Democratic Lawmakers Gird for Racial Showdown Over Burris Appointment

[Purveyor]

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's surprising and defiant decision to appoint a replacement for Barack Obama in the Senate seat could lead to a racially-charged showdown in Washington.

On one side, Obama, who will become the country's first black president, has said former state Attorney General Roland Burris, the first black to win a statewide office in Illinois, shouldn't be seated because of the corruption case against Blagojevich.

On the other side, members of the Congressional Black Caucus are warning their fellow counterparts in the Senate not to block the appointment of someone who would be the chamber's only black member.

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush forcefully backed Blajogevich's decision on the basis of race this week, warning the public not to "lynch" Blajojevich's Senate pick.

"This is a matter of national importance," Rush said at the news conference announcing the selection of Burris for the job. "There are no African-Americans in the Senate, and I don't think that anyone, any U.S. senator who's sitting in the Senate right now wants to go on record to deny one African-American for being seated in the U.S. Senate."

Other caucus members, without referring to race, still stood in favor of seating Burris.

"Burris has been appointed by the governor and I think it would probably work to everybody's benefit," Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings told FOX News. "This is a guy who's 73 years old. Let him go ahead and serve the two years. He's probably not going to run again and then let somebody else come and run."

MORE: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/02/democratic-lawmakers-gird-racial-showdown-burris-appointment/

[redstate_democrat]

1. They should just seat him. What's the big deal

It's not like he was convicted of fraud and is asking the senate to give him a standing ovation or anything. Geez.

[Purveyor]

6. This is one f'd up way to start off the new Congress and yet call it 'change'.

The american people will have little tolerance for this type of bullshit and if the DEM Senators hope to retain control of the Senate come 2010, they best pull their heads 'outta their asses' and quick.

[FrenchieCat]

2. As an African American, I'm confused.

When did this Illinois Senate seat issue become about race? And why is the Congressional Black Caucus getting involved if it isn't? :shrug:

[redstate_democrat]

4. Because as members of Congress, they can.

They have a right to speak on any issue they please. Or should they only be confined to only "black issues"

Oh, and I'm speaking as an African America not at all confused about the situation.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Yes, they certainly can speak in one voice.......

in reference to any matter they so choose. But it is clear that they spoke on this issue precisely because Mr. Burris is Black.....as stated here, "On the other side, members of the Congressional Black Caucus are warning their fellow counterparts in the Senate not to block the appointment of someone who would be the chamber's only black member."

So I'm not sure why you are asking me whether they can speak about something than "black issues".

And if you are not confused, please enlighten me. Why has this seat in Illinois been turned into a racial issue?

[redstate_democrat]

9. As I stated before, they can speak on anything they choose because they are duly elected Congressmen

The article, from what I can tell, only stated that Rush brought up race, but said they others have not gone there. The underlined part you quoted seems to be the SPIN the article writer put on the story. And you took it at face value.

[FrenchieCat]

10. I read the entire article at the link,

and it appears that the issue of the Senate seat is morphing into a race issue, according to the article.

Considering that the Senate Democrats had previously stated that they would not seat Blago's choice, whomever it might be, means that Blago was saying "Fuck you all!" and found someone willing to go along.

It will be a Terrible situation if race is allowed to enter into this debate, period.

[angee_is_mad]

27. Blagobitch made it racial

He knew exactly what he was doing. It was a masterpiece move, you gotta like he's SWAGGA!!! Obama has made it known that he favored a qualified AA to have the seat. That's why JJJ was campaigning so hard for it and names like Emil Jones, Danny Davis and Valerie Jarret kept popping up.

The only thing Burris is guilty of is being EXTREmely ambitious and a mediocre politician who can't win a democratic primary. Other than that the man is clean and Blagobitch knew if Reid followed though on his threat to seat his appointment Reid and the dems would come out looking racist. Remember the most loyal constituency for the democratic party is the black community.

