Burris: Jimmy Carter Wants Me To Be Senator (VIDEO)

Saying that it will be only a "very short" time until he has the opportunity to serve as the junior Senator from Illinois, Roland Burris added a new wrinkle into the evolving drama over his political fortunes Monday.

He has, apparently, the endorsement of former president Jimmy Carter.

"This morning, I had a great meeting with Majority Leader [Harry] Reid and Majority Whip [Dick] Durbin," Burris told reporters on Wednesday. " And in that meeting we discussed quite a few things. But I had an important phone call before I went to that meeting, and that phone call was from my friend, former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter."

As Burris tells it, Carter got on the phone and said, "When you are in the Senate, Roland, you will make a great senator."

The Georgia Democrat isn't the only one growing more optimistic about Burris' career. Earlier on Wednesday, Reid and Durbin met with controversial governor Rod Blagojevich's appointee and sounded a much more positive tone concerning his chances of taking over Barack Obama's seat. The two Democratic leaders said they would withhold judgment on the best course of action until the Illinois Secretary of State signs a certification of Burris' appointment and the Illinois House convenes impeachment hearings concerning Blagojevich.

Once that is settled, Burris said, "We will proceed then to submit our documentation to the Senate ... This will go to the rules committee, they will then assess it and let me know what the outcome is."

Asked whether he had assured Reid or Durbin that he would not run for reelection in 2010 -- a precondition that would satisfy Democratic concerns that Burris would be a poor candidate in a general election -- the former Illinois Attorney General said such talk had no factual bearing.

"This wasn't even on their radar screen, they hadn't even brought it up," he said.

As for whether he would run for reelection, Burris responded that such a decision was far from his mind.

"Let me get my Senate legs under me and get in and raise some money to pay for all this stuff," he said. "Get in and get settled and first learn where the bathrooms are."

Comments

[AContrario]

Well if God and Jimmy Carter want him to be senator...I feel embarassed for him though.
Whinging his way through and subliminally playing the race card to get Obama's seat, I
am a bit uneasy about all this...

[texanna]

The sooner the Senate gets this guy off the national stage onto the back bench where all good junior Senators go to sit down and shut up, the better off everyone will be. Tick, tick, Mr. Burris, your at 13 minutes and counting.

[Obama4change]

Burris is so annoying, but I guess he will be Illinois next senator since the U.S. Attorney General Fitzgerald does not appear to have any evidence on Blago. Illinois looks like it is going to be stuck with Blago as their Governor as well. Fitz tried to help the Rethugs by tainting the Illinois Democrats and it worked. Now Illinois is stuck with a corrupt Governor and a mouthy, irrelevant, annoying, unwelcomed Senator. Jesse Jackson Jr. would have made a great senator.

[vote-obama]

GOD, jimmy carter, bobby rush...common burris you are embarrassing yourself.

[TheBaffler]

Carter has 1000 times more integrity and decency than Obama does.

[vote-obama]

hasn't this man any friends or family that can pull him aside and say please stop 'embarrassing yourself'.

[KarlaElisa]

I'll take the crazy Roland Burris' and Cynthia McKinney's over the crazy white folks in congress anyday.

[USA2Sense]

I don't think this man has all his marbles - some of his comments are so out of context - and just plain silly - whether he is white, black or martian green - I don't think he shoul be seated in the Senate..

[Samalabear]

I don't think so either. And on "The Daily Show" they showed a pic of the "mausoleum" that he built for himself. Very strange. However, if he's gets into the Senate he is only one person and in two years he can stand for election and then we'll see how the people of Illinois feel. That's fair.

[GeorgeP922]

If Burris is going to be seated (and it appears unfortunatly true)

then can we try and find some photos of him were he at least looks like an honest and serious politician.

Every pic he either looks like a liar, or a joke.

If we have to deal with him and the Machine bagage he carries, at least lets pretend he is a real politician.

[Icantbelieveher]

God and Jimmy Carter -- you can't ask for more than that!

[Figerre]

well, let's see - we have Blago embarrassing the state with his greed, and Burris showing why he never got past a primary, he kept holding press conferences. Maybe someone should put a sock in it.

If this is how Burris intends to serve his state, we are in for a wild and boring ride - maybe the press should just take a pass on some of these 'pressers' -

[lungfish]

More hubris, more narcissistic douchebaggery......

[bastalready]

He named his children Roland and Rolanda. Do you think that there is a grill in the works?

[sc92705]

If Jimmy Carter is your source for legitimacy, you got problems, pal.

[GeorgeP922]

How is Jimmy Carter illegitimate?

Please don't smear President Carter, whom regardless of your disagreements with has fought for people.

I have no record of Burris fighting for anyone other than Burris and Blago.

[Contributed]

Jimmy Carter is the worst president the United Staes has ever seen. They are both in the same class.

[Euranya]

C-
...Jimmy Carter the worst president? Have you been asleep for the past eight years? Carter is one of the only moral men who have graced the Oval Office in the 20th century!

[GeorgeP922]

Euranya, with the loss of many conservative pacs, and simply a huge loss has sent hundreds of Republicans to this site.

As everyone is hurting for money, we welcome them here as their annoyance drives up hits, which help fund this site (which is why you Democrats gav eup harrasing the right wing media years ago)

[Eyewideopen]

Jimmy Carter is a decent and moral human being.

[closetodemfection]

So am I but I shouldn't be president.

[vote-obama]

and 'Contributed' is the worst blogger the Huffington post has ever seen.

[jenweb]

How exactly was Carter bad? Bad because he tried to get US hostages released through proper negotations unlike Regan who traded nuclear arms for hostages. You Contributed are an uneducated douchbag!

[tiznow]

Don't you mean worse "ex-president"?

[Budokan]

The guy built a mausoleum to yourself. Now ask yourself: is this normal behavior? He's a freakazoid and, yes, Virginia, BIZARRE.

And here's another clue: No politician worth his salt will cite Jimmy Carter as someone who had it going on. The American people kicked that loser out of the White House and with good reason. He was an unmitigated failure and a spineless, gutless, out of touch President.

[inu76]

I'm a little confused as to why this press conference is considered "bizarre". The only thing bizarre is the unruly behavior of Reid and the spineless, gutless Democrats (aside from Feinstein) in Congress who sat back and let him waste our time with this baseless charade. I hate the Republicans as much as the next person, but they would NEVER go after their own the way Reid has the last few days. He's more angry at members of his own party than he is at Republicans who have ignored subpoenas, illegally wiretapped Americans and Lieberman who actively campaigned against the President-elect!! And as racially charged as this issue is, a black elderly man being led away from the Senate by an all-white body, you would think Reid would pick and choose his battles. He was played by Blagojevich who knew this would happen.

[GeorgeP922]

Well done.

Now that is good tro ll ery !

Bravo, repubs, pay attention, htis guy here knows the game well!

[valex]

Thank you, Roland Burris will come out on top!