White House To Burris: Think About Your Future This Weekend

WASHINGTON — The White House on Friday called on embattled Illinois Sen. Roland Burris to take the weekend to think about his future.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs would not go so far as to call on Burris to resign from the Senate, as Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn did on Friday. Nor would Gibbs say that Burris has lied about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat, previously held by President Barack Obama.

But Gibbs said Burris needs to "come up with an explanation that satisfies" questions about the conflicting statements he has made. Gibbs said Obama supports "an investigation that would get some full story out."

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Burris to the seat despite a scandal over whether the state leader tried to sell the job for campaign cash or a plum post for himself. Blagojevich was later impeached and removed from office.

Burris now faces accusations that he lied to an Illinois House committee in January when he testified that he hadn't had contact with key Blagojevich staffers or offered anything in return for the seat.

Amid revelations Burris had attempted to raise money for Blagojevich and had multiple conversations with his advisers, Quinn urged Burris to step down.

"The appointment of Senator Burris was _ and his taking the Senate seat _ was based largely on the representations that he'd made, factual representations that he'd made to the people of Illinois through interviews and through his testimony to the impeachment committee," Gibbs said. "We know that _ and has been reported extensively _ that there seemed to be _ some of those stories seem to be at variance with what's happened."

The issue has been an extraordinarily sensitive one for Obama, and his usually smooth-spoken press secretary appeared at times to be struggling with what to say.

"I think it might be important for Senator Burris to take some time this weekend to either correct what has been said and _ and certainly think of what lays in his future," Gibbs said.

Comments

[nccp1870]

The best this senator can do with his situation is to position himself to be seen as someone who stepped up in difficult times and then wholeheartedly and generously fostered the campaign and win of the next Senator to serve.

He must come up with a "I believe Illinois needs a younger Senator----one that can be here in Congress long enough to become a Committee Chairman or a senior power," line.

He cannot really serve. No one will take him seriously. But this he can do and it would be a real service to his state and his nation. Only then, can he redeem his "sacred honor."

[cobraxus]

this is the same Roland Burris who as State Attorney General fought to keep an innocent man on deathrow because he(Burris)was running for governor and didn't want to be seen as "soft on crime"!

[Clayton139]

Resign - Roland Burris for the good of the country, and our President Barack Obama !
Don't make him look bad or weak !
You will be a drag on the Democratic Party, and President !

[Jazzcomedian]

Smart move on Gibb's part. This puts the pressure on Burris, and virtually eliminates him as a potential challenger to President Obama in 2012, in case the economy is still bad. Very shrewd. No matter what is written on his mausoleum, Burris can't match that type strategic acumen. His presidential chances are toast.

[mjb5406]

Burris a challenger to Obama??? HAHAHAHA

Homer Simpson wouild stand a better chance, and would certainly be better qualified!

[Jazzcomedian]

How about a Burris/Simpson ticket? That's be tough to beat.

[partyofone]

Oops. Didn't Harry Reid back down in his resistence to seating Burris in the Senate, when the White House pressured him? Sounds like more Rahm Emanuel mishaps. Didn't all those Chicago insiders around Obama get wind that Burris had veracity problems?

Why is the White House commenting now on an issue involving the Senate and the State of Illinois. Why not just focus on the big issues facing the nation and let Burris burnout?

[mjb5406]

At the time of Burris' appointment, I think the overriding concern was a protracted legal fight to the Supreme Court, which would have done nobody any good. Obama is a pragmatist... if you weigh the possible outcomes, seating Burris was probably the right thing to do, and I have a feeling some "higher ups" knew he'd self-destruct in a short time.

[wdw505]

so how much does a senate seat cost now........just wondering for future job openings in Ohio

[mjb5406]

To replace Boehner? All his replacement has to do is look less equine.

[bigmacha]

Let us hope that Burris demonstrates he has more intelligence then a potted plant and that he gracefully slinks off into the night - nevermore to be seen DC. The man was a mistake from the get-go and was seated under pressure. Now that he has demonstrated that he didn't quite tell the truth - it is bye bye time.

[mjb5406]

Potted plants do not have the high ego that Burris has. His ego will prevent him performing any selfless act (like resigning) and pretty much blocks any of the synapses that result in rational decision making. I will be very, very surprised if he resigns. If he doesn't, he'll be a pariah in the Senate, wandering around aimlessly looking for committees to join; nobody will want him.

[Taiyo]

"wandering around aimlessly looking for committees to join"

Or wandering around the Capitol parking lot with an umbrella, which brought him soooo much sympathy from the MSM.

[iswideopen]

Go now, Mr. Burris so that President Obama doesn't have to ruin you in public. You took his kindness for weakness, as many do, and are about to see the iron fist behind that velvet glove land on your legacy. You should be more than ashamed of yourself. As a Black woman, I tell you honestly, you and Bobby Rush have embarassed us all. Enough! Get out!

[wdw505]

hope he stays in the whole time.............laughing at this joke called burris...........more Chicago politics with which to paint Mr.b.o.

[mjb5406]

You on the wrong forum? Check out the Faux News site for the appropriate place to post your tr0//isms.

[tmike78]

Thank you Mr. Burris. I think your time in the senate is the shortest in the history of the US. (not sure actually) Well done. If you are going to be the best, be the best at something, even if it's the worst. Well done. I am proud you represent my vote in the senate. Oh goody someone else who has the common sense of a gold fish.

[wdw505]

no in the 1800's there was a senator that died hours after getting sworn in......the flu if i remember correctly

[danusgram]

Love it O and crew are not playing around....bye bye Burris old chum...now if this had been a Repub and Michael Steele you would be keepin that seat. He would make you the hip hop czar to give repubs your age some hip hop moves. I am so happy about this development.

