Posted on 12/30/2008 12:32:54 PM PST by radar101
Senate Democratic leaders are refusing to seat Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s choice for President-elect Obama’s former seat.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) issued a joint statement blasting Blagojevich for naming Roland Burris to the seat and said they will block his appointment.
“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,” Reid and Durbin said.
“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.”
The two leaders emphasized they were not judging Burris, but simply noting the ethical cloud over Blagojevich. They also pointed out the Senate faces a heavy legislative calendar in January. They repeated their call for the Democratic governor to resign and their threat to refuse any appointment he makes.
“We again urge Gov. Blagojevich to not make this appointment,” the statement reads. “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.”
But questions remain as to what authority the Senate has when it comes to accepting or rejecting a gubernatorial appointment.
Associate Senate Historian Don Ritchie said the four examples since 1913 include Democrat Theodore Bilbo of Mississippi, who died while a Senate committee was investigating corruption charges against him in 1947; Republican Frank Smith of Illinois, whom the Senate voted against seating due to corruption charges in 1928, and Democrats Henry Clayton and Franklin Glass of Alabama, both of whom withdrew their bids in 1913 after a dispute arose over the governor's authority to appoint them.
Ritchie also said senators are often seated but then investigated by the chamber’s Rules Committee to determine whether any charges against the senator have merit.
That was the case in Sen. Mary Landrieu’s case, Ritchie noted for example. The Louisiana Democrat won a narrow election in 1996 and was seated while the Rules Committee probed charges of voter fraud before ultimately exonerating Landrieu after 10 months
But Ritchie conceded the Blagojevich situation was different.
“We really haven’t had a case like this,” he said. “There’s just nothing quite comparable.”
Burris, 71 and African-American, is a former state comptroller and attorney general of Illinois. He also was Blagojevich’s Democratic primary opponent in the 2002 governor’s race and was endorsed by Obama in that primary battle. Burris and Blagojevich have long since patched over any differences — Burris praised the governor to the Chicago Sun-Times in 2006.
"I can't see how anyone can say he is not governing," Burris said at the time. "I think he is doing a helluva job."
Blagojevich’s move comes despite allegations that he attempted to sell Obama’s seat for his personal benefit, according to a complaint filed by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, which cited wiretapped conversations.
Burris was not on the list of preferred candidates that Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s incoming White House chief of staff, sent over to Blagojevich’s staff.
An Obama spokesman said the transition team had no comment on Blagojevich’s move “right now.”
After Blagojevich’s initial arrest, Reid and Durbin both reacted early, pressing him not to make any appointment. At a Dec. 9 press conference, Durbin called for a special election, saying, “No appointment by this governor under these circumstances can produce a credible replacement.”
A day later, in a letter to Blagojevich written by Reid and Durbin and signed by all other Democratic senators, the Democratic leaders told the embattled governor “any appointment by you would raise serious questions … For the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you to refrain from making an appointment to the Senate.”
Reid and Durbin also threatened Blagojevich that “should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment, we would be forced to exercise our constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.”
Blagojevich's move Tuesday surprised even his own lawyer, who said only a week and a half ago that the governor would not make an appointment.
Burris, at 71, doesn’t have an age issue?
But, McCain did?
Is the Senate now an affirmative action seat too?
“Dems send Burris to the back of the bus!!!”
....film at 11...
How sweet it is!
Howyadoin barack baby?
Re#15 I saw that. The best part is that Reid cannot “not seat” the Gov’s pick until the Senate is convened. I wonder if there is public debate as well? LOL. More popcorn, please...
OK, Senator Reid, if you won’t accept the Governor’s appointment how about backing a special Illinois election for the Senate seat. Let the PEOPLE decide.
I love this Blago guy. A masterful stroke - nominate the senior statesman black guy with a good state reputation (and history of political contributions). Blago is not out of it yet . . .and is going to be here to provide lots of entertainment!
Notice how the article points out how quick the national Dems were to denounce any Blago pick by stating that a special election should occur but then ignores how the local Dems, with the support of their federal cousins, has since shot down any idea of the Ill. voters being allowed to choose. That is the people deserve to be represented but the people have no right to choose their representation, under the cloudy circumstances presented.
The fact that Reid and Durbin state that the Senate will shoot down Blago's appointment of Burres not because of his qualifications or integrity but because Burres would enter the Senate in a cloud of controversy in effect DOES question the integrity of Burress.
There has now been a three week delay to hold a special election, the only choice that seems fair under the circumstances.
Blago has put the Dems in and out of Ill. in a pickle on a variety of levels - race, voting, corruption yada yada.
I think you’re spot on with your analysis.
Whoops - Burris, not Burres.
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. After lurking for years, I finally joined about two months ago. You are the first person to agree with me about anything! :0)
I think the fix is in. Blago’s got dirt on The Kenyan. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fitzgerald gets the boot on Inauguration Day.
Well, let’s not get all emotional. Anyway, welcome to FR.
Don't want to be caught short, stock up now. This Blago-Obama transaction affair is not going away.
Quinn says Blago is not fit to make appointments!
Quinn is not fit to say that Blago is not fit. Let the sheeple of Illinois say who is and who isn't.
When your opponent is shooting himself in the foot it's sometimes better to just sit back, be quiet, and watch him do it.
The conventional wisdom is that BO can't/won't fire Fitz because of the political fallout. I disagree--the presstitutes will cover the 0ne as they have and will continue to do so. My hope of hopes is that Fitz already has the goods on the "Kenyan" and is not afraid to pull the trigger and, fearing justice will not be done if he is fired, pulls it. Perchance, to dream...
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