Burris: Conservative Watchdog Sues To Seat Him

WASHINGTON — A conservative watchdog group has sued the Senate for refusing to immediately seat Roland Burris as the new senator from Illinois.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington on behalf of an Illinois resident. The suit was filed by Judicial Watch, whose lawyers say the Senate's refusal to seat Burris is unconstitutional.

Burris was appointed by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (blah-GOY'-uh-vich) to the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Senate Democrats and Obama have said anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who is embroiled in a corruption investigation, would be tainted and should not be allowed to represent Illinois.

The Senate on Tuesday refused to swear Burris in with the rest of the new senators. But Burris said Wednesday he should be able to join the Senate soon.

Comments

[ReesieKitty]

samerbeyer- may I point out that Jesse Jackson Jr. - a popular, articulate candidate who is also black DISTANCED himself from this Senate appointment as soon as Blagojevich's indictment was announced? He was considered to be one of the front runners, but he is too adroit a politician to allow himself to be put into office by a corrupt governor. There are plenty of other African American and women candidates also available- why pick Burris? The difference between Jackson Jr. and Burris, is that Jackson Jr. is young enough and popular enough to come back in two years and win the Senate seat legitimately. Burris KNOWS from experience that he is not well thought of enough to do so- this appointment is his only hope of getting into the senate. As far as Harry Reid goes- I don't agree with him on a lot of things, but it is IN NO WAY his job to field qualified candidates of ANY race for the senate position. We IL voters are speaking up loud and clear that Burris does NOT represent us and we do not want him seated. I just hope the senate and everyone involved listens.

[iswideopen]

The republicans have a plan. They actually think they can win the seat in 2010. Democrats, please, get our candidate ready NOW. And no, not Burris. This has been embarassing enough already. Blagojevich has made a fool out of us, and Harry Reid let him. This is a senate seat, not a "Black" senate seat. As an African-American, I still don't want Roland Burris to have the seat because of the way he went about it. It was wrong of Bobby Rush and it was wrong for Roland Burris to exploit the situation. It's my opinion and I'm sticking with it.

[samerbayer]

by seating him the Democrats will avoid FACING SOME ugly facts. instead of their senate leaders spend the time lobbying governors to appoint qualified black candidates for diversity they got caught doing the opposite of that. Whoever says that race should not be a factor is very much wrong. The issue of race here is not related to burris actions and it is more related to the democratic leadership who is happy to talk about diversity but in practice doesn't want it because of the soft racism veiled in the wrong idea they have about "black candidates are not electable"
Instead of Reid running around encouraging governor to appoint qualified balack candidates he did the following:
1- he was not "lobbying for" a candidate. he was lobbying against black candidates. That is not the job of the majority leader. as a matter of fact you could argue his job is to lobby for black candidate in the senate and support them.
2- he denied legally appointed senator from his seat against the constitution on the flimsiest ground

[livesimply]

"..he was lobbying against black candidates." You have no proof of that. At most, he didn't approve of the few candidates whose skin happened to be dark, NOT BECAUSE their skin tone was dark. Just because they throw you the race-baiting story, doesn't mean you have to buy it. You have a critical mind, don't you?

[RobinSeattle]

Race was a big factor for Senator Richard Shelby keeping his job in Alabama. Remember how, after early voting, he remarked "our [white] people haven't shown up at tha polls yet"? How about Rush Limbaugh saying that Obama "isn't really black"?

Then the Jesse Helms affirmative action ads, Willie Horton, G.H.W Bush's farcically retrying the officers involved in the Rodney King incident, using shills such as J.C. Watts and Ken Blackwell and the GOPs failure to propose anything concrete to solve the immigration problem because they were hoping to lure hispanics to their side.

Yeah, race and ethnicity are never factors for the GOP. And this country isn't on the brink of economic collapse.

Just how delusional are you?

[susiesorority]

I knew this would happen...another lawsuit by people who probably couldn't care less about who's in the seat just to make noise. White needs to certify this guy and get the dumb asses out of the court and off the Senate's back.

[NWBrunette]

Hey, the Dems are acting like a bunch of pigs playing in a pen full of mud. Why wouldn't the repubs wander by and toss in a few truckloads more mud? Don't blame them. It's time for the Dems to grow up.

[bigtimer1254]

The man is crooked, I don't trust him. He acts like he is in cohoots w. Blagojavich.

[Grunty1]

If there is one thing Republicans do well, it is inserting themselves in messes.
Of course, usually they MADE the mess too.

[tel8034]

The motive for this sudden "help" seems to be that they think with Burris on a Illinois future ticket that the repubs have a chance to win the seat.

I was warned a long time ago "Never look a gift horse in the mouth" ........................... Nice try rethugs, but we see right through your facade of concern.

[bigtimer1254]

Why do they arrest people in America. Just to let the offender convince the Law that what he is doing wrong is absolutely right. When you know you have the right to accept or deny. appointees. I don't understand this confusing Law. Then you arrest a man, put him under surveilance and investigation. And then turning your back on your own Order . After the Governor refused to comply with it. And appointed a man anyway, when you told him not to.
if the Governor is under surveilance and investigation and pending Impeachment. Then you put him on auaatomatic Leave, just that simple. You don't let him be the judge of nothing. After he has been arrested and put under investigation and pending Impeachment. Cause he is gonna do more dirt, before he leave. That is why he appointed Burris. Cause he Blagojavich was trying to be funny, thats all.
And then people try to get their way by extorting threats. We'll what you do is, you extort threats right back.
And Obama will stiil utilize his Economic Stimulus Pkg.

[mjb5406]

I doubt if this group, or the Illinois resident they supposedly represent, has the legal standing to file such a suit.

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/07/bobby-rush-birmingham-dogs/

[mjb5406]

I find it odd that nobody has investigated the money Burris himself donated to Blago, as well as all of the money Burris' consulting clients have donated to Blago. Wonder if that will show that the appointment is a "thank you for your support".

[johnnynyc]

Great!!

More "government by lawsuit."

[NorVaGal]

But-- I thought that Repubs hate lawyers! Or, does that only apply to lawyers who try to help people who are not rich?

[Grunty1]

Republican Party Motto: "Do as I say, not as I do"

[pab08]

Could the Dem Leadership have handled this matter any worse than they did? NO.
It was very questionable whether the Senate had the leagal authority to deny Burris. Blago is the governor. He has the legal authority to appoint Burris. The Senate can really do nothing about it. They Dem leadership decided not to chance their hold on the seat with a special election, and Blago isn't going anywhere for months - if at all. Burris has to be seated. The mindless hand-ringing only fed the media. What bumblers.
ANd don't even get me started on Bobby Rush. This was never about the color of Burris's skin. It was about the content of Blago's character. Bobby Rush's comments then (and the continuation nof them this afternoon) are disgusting and shameful.

[k6007]

Thank goodness. Now, minorities will support the gop. Not.