You might not like what blagobitch did, but you gotta admit he's GANGSTA!!!

[Jackpine Radical]

5. It became about race when Blagojevich made it about race.

The guy is evil but he's cunning.

Now all of a sudden it's about seating a black senator when it started out being about not letting Blago play with the appointment anymore because he was caught trying to sell it.

[FrenchieCat]

8. So why are people falling for "it's about seating a Black Senator".....

if it really isn't about that, but about Blagojevich who happened to name a Black Senator in order to make it about race. I would think that people could see through something this transparent.

[Bucky]

13. Yes and no. When a country has an established track record of racial inequality...

... it leaves itself wide open to exactly this sort of hucksterism. It's an embarrassment that the United States has elected all of three black senators in the last 100 years. In politics, if you leave yourself open to obvious attacks and demagoguery, you have only yourself to blame when the inevitable attack comes.

The United States of America earned this ridiculous controversy.

[Jackpine Radical]

30. The issue predated the Burris nomination. Reid had said that NO

Blago appointment would be satisfactory because of the taint on Blago for trying to sell the seat. The issue was really about making it clear that there were no improper ties between Blago & Obama. Remember that, before any of us heard about Burris, Obama was trying to short-circuit any nomination at all from Blago, and was trying to get the IL Legislature to intervene. So then Blago went ahead, defying Obama and Reid, and made an appointment, who is black. It is no doubt within his power to do this, but he is using his powers to tangle things up as much as possible, and at this point he would certainly not mind hurting Obama.

[NashVegas]

34. There Is Dishonesty All Around

Did Burris bribe Blago? That is an unknown.

What IS known:

FACT: Obama had certain people he wanted to see in the chair.

FACT: Reid had certain people he wanted to see in the chair.

FACT: It is the Illinois Governor's privilege and responsibility to choose who will take the chair.

FACT: Blago wasn't playing ball with DC interests.

FACT: After a three year investigation, charges appeared against Blago because he refused to play ball with Rahm.

FACT: Fitz's case turns out to be pretty weak. Not only has it yet to be proven in a court of law that Blago did anything illegal regarding the Senate pick, but it has yet to even turn up an indictment by a grand jury.

FACT: The US senate is refusing to seat the choice of the Governor, the sole person who has the privilege and duty to select a senator under the current circumstances.


CONJECTURE: If Blago played nice and named whomever it was Obama and Rahm and Reid wanted, he wouldn't have been arrested.

So, no, it's not about race. But it's not about Blago being a criminal, either.

It's nothing but a high-stakes pissing match with Washington on one side, expecting to hand-pick the peoples' choice, and on the other, a governor who was all too aware that whomever he named was going to have access to future earnings in the 10s of millions, and wanting a piece of the action.

DC should have put on a happy face when Blago named Burris and spent the next two years grooming his replacement. Instead, they risk having their whole game exposed.

[AZ Criminal JD]

36. Reid made it about race

When he refused to accept four African-Americans who have won elections (Burris has won statewide four times) but was willing to accept a woman who has never won an election.

[wndycty]

11. Actually Rod didn't make it about race, Rush did. . .

. . .however Rod knew what he was doing.

[dansolo]

32. Reid made it about race first

When he contacted Blagojevich and told him not to appoint any of the prominent black candidates because of the belief that they wouldn't be able to hold the seat in 2010. This occurred before Fitzgerald's press conference, and before Reid said he wouldn't seat any one appointed by Blagojevich.

[Bucky]

12. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that race has nothing to do with your confusion

I'm next gonna go further out on that limb and suggest you're not as confused as you say. ;)

For what it's worth, any American has a right to speak up on this appointment and the controversial step of the US Senate refusing to seat a legally appointed member. I think we can all agree that Mr Blagoyevich is pond scum. But by the letter of the law he has every right and in fact a constitutional obligation to appoint a successor to a Senate vacancy.

