In the continuing conflict over seating a new senator from Illinois, there's a winner and there are losers. The winner is Governor Rod Blagojevich. The losers: Senate Democrats and Blagojevich's pick for Barack Obama's Senate seat, Roland Burris.

At first, the Dems tried to portray themselves as the guardians of ethics in politics, insisting that they wouldn't seat anybody appointed by Blagojevich. But this week they've been backpedaling. Burris seems certain to be seated, and the Democrats come off looking weak and indecisive - not a good thing when Republicans are hunting for ways to tarnish the Dems' reputation.

Worse, the Dems look childishly punitive. Their only objection to Burris is the man who appointed him. And by trying to keep Burris out of the Senate, they're playing right into Blagojevich's hands - giving him not only publicity but power. Surely somebody in the Senate leadership was smart enough to know this.

But the worst offender in all of this is not Blagojevich or the Senate Democrats. It's Roland Burris. It's not that there's any reason to think that he bought the seat. It's that seat-buying is what started this whole thing. Once the public heard the Blagojevich tapes, anybody the governor selected was tainted.

By accepting the appointment, Burris gives the impression that his interests are far more important than the interests of the people of Illinois - that his interests are the only things that matter.

Worse: Clearly, Blagojevich is using Burris. It's particularly sad to see a black man in this position.