Burris Praises His Testimony: I Passed With Flying Colors (VIDEO)

Roland Burris praised his performance in front of the House panel studying impeachment for Gov. Rod Blagojevich Thursday, saying he "passed the test with flying colors":

"I have nothing to hide," Burris said at a State Capitol news conference immediately after he finished answering questions from committee members. "I am a hard-working public servant."

Burris categorically denied that he made any deal with Blagojevich in exchange for the seat, saying, "I can before this committee state that there was nothing ... legal, personal, or political exchanged for my appointment to this seat."

However, Burris did disclose a conversation with a Blagojevich confidante about the seat that could hamper his Senate seating.

Burris admitted to the panel that he had expressed his interest in the seat to Lon Monk, Blagojevich's close friend and former chief of staff who has been identified as "Lobbyist 1" in the criminal complaint against the governor. The disclosure of the conversation, which occurred while Burris was meeting with Monk about business contracts, contradicts Burris's January 5 affidavit:

[I]n a sworn affidavit filed January 5, Burris swore that, before he was asked by Blagojevich staff if he was interested in the position, "there was not any contact between myself or any of my representatives with Governor Blagojevich or any of his representatives regarding my appointment to the United States Senate."

Watch Burris's testimony:

Comments

[CatladyLinda]

What part of "lying" do politicians not understand? In a sworn affidavit, Burris said he had no contact with Blago or any of his representatives regarding the senate seat, then he testified that he did discuss it with one of Blago's representatives. One of those statements must, in fact, be a lie. Therein lies the problem.

[hernan1333]

Now understand why Blago selected him: they're both arrogant, shameless and delusional. It's amazing that it took so many years to see Burris's true colors.

[ReesieKitty]

Roland Burris is a particularly UNdistinguished politician. Sure, he's sat in some public offices over the years and knows how to go along to get along- but that's about it. he has never done anything of particular merit in his time in public office ( I can't really call it public 'service') and he has LOST every higher election he's ever run for. Now tell me again, other than being appointed by a governor under federal indictment for trying to SELL a US Senate seat- why should this man be a Senator? There's no reason except that he's the guy Blago picked- and that in and of itself taints the appointment. Burris is a self-aggrandizing, old school politician- the kind of politics we're trying to move away from. WHY should he be sat, even as a 'placeholder' under such murky circumstances? I vote in IL and I totally reject him as a representative. We need a special election, even if it takes a little longer- I don't want Burris and his self-rightousness shoved down my throat, thank you very much!

[shireenj]

I don't LIKE him ....

[mjb5406]

The Illinois Supreme Court today rejected Roland Burris' effort to get the signature he needs to complete his appointment to the U.S. Senate.

Burris was seeking to compel Secretary of State Jesse White to sign the certification of appointment naming Burris to the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Gov. Rod Blagojevich named Burris to the Senate seat last week, but White refused to sign the required paperwork because the governor has been charged with crimes including trying to sell the Senate seat.

Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate have cited the lack of White's signature as a reason not to allow Burris into the Senate.

White has maintained that his signature is purely symbolic, and the high court agreed in its refusal to grant the motion.

"Because the secretary of state had no duty ... to sign and affix the state seal to the document issued by the governor appointing Roland Burris to the United States Senate, petitioners are not entitled to an order from this court requiring the secretary to perform those acts," the high court wrote in its opinion. "Under the secretary of state act, the secretary's sole responsibility was to register the appointment, which he did."

[Freedomscap]

Thus, the Senate was wrong, legally, for refusing to seat Burris for lack of the signature of White.

The Senate is guilty -- go figure.

[mjb5406]

Nope... there is a long-standing Senate rule that requires both the signature of the governor and the secretary of state before they will seat a senate appointment. The Ill. Supreme Court merely ruled that nothing in ILLINOIS law requires that White sign the document. The Senate must vote now as to whether or not to suspend their rule; I bet Burris files in Federal court to force the Senate to suspend the rule. That may go nowhere, since the Judicial branch rarely likes to interfere in the procedural matters of the Legislative.

[nomobull]

no mr burris you didn't.

[wbateman]

I like him. He's so ummmmm.... fuzzy.

The afro went out with the pocket square. Wait... he wears those too.

[Atmus]

Just to let you know, thats not a Afro.

For a older man of his age, to still have so much hair on his head...........what should he do, get a perm? pfft.

[lvdragonlady]

Not sure what he is referring too, I read some of his responses and they are kinda 'iffy' to me.

[Freedomscap]

Should we accuse someone on "iffy" stuff. Nothing to hang one's hat on.

[vote-obama]

this man must be from israel because he seems to have that israeli i can do no wrong mentality.

[Bitsko]

Except when it comes to grammar and spelling. I predict a long life of cognitive dissonance in your future.

[Freedomscap]

You guys criticizing this guys ego/personality, seem like you don't know how to win and play in the big league.

[Bitsko]

The more we hear from this man, the more obvious it is he is a raving egomaniac who actually believes he was selected by God. He ought to fit right in the Senate with all the other meglomaniacs.

[Freedomscap]

It takes a huge ego to run in politics -- how many really successful people do you know?

[Bitsko]

"We are hoping and praying that they will not be able to deny what the Lord has ordained," Burris said in church last week. That tells me all I need to know about this politician.

[Figerre]

This guy speaks of himself like the royal we or breaks his arm patting himself on the back -- 'I did such a great job....' there is more to him than is meeting the public eye, let's get out the microscope and LOOK!

[american-dolt]

This guy is in love with himself

[justoverit333]

Burris seems a little coo coo for cocoa
puffs to me.

[mjb5406]

At the very least, Burris won't have any arms left to do senatorial work because they're both going to be broken from patting himself on the back so frequently. So self-aggrandizing!