Time for Roland to go

Anyone appointed to the Senate by impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich didn’t stand a good chance of becoming a popular figure.

The association with Blagoj- evich’s rampant corruption and greed were fairly certain to impede Burris from becoming an outstanding Senator.

But it was also difficult to dislike the seemingly honest man who had formerly served as a state attorney general in Illinois.

If anything, one was inclined to believe that Blagojevich was exploiting Burris’ clean record. On the surface, it looked like Blagojevich’s last-ditch effort to avoid impeachment by associating himself with an ethical Senate appointee.

Then Burris doomed himself.

Last week, he admitted that he had attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to raise money for the former governor’s benefit last year. Burris’ fundraising was solicited by Blagojevich’s brother when the governor became aware that Burris was interested in Obama’s Senate seat.

Participating, even unsuccessfully, in pay-to-play schemes is both unscrupulous and unacceptable behavior for public figures. Burris’ complicity in this shameful betrayal of the public’s trust suggests he is incapable of providing the people of Illinois with honest, ethical representation.

But Burris isn’t only guilty of trying to buy power. When he assumed office, he began to lie about his wrongdoing.

Since January, Burris has offered at least three discrepant accounts of his appointment while under oath.

On Jan. 5, for example, Burris swore that “there was not any contact” between himself and Blagojevich before he was selected as Senator.

We won’t be able to put the mess of the Blagojevich era behind us until Burris finally puts his own career second to the interests of the people.

At this point, it seems resignation is the best way for Burris to put the people first.