Happy St. Patrick's Day, Roland Burris!

Chicago politicians need to make a big deal out of St. Patrick's Day. After all, in a city so Irish they dye the river green each March 17th, you've got to make some overtures to the Emerald Isle.

So of course, Illinois Senator Roland Burris was in attendance for this past weekend's St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Chicago. But he wasn't exactly glad-handing with the crowd.

Wrapped in a green sash and carrying a walking stick, the senator rarely acknowledged the crowd. As he passed by, conversations sprouted on the sidelines as spectators pointed and nudged each other, reminding people standing closest to them that Burris was controversially appointed by ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

It was one of Burris' first appearances outside of the black community since he's repeatedly changed his story about his contact with Blagojevich's friends and aides in advance of being appointed. He has rebuffed ongoing calls from several state and national officials to resign.

"He's the senator -- I guess he should be here," said Collette Gortowski, 23. But "a lot of people weren't that interested to see him."

Gortowski, a marketer at a Chicago legal firm, said Burris didn't look at the crowd or wave.

Hopefully, Burris will do better next month when he has to appear at a Passover Seder in Skokie.