The Daily Background

After the midterm elections, we can say goodbye to Republican Senator Conrad Burns. Not only was he awful at representing his constituents, he had a nasty habit of falling asleep at the worst of times (such as at farm appropriations hearings– extremely important to his state Montana specifically, or while waiting for results on Tuesday November 7th). Below are a couple more reasons why our friends from Montana can be happy that they elected Democrat Jon Tester instead of Conrad Burns this year.

From the DSCC:

In 1994, a Washington Post editorial noted that Burns recounted an incident when a rancher asked him, “Conrad, how can you live back there [in Washington] with all those niggers?” Burns reportedly “told the rancher that it was ‘a hell of a challenge.’” The Post then noted that “After protests erupted in the state following publication of his remarks, the senator apologized.” [Washington Post, editorial “Conrad Burns Tells a Story,” 10/26/94]

During a 1999 speech to Montana constituents about U.S. dependence on foreign oil, Burns referred to Arabs as “ragheads.” The term is a derisive reference to the gutra, the head cloth traditionally worn by Arab men. [Washington Post, 3/12/99]

In March 2000, Angela Warren of Billings said she was offended by a comment Burns made when he visited her office and noticed she wore a nose ring. “What is that thing in your nose? What tribe are you from?” she recalled Burns saying. “It’s a nose ring, and I am obviously not from a tribe,” Warren said she replied. [Associated Press, 3/2/00]

From the NYT’s editorial desk (no link, Nexis) on March 2nd of this year:

Mr. Burns is a racially insensitive Republican whose re-election bid this year has been jeopardized by his dealings with the G.O.P. superlobbyist Jack Abramoff. Mr. Abramoff has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. Among other things, he’s admitted to bilking American Indians out of millions of dollars, and he’s said to be singing louder than the fat lady to federal investigators.

Mr. Burns is reported to have received more money in the form of campaign contributions from Mr. Abramoff and his favor-strewing friends than any other member of Congress.

Mr Conrad Burns obviously does not represent Montana. So it’s good that he’s finally out.

Previously:
Say goodbye to…. Rick Santorum

Say goodbye to…. Richard Pombo

Filed under: oh six midterm Elections, Z-TDB Blog