Why is Harry Reid all up in Illinois’ Kool-Aid?

By: Charles Mombo

Harry Mason Reid, Senate Majority Leader

I have always wonder why Harry Mason Reid, the Senate Majority Leader and Senator from Nevada is all in Illinois’ Kool-Aid and don’t even know the flavor? Senator Reid has not hid his feelings about Illinois Governor Ron Blagojevich and the appoint of the Honorable Roland Burris to replace Barack Obama.

Well, his motives are becoming clearer by the weeks. It was recently reported that Harry Reid was not aware that the FBI had the Illinois Gov. Blagojevich phone tapped when he called the governor’s office to say he didn’t want any Black candidates appointed to the post; specifically Jesse Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis and Emil Jones to replace Barack Obama. Reid wanted either Tammy Duckworth or Lisa Madigan. “It’s interesting that all those who are viable are white women and the ones who are unacceptable are black men,” Prince Riley, a senior consultant to Burris, told Politico.

Reid wrote to Blagojevich on Dec. 10, "Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated."

Reid may not only be a hypocrite, or a sheep in wolf’s clothing but may be overstepping his authority. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently threw his support behind Caroline Kennedy knowing very well there are other candidates more qualify then Ms. Kennedy. Reid told Nevada political analyst Jon Ralston on Tuesday that he personally called New York Governor Paterson, urging him to appoint Kennedy to the seat. Another example of his overstepping.

From every indication it appears that Senator Reid is taking this whole issue to a personal level. Just yesterday, Sunday, Reid called Gov. Rod Blagojevich "corrupt" and accused him of trying to divert attention from his criminal case by falsely alleging Reid opposed African-American candidates seeking Illinois’ Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Reid probably has forgotten about the presumption of innocence – being innocent until proven guilty in the United States – is a legal right that the accused in criminal trials has in our great country.

At a Sunday prayer service at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 740 East 77th Street in Chicago, Burris said "I am now the junior senator from the state of Illinois. Some people, they want to doubt that. That is their right," he further added "You are the real determining factor," as he addressed the several hundred supporters in the predominantly African-American audience.

Responding to a question on how should the Senate handle the Roland Burris appointment, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen last week said "There is a clear path laid out in law as to how to fill this seat. Blagojevich is the governor. He has not been impeached, he has not been convicted of any crime, and the man he has appointed is by all accounts qualified and respectable," Bredesen said. "Fellow Democrats: stop what you’re doing, seat Mr. Burris, start us back on the path of respecting the rule of law even when we don’t like it, and most importantly turn your attention to a long list of issues that actually matter."

Yes, the Senate is the judge of its members’ qualifications, however Reed needs to review the Powell v. McCormack case. In the 1969 case Powell v. McCormack, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress is limited to determining whether a person meets the constitutional requirements for membership—30 years old, nine years a citizen, and a resident of his state—or was legitimately elected or in some cases, appointed. Saying that Burris lacks the necessary ‘qualifications’ simply because the appointing governor is believed to be corrupt or untrustworthy or deserving of removal seems to be foreclosed by the “Powell v. McCormack" case.