Harry Reid Might Accept Burris if We'll All Stop Talking About the Harry Reid Scandal

From all we've head this week, Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats are unwilling, under any circumstance, to seat Roland Burris as the next Senator from Illinois.

But this morning on Meet the Press, we learned that there's one factor that could override Burris's dealings with corrupt Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich...

Harry Reid's dealings with corrupt Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

So now, in what seems to be an attempt to get his name out of the news, Reid is softening his stance on Burris...

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) indicated Sunday that there is a chance that controversial Illinois Senate appointee Roland Burris could be seated in the upper chamber.

Reid, who appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press," said the Senate has the legal authority to deny Burris a seat in the chamber because of the corruption charges facing Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) over allegedly trying to auction off the opening created by Obama's departure...

But Reid conceded that "there's always room to negotiate" when asked if his mind was absolutely closed to seating Burris.

Suggested negotiating point for Reid: Getting the Blagojevich camp to refute allegations that Reid spoke dismissively of three leading contenders for the Senate-- all of whom were black males. Reid purportedly did not feel they could win a statewide election when Obama's term comes due in 2010.

Interesting that Reid was so concerned about black candidates' prospects in Illinois. Perhaps he should be more concerned with the prospects of wussy, geriatric, ineffective Senate Majority Leaders who accomplished nothing in two years despite being in the majority with a nationwide mandate from voters. Leaders who, for what it's worth, are blocking the path of much more qualified successors.

Because that demographic might poll poorly in Nevada come 2010.