Getting schooled by Roland Burris

We had friends staying with us for the inauguration, all of them huge Obama supporters. One of them said to me that Burris’s confirmation as a Senator lends an unfortunate validity to some unfortunate stereotypes about Democrats. Even when they control of every branch of government, they still wind up caving in to a nobody. Here’s how the issue played out on Meet the Press:

MR. [DAVID] GREGORY: OK. The president-elect was, was also rather adamant in support of Senate Democrats with the issue of Roland Burris. He, of course, was appointed by Governor Blagojevich in Illinois, who’s under investigation, has been charged with corruption. This is what the president-elect said on December 30th, when Senate Democrats opposed that appointment: “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 yet just this week there he is, there’s Roland Burris being seated as a member of the United States Senate. Why the switch?

MR. [RAHM] EMANUEL: Well, the secretary of state of, of Illinois signed the papers to seat him. At that point there wasn’t a objection for the Senate. He was seated and has served at ready and cast his vote, as he did the other day.

MR. GREGORY: Senate Democrats switched their position, allowed him to serve.

MR. EMANUEL: You know, and also…

MR. GREGORY: As did the president-elect.

MR. EMANUEL: Yeah.