ISSUE: Illinois governor's legal problems

OUR VIEW: Blagojevich should step down

It's clear that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is going to play political games until the bitter end.

Blagojevich, 52, is charged in a federal criminal complaint filed last month with an array of offenses, including a plot to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama following his election as president.

Blagojevich and former chief of staff John Harris also are charged with plotting to squeeze potential campaign contributors for money illegally and trying to get the Chicago Tribune to fire editorial writers calling for the governor's impeachment.

The governor says he is innocent. There is plenty of evidence to the contrary, but a trial is some time away.

For now, the governor has refused to step away from his official duties, even though in most such matters an elected official is suspended while the case is resolved. It should be that way in this instance, even as Illinois lawmakers determine whether there is ample evidence to justify impeaching Blagojevich.

Flying in the face of accusations against him, the governor has pushed forward with appointing an Obama successor. His action has served to deflect attention from his problems and put the U.S. Senate on the hot seat.

Blagojevich appointed a former Illinois attorney general, Roland Burris, to the post and thereby set up a scenario that has Burris fighting to be seated as the only African-American member of the Senate. It is the type of showdown that should not happen.

Rejecting an appointment by Blagojevich is not a matter of rejecting an African-American. It is about stopping someone from using official powers that should be taken away.

Burris, who was refused a Senate seat on Tuesday because his credential lacked the signature of the Illinois secretary of state and the official state seal, is still indicating he may fight.

Burris insists he is "not seeking to have any type of confrontation" over taking the seat, but he says he is considering a federal lawsuit to force Senate Democrats to seat him.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid holds fast to the position that the chamber won't seat Burris or anyone appointed by Blagojevich. It shouldn't.

Burris should not put the Senate in such a position. And he certainly should not play the political race card by focusing on being the only African-American in the upper chamber. That has nothing to do with his appointment and the mess that Blagojevich has created for Illinois leadership.

He's clearly not going to do it based on his recent track record, but the best thing Blagojevich could do for his state is resign immediately.

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