And to answer your question (my opinion only) the vacancy issue became about race the second that the aforesaid pond scum figured he could use the race card to wedge his ass of the ringer. He doesn't seem to have made a bad choice, from what I've read, if you don't count Burris's incredibly bad judgment in allowing the governor to use him in this way.

Kudos go out to Danny Davis for turning down the offer.

Ironically, the best way for the Senate Dems to handle this would be to just accept the appointment and let Fitz get back to business.

[Enrique]

31. same reason the CBC supported William Jefferson

who knows? :shrug:

[bigwillq]

3. I agree with Cummings (nt)

[dcindian]

14. Why do the democrat senators ignore the constitution at all turns?

They let Bush the war criminal off the hook now this. The Constitution does not give them any power to ignore a states pick for senate.

My son voted socialist this time. The Democrats ignore the constitution and I will vote socialist from now on!!!!!!!!!!

[yourguide]

16. It seems there is legal remedy

to dash this appointment. Therefore it's constitutional.

[dcindian]

18. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.,

In November 1966, petitioner Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was duly elected from the 18th Congressional District of New York to serve in the United States House of Representatives for the 90th Congress. However, pursuant to a House resolution, he was not permitted to take his seat. Powell (and some of the voters of his district) then filed suit in Federal District Court, claiming that the House could exclude him only if it found he failed to meet the standing requirements of age, citizenship, and residence contained in Art. I, 2, of the Constitution - requirements the House specifically found Powell met - and thus had excluded him unconstitutionally. The District Court dismissed petitioner's complaint "for want of jurisdiction of the subject matter." A panel of the Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal, although on somewhat different grounds, each judge filing a separate opinion. We have determined that it was error to dismiss the complaint and that petitioner Powell is entitled to a declaratory judgment that he was unlawfully excluded from the 90th Congress.


Congress does not wield any power beyond what is granted in the constitution.

They lost before

[yourguide]

22. Different set of circumstances.

Powell was elected in a fair and open election, Burris has been appointed by a man accused of trying to sell off the senate seat.

The senate will be able to send this to the rules committee to investigate whether Burris was appointed in exchange for something. That will buy them time until Blago is impeached, his appointment will be null, and the Lt. Gov will make the appointment.

All legal, and the rules committee should investigate to make sure there was no funny business with this appointment regardless of whether they want him or not.

[totodeinhere]

23. One thing you said is open to question

That will buy them time until Blago is impeached, his appointment will be null.

Jeffery Tubin said on CNN that as long as Blago makes the appointment while he is still governor, if he later is removed from office the appointment will already have been made and the appointment will still be valid.

[yourguide]

25. The issue is...

he technically hasn't been confirmed in the appointment as the Ill. SOS will not certify. The Senate will not accept him without SOS certification.

[totodeinhere]

33. They are suing to force the SOS to certify him.

The SOS has no legal basis for refusing to certify.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

15. Burris Should Be Seated

Let them go fight a battel worth fighting. This is not the one.

[yourguide]

17. To fight for one less scumbag in the senate

is a battle worth fighting, that is if you want anything to really change.

[dcindian]

19. Burris is a scumbag?

[yourguide]

21. yes.

as AG he fought to execute a man he knew was innocent, a member of his staff resigned over it.

On top of that, he condemned Blago, demanded he step down, that is until suddenly he was offered a senate seat. Now it appears he feels that Blago's unethical behavior was really only a mere trifle.

And him not condemning Bobby Rush's race baiting statement leads me to believe he's pleased to allow this to turn into an issue of race, when it's not.

So yes, scumbag.

[IsItJustMe]

26. So what you are saying is that while America continues to sink into a deep depression and war rages

in Isreal, that people are going to put up with type of circuis going on in the Senate. Good luck with that.

[yourguide]

28. That's exactly the point.

Why confirm a scumbag appointed by a bigger scumbag? We need men of ethics in the Senate now, now of all times, it was greed and dishonestly, and banks essentially paying rethug lobbyists to get their bidding done