Roland Burris: Reid Blasts Blagojevich For Making Pick

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid released a statement today in response to reports that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will nominate Roland Burris to fill the vacant Illinois Senate seat, calling the move "truly regrettable" and "unfair." Earlier this month, all 50 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus called on Blagojevich to step down and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the seat.

President-elect Obama has echoed Reid's sentiment in his own statement.

"Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy."

The full Reid statement:

"It is truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety. We say this without prejudice toward Roland Burris's ability, and we respect his years of public service. But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.

"Next week we will start one of the most important debates of the year - outlining an economic recovery plan to create jobs and invest in America. And in the coming weeks, we will be working to protect homeowners and consumers, make America more energy independent, strengthen our national security, and improve health care and educational opportunities. There is much work to do and a lot at stake. It is thus critical that Illinois and every other state have two seated Senators without delay.

"We again urge Gov. Blagojevich to not make this appointment. It is unfair to Mr. Burris, it is unfair to the people of Illinois and it will ultimately not stand. The governor must put the interests of the people of Illinois and all Americans first by stepping aside now and letting his successor appoint someone who we will seat."

Comments

[ricland]

Never heard Blago talk before. This guy is a class act. Reminded me of one of the Kennedys.

What a tragedy that he's a crook. He could have gone all the way with his looks, charm, intelligence.

ricland

[skaterdon66]

This is great theater...Dems in disarray, at the time Obama takes office..
1) Rod "Auctioneer" Blago.
2) Charlie "The Tax Man Cometh" Rangel
3) Illinois Rep Luis "Up to My Neck in Bad Real Estate Deals" Gutierrez
4) William "Freezer Money" Jefferson
5) TX Rep. Silvestre "Questionable Earmarking" Reyes.
6) W. Va Rep. Allan "My Earmarks are Good " Mollohan
7) Chris "Countrywide Sweet Deal" Dodd.

You just gotta love it...Good Luck with Reid and Pelosi, PE Obama...

[kellygrrrl]

Burris should not have accepted. Big mistake, IMO. Plus, his appearance on Rachel Maddow's show really made him sound foolish. Just my opinion.

[All57States]

You know, Burris is, you know, as qualified as you know, Caroline Kennedy.

[StillIRise]

Burris is very qualified for this position. He was the state comptroller and has served Illinois for in various capacities for decades.

Caroline Kennedy, while she has not been a viable presence on the political landscape, she has commendable achievements in her own rights and has also been very much immersed in the politics of our country all of her life. She is no less qualified than many other new senators.

[necer65]

Roland Burris should not be appt. I live in Illinois and I don't think Rod has any right to appt someone to this Senate seat. We all want him to resign. This Senate appt is tainted. Rod has proven that he is not to be trusted and that anything he does in some way must benefit him.

[Nitalia]

Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration,agrravation,humiliation, obligation to our nation- Ball of Confusion. That's what the world was 30 years ago and that's what the world is today!

Seat the man for Christ sakes!

[LeeCalif]

How can Obama release a statement NOW????

There is only one President at a time, you hypocrite !
Keep ignoring the slaughter going on !
One President at a time. Hypocrite !

[Nitalia]

Hypocrite! You don't have to be the President to have an opinion! You have expressed yours and you are not even the President Elect!

[jdenham]

Look out Harry Reid is not going to stand for this. Senator Reid please do not waste our time with your idle threats, you know and we know you are going to buckle. Just like you did for George Bush and Joe Liebermann.

[rogerse]

Obama is right, Roland Burris shouldn't be appointed

[AlligatorShuz]

Obama is wrong he should be seated and I bet you if it goes to the supreme court they are going to side with Blago and seat Burris. If you didn't know a senario has taken place in the past with the late Congressman Adam Clayton Powell form New York when the house refused to seat him and it went to the U.S. Supreme Court and the court ruled that they must seat him because he had not been convicted of anything. I don't agree with Blago and his corruption but he is still the governor of Illinois and he has not been convicted of anything.

[cindyfromfalls]

the problem is that if it goes to the Supreme Court it will take years to settle....so does the seat remain vacant in the meantime.?...do we risk getting a senator who will not support the Obama agenda?...I agree with you that he should be seated. blago is still the governor no matter many people would have it otherwise and as governor he is obligated to appoint a successor. If there are no grounds to remove him from office is it not clear that he has the right, for now, to remain in office?

[likeicare]

The right-wingnuts are peeing in their pants over this. They've already christened it as a "fatal" split amongst the Dems.

Let them wallow in their desperate delusionalism -- it's what they do best.

As long as Karl the Creep Rove is determining the course the party will take, the Dems have nothing to worry about.

[swiss-ski]

Actually it's the left wing who are changing their underware every 5 minutes. This is a huge problem for the liberals, however it will be sweep under the rug by the drive by media as usual!

Fruit of the loom sales are soaring.

[Plowboy]

First, Roland Burris is a reasonable selection. He has a clean record of public service.
Second, I am not surprised that people like Reid who can't find the energy of means to oppose -- or even talk about -- worse evils, feel compelled to jump in here with both feet. Legally, I don't think it any of their concern.
Third, I wish Blago hadn't made the selection. He has the legal power to do so, but he also knows, as does Burris, that this will create a question mark on the selectee.
Fourth, as an Illinoian I am again embarassed by the politics of the state. More of our recent ex-governors have gone to jail than have not. But Blago is the pits!

[Nardwilly]

The Secty. of State, Jesse White (Black Democrat), stated he will not certify selection. He must certify selection as if it were an election. No certification, no selection. Add that hurdle to Senate approval hurdle and Burris being seated seems unlikely.

People are not going to fall for the Senator must be AA crap in the year of Obama. Most AA will not accept that anymore. All of us are hungry for integrity. Alll actions by Blago are assumed to be lacking integrity.

[AlligatorShuz]

You must be somkin crack with that type of statement. You don't know JACK ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

[Nardwilly]

I am Black/AfricnAmerican and I do know something about the AA community. I could be wrong, but my opinion is based on my experience, not yours. I have never smoked crack. I have lived in Illinois for 3.5 years. Some time has passed since I posted my statement and I see no groundswell from the AA community to on this or other boards to follow Blago down this path.

[liberalsrheros]

why insist on wading into a quagmire after it's already caused unwarranted distraction for your transition ? blago is calling the tune, wouldn't you be embarrassed to find yourself dancing?

[Jaybot]

Look at Harry; getting all uppity. He does that, when he's dealing Democrats. But put him up against a Republican and he folds, just like lawn chair.

[gurukalehuru]

Could be Wurris.