The Senate Appointment by Blagojevich

Michael Barone has an article in U S News and World Report on the Senate Democrat's statement that they will not seat Roland Burris.  He points out in the article that there is no indication that Roland Burris is guilty of anything (other than accepting this appointment, which might indicate poor judgment).  The negotiations that went into the appointment we are totally unaware of, but again, suspicion does not confirm guilt.  Until there is a conviction or at least a public hearing on the charges against Rod Blagojevich, there is no reason not to seat Roland Burris.  The whole situation is interesting--it's like watching a slow-motion chess game.  The appointment of Roland Burris was accompanied by an immediate playing of the race card to make it more difficult for the Democrats in the Senate to refuse to seat him.  It is politically easy to take a stand against seating this man in the Senate, but in doing that are we assuming guilt instead of innocence on the part of the accused.