Burris Goes Out In Style: Calls For End Of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Rebukes Lack Of Diversity In Senate
Outgoing U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (D.-Ill.) had choice words in his farewell speech about the incoming lily white senate due to commence in January 2011.
Burris is set to be replaced by newly-elected Republican Mark Kirk later this month. With senators set to leave town in the coming days for a week-long Thanksgiving break, Burris today took the chance to give some final remarks. His departure means there will be no black senators for the next two years, a fact that he lamented this morning, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
“When the one hundred and twelfth Congress is sworn in this coming January, there will not be a single Black American who takes the oath of office in this chamber,” Burris said during his sparsely attended farewell speech. “This is simply unacceptable. We can–and we will–and we must do better.
In this regard, and in any other, our political progress has proven less accessible – and less representative – than it ought to be, and although I have never allowed my race to define me, in a sense, it has meant that my constituency as a United States Senator has stretched far beyond the boundaries of Illinois.
And although I have never allowed my race to define me, in a sense, it has meant that my constituency as a U.S. Senator has stretched far beyond the boundaries of Illinois. Letters, emails and phone calls have poured into my office from black Americans all across the country. And at times, as I have tried to bring their voices into this chamber, I have acutely felt the absence of any other black person to represent them.”
Only three African-Americans ran for seats in the Senate this year; Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), Alvin Greene (D-S.C.) and Mike Thurmond (D-Ga.). All three were defeated—a troubling sign, Burris said.
Burris also urged passage of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal legislation to allow gay men and lesbians to openly serve in the military.
The Senator, who can vote until he leaves the Senate at the end of the month, said he very much wanted to support DADT as one of his last votes. Burris quipped that he was so in favor of the measure to let soldiers serve no matter their sexual orientation, he just might come back.
“Don’t be surprised if I don’t come back, because I’m from Chicago, and I’ll vote twice,’’ he joked.
In other news Burris is being endorsed to run for mayor of Chicago. Check out the following Web clip of the story:
Chicago Sun Times: Burris farewell: Lack of blacks in Senate ‘unacceptable’
Tags: African American community, Congress, DADT, lgbt news, Military, Politics
News | Derrick Mathis November 24, 2010
10 Comments to “Burris Goes Out In Style: Calls For End Of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Rebukes Lack Of Diversity In Senate”
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