No one should be surprised by Illinois Senator Richard Durbin’s admission:  Roland Burris was seated because of racial politics, not because he was especially qualified or clean.  One could, in fact, argue that Burris was only marginally qualified.  As for clean, well – someone who campaigns by trying to railroad a man to the electric chair by ignoring exculpatory evidence isn’t my idea of a clean, honest politician.  Roland Burris has a lot of mud on his hands. But he is not alone.

Coming soon after Attorney General Holder’s claim that American are cowards when it comes to talking about race, Durbin’s admission is surprising only in its candor.  Most sentient American citizens know that racial politics is poisoning civic discourse.  We have known this for years.  But no one in politics seems to be willing to do anything about it.  Certainly not the US senate.  There are good reasons to investigate Burris, and there may well be good cause to strip him of his senate seat.  But Rep Bobby Rush has played the race card well, and no one, least of all a Democrat, will do what needs to be done:

Tell Bobby Rush and the racial grievance lobby to be quiet for a change.  Tell Roland Burris to resign.  Tell the Illinois legislature to do what is right – and pass legislation to put the business of filling vacant US Senate seats where it belongs – in the hands of the people, by special election.  Tell William “Freezer Bill” (“Cold Cash”) Jefferson to resign before Congress investigates and possibly impeaches him.

Of course, it would help if someone with some stature would stand up and do this.  Someone like the self-proclaimed post-racial President.  That, however, isn’t going to happen.  President Obama, like most of the liberal Democratic politicians, has no desire to offend a substantial voting bloc, and one which he has self identified with for two decades. So rather than admitting that Burris is ethically challenged, and making a pointed request that he resign, President Obama is doing what he has done all along – tried to have it both ways, by expressing disgust at the problem, but failing to take any forceful action which might offend militant black racialists like Representative Rush.  I would say that President Obama, like Attorney General Holder, and many of the liberal establishment, are guilty of racial cowardice as the Attorney General charges.

There are some people with courage at this time.  Bill Cosby, whose politics certainly don’t include voting Republican, has been one of the few blacks to be outspoken about the issue of race in America.  He is, as you might guess, not well loved for his candor.  In his book, Listen, People, as well as in media appearances, Cosby is blunt and to the point:  Yes racism exists.  It is a two way street – blacks can be as racist as anyone else.  White racism is a pale shadow of itself.  And no, white racism is not what’s holding  Black Americans back from success.  The injuries are self-inflicted by Black Americans themselves:  Out of wedlock single mothers, disengaged parents, gangsta culture, and wilful refusal to become educated in mainstream skills like conventional English, math and marketable skills – these are all issues Cosby puts front and center as primary causes of the overwhelming poverty and incarceration rates suffered by Black Americans.

Mr. President:  You have wasted several opportunities to do what needs to be done – to actually behave as a post-racial leader.  You should put Mr. Cosby’s book at the top of your reading list.  Then you should call Mr. Burris and tell him if his resignation is not on your desk in 48 hours, you will publicly call for the Senate to investigate Burris and move to oust him.  It won’t be pretty.  Al Sharpton and the professional race baiters will not love you.  But you might move the national discussion on race in a positive direction for a change.  That would be a profile in courage, Mr. President.