You knew that the race card would have to be played

As soon as we heard that Blagojevich is appointing Roland Burris who happens to be African American, it was clear that race was going to enter into the debate over the Democrats accepting his nomination. And cheers to Bobby Rush who was happy to throw down the race card as soon as Blagojevich made his nomination public.

His choice of Burris, Illinois' first African-American elected statewide, presents senators with the dilemma of saying no to a replacement for Obama, who was the nation's only black senator.

That point was driven home at the news conference by Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush of Chicago, who said it's a matter of national importance that an African-American replace Obama in the Senate.

"Let me just remind you that there presently is no African-American in the Senate...this is just not a state of Illinois matter," Rush said.

"I would ask you to not hang or lynch the appointee as you try to castigate the appointer," Rush also said. "Roland Burris is worthy."

Yup, now it's all about race and the Democrats are the ones who are being accused of "lynching" a black senatorial nominee. He might be a total sleaze, but Blago does know how to play his weak hand. Throwing down the race card always manages to stir things up.