed to a black man taking his seat?
Franken isn’t stealing anything. Whoever wins the recount wins the election. Why are you opposed to democracy?
And you really should get some remedial reading lessons. Obama’s statement is very clear for anyone with a basic understanding of English — and there is nothing in there about opposition to a Black man taking his seat.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:50 pmWould Proud also boast of the Stolen election of 2000, where the Supremes appointed Bush presidemperor?
December 30th, 2008 at 7:07 pmRUCerious Says:
GoL, and they really hate it when we cheer the prosecution of corrupt dems, something that they just don’t understand…
Yea we are sell-outs.
December 30th, 2008 at 7:11 pmI just lost all respect for Burris. To stand on stage with Blagojevich and accept the appointment is just beyond reason. Burris should be ashamed of himself.
December 30th, 2008 at 7:14 pmAsking Rick Warren to give the benediction at his inauguration is not a “perceived misstep”. It’s an insult to many people who support equal rights in this country. Screw perception and screw whether it means anything to Obama politically and screw Obama for making the decision. I won’t watch the inauguration now. Obama has changed a joyous day into a celebration of bigotry. C’est la vie.
December 30th, 2008 at 7:22 pmrepugs don’t like the internet because their lies can’t be covered up anymore.
repugs call the internet “liberal.”
Ain’t that funny?
Get off the liberal\progressive sites, repugs.
I can’t even make up shit as long as you blockhead repugs do, your stupidity is consist and always so fu . repugs are mentality challenged/sick.
Get off the tubes.
December 30th, 2008 at 7:28 pmgummitch Says:
Franken isn’t stealing anything. Whoever wins the recount wins the election. Why are you opposed to democracy?
As I understand it, the wingnut concern is that the decision by the Illinois Supreme Court to include ballots that were missing on election day but were discovered during the recount is dirty pool. They seem to believe that the ballots were all fakes.
Disagreeing with a court decision regarding counting missing ballots to claim that the election was “stolen” sounds kind of familiar, huh?
Frankly, I don’t care about these things either way. Didn’t care about the recount fairness in FL 2000, and don’t care about MN 2008. The people have spoken, and they have decided that they can’t decide (statistical tie). So you might as well flip a coin as use any other method. Or have ‘em thumbwrestle for it, or whatever.
However, in respect for the rule of law, I’m not going to disagree or complain with the ruling of the court. I wouldn’t if Coleman won it either, which is why I’m so morally superior to Republicans.
(elbruce does his “I’m better than you” dance on top of a high horse on top of a pedestal)
December 30th, 2008 at 8:01 pm>See, this goes back to my point about how it’s all black, black, black for the Republicans.
Just as it was when GHWB chose Clarence Thomas to succeed Thurgood Marshall.
But I can see a way in which Blagojevich might be trying to curry favor with black jurors. He may be trying to remind them of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which I invite anyone to Google who doesn’t understand the reference. That was another case of Congress refusing to seat black legislators.
Other than that, the two cases are totally different, except for Republicans who don’t give African Americans credit for knowing the difference.
Yeah, I know Blagojevich is a Democrat, but if he can sell a Senate seat, he can borrow from the Republican playbook.
December 30th, 2008 at 8:24 pmwhy is Roland Burris going along with this????
December 30th, 2008 at 9:16 pmI really have no clue why Burris accepted this and it says something about his naked ambition, but the Democrats simply cannot refuse to accept someone because they don’t like the governor who appointed him.
Nate Silver, who has been right about a lot seems to think Reid, et al have very little leg to stand on.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/12/reid-has-few-ways-to-block-burris.html
December 30th, 2008 at 9:21 pmIf Nate Silver says the guy’s going to get in, then he’s going to get in. NS is frighteningly right about everything he takes his hand to.
Seriously, it’s disturbing. It’s like having the link to Nostradamus’ blog.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:39 pmOh Blago Blago Blago
You’re always pay-for-play
Oh Blago Blago Blago
Your hair piece screams “oy vey!”
Happy Hannukah, everybody!
December 30th, 2008 at 10:51 pmI doubt this has to do with Burris being black. It may have to do with the fact that Burris isn’t as tainted as other Illinois politicians are. He’s very well known in Illinois, and it’s actually a pretty decent pick.
As for Blago’s real motivation for this, who knows? If Blago is found innocent, he still won’t win re-election.
December 31st, 2008 at 12:38 amWho is Roland Burris and who are the people who are endorsing his questionable appointment to the Senate?
December 31st, 2008 at 7:58 amThis is no different from Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg.
December 31st, 2008 at 8:57 amBurris is a fine man. But he should be elected to office.
Now that his name is out there I’ll bet you he wins the election handily.
What ol’ Rod is trying to do is say “How can you think I was going to sell the seat! Look at the great appointment I just made!”
Well, Rod, we think you were going to sell the seat because you were caught trying to do it. As in on tape.
Burris for Senate!
Narrow-minded media claiming a potentially racially motivated action and making a racist conclusion based solely on race.
Almost makes you think the media is racist.
The ignorance, prejudice, and stereotypes that these people reinforce among the populace is a travesty.
I’d say more, but I’d be making broad, sweeping statements… Sweet, sweet irony.
December 31st, 2008 at 9:44 amWhat about the Jurors who don’t like black people?
December 31st, 2008 at 11:51 amHarry Reid and the Senate Democrats are just blustering right-wing windbags. They couldn’t stop the criminal Bush occupation of Irak. They couldn’t even cut off the funding for this occupation. But, hey, they managed to vote to outlaw our beloved 100-watt light bulb. And now, they are doing the dirty work for the GOP and white racists everywhere by trying to keep the US Senate lily-white.
The Governor of Illinois is still governing legally; he has not been removed; he has not been impeached. He has not been convicted of a crime. Ever hear of the presumption of innocence? Senate Dems were whining about the rule of law re: Bush, but now they want to have the rule of media gossip….
December 31st, 2008 at 12:52 pmHeck of a job, Harry…
(facepalm)
Reminder to black folks: The only thing about you that white folks find worth noticing is that you’re black.
January 1st, 2009 at 2:34 pmBlago’s pathological, like most of our elected leaders. Hypercompetitive, greedy, foul mouthed schemer… sounds like our soon to be new Chief of Staff. Wait, Emanuel trained Blago. He bragged about it himself to the New Yorker.
Democrats can’t control their nutjobs any better than Repugs.
January 1st, 2009 at 5:01 pm