[Bailey Reynolds]

I was a lifelong Republican until the GOP lost its mind at the dawn of the GW Bush administration. I saw how corrupt and bereft of logic they had become and left the party. Proudly.

Roland Burris is the epitomy of those self-serving and corrupt Democrats that lost congress back in '94. Precisely the kind of politician who will forever keep me from becoming a Democrat.

He needs to do us ALL a favor and resign immediately. Barack Obama's party has thankfully, shaken off the bad reputation that stained the Dem. party for so long and Burris is nothing but an impediment to the process of remaking this country and an absolute embarassment to his party.

[johnnygoodwud]

'think about your future over the weekend'. maybe the pres.'s people know something roland doesn't. maybe fitz has alot more on burris than even burris knows. burris and blago come out of the same mold, shameless hacks. someone stated about burris's respectful career,,,,,,,,,what career? he's nothing more than a professional candidate that always looses. when he was att. gen. convicted the wrong man and sentenced to prison. this is the apitamey (sp.?) of what is wrong with illinois politics.

[justwaitandsee]

Professional Candidate that always looses is exactly that = SERIAL LOSER

And I also believe there is probably more on those tapes than Burris realizes. Just listen to Gibbs statement "think about your future over weekend" that is a strong subtle statement. Did this man actually believe that the total truth wouldn't come out? Did he actually think he could blame the media or republicans for this? Roland Burris you are no democrat because a real democrat would have stood strong with the rest of the party and that is why you have no support.

First you turned your back of the Unity of the Democratic Party

Second you blinded sided everyone including the Media (never a good thing; you seen what they did to Sarah Palin when she came from left field)

Third, you played the RACE CARD when it never applied to you. You used Black Preachers as blackmail, you knew their power could impact a future democrat race; you brought in Bobby Rush to embarrass the entire AA Community with his ridiculous reckless rhetoric. You paraded from TV Camera to TV Camera looking like a Clown with his Traveling Circus.

And now you are all alone with a very small amount of supporters whose only reason for supporting you is because you are black not because you are qualified, which makes them as ridiculous as you being the one chosen to replace OBAMA’s SEAT.

[wsalyard]

The thought has occurred to me: Do you suppose Burris is taking the heat for Obama's election? Is all the pent up racism being heaped on him? Is Burris the falll guy?

[carnelld]

Bingo!!!!

[justwaitandsee]

Bingo you loose again

[NCYvonne]

Step away from the cr.ac.k pipe.

[justwaitandsee]

Burris was never the guy and that is the problem. Your empty cry of racism is just that EMPTY.

Point me in the direction of a blog site that is suppporting this man. NO ONE so step out of your delusional state and get some help as soon as possible.

[danusgram]

What the f #@! are you talking about O's press secretary not George Bush's. If you didn't know let me help you out Barack Obama is a democrat and so is Burris. Wacky describes you.

[mjb5406]

No... his narcissism and failure to tell the truth are his own doing. Fall guy? Nope... not anyone's patsy, that's for sure... we in Illinois don't care what color he is... he's a serial loser, and now he's falsified his resumé to gain a political office he couldn't be elected to.

[wsalyard]

I see no way out of this for Burris unless the black community stands up and says, "There are two Americas here. One for the blacks and one for the whites." And he gets no support from the Democratic Party. Can you just imagine if he were a Repub?

[StillIRise]

I don't know about this. I'm black, and I defended Burris - not because he's black, but because I believed that he had been legitimately appointed, regardless of the circumstances by which he received the appointment. As a resident of Illinois, I also respected Burris' sporadic record as a government servant. But now, Burris has just become an embarrassment. Every time he opens his mouth, he's digging his own hole. I think Burris is going to stick it out as long as he can, and I wish him the best ... but I don't think this has anything to do with race. It may have in the beginning, but this has become strictly politics now!

I do think that if he was a Republican, the Republicans would support him. But they support convicted felons ... so that's not saying very much for their kind of support!

[Bailey Reynolds]

Republicans ALWAYS put their own before country, laws, decency, etc. They are, today, a party of moral and intellectual zeroes.

yours truly,
Very disgusted FORMER member of the GOP

[danusgram]

"Burris is going to stick it out as long as he can,"...that would be this weekend.

[mjb5406]

I think that, until these revelations, many others supported Burris. Yes, he wasn't a "stellar" public servant, he made some missteps, but he wasn't embroiled in any scandals worth mentioning. That has all changed... he basically has thrown away his entire unsullied past in order to take hold of this senate seat. I'm really shocked that he admitted to the contacts... if he had kept his mouth shut, maybe it wouldn't have come out for a year or more when Blagojevich is tried criminally... meanwhile, Burris could just sit and smile his Cheshire-Cat smile. But instead, he keeps telling new stories, adding new details... where will it end? His credibility is nill now.

[justwaitandsee]

Your argument is silly and baseless. It might be a good idea to stop being so reckless and irresponsible when it comes to race. Are we going to call racism on every situation in which we don’t get our way. Bobby Rush used race against Barack Obama, when Obama ran against him for the House of Representative, saying he wasn’t black enough but where was the out cry then.

Bottom line is don’t get in the habit of crying racism so much that when it actually does occurr you won’t be taken seriously because you used it one too many times. Everything eventually has a backlash.

[danusgram]

Hey I am black . Go get an education and stop hating on us. We in no way think this. Stop being a victim what is wrong with you. Why in the world would you want this nut to epitimize an achievement of yours he certainly does not do that for me.

[KYJurisDoctor]

BLAGO's Burris needs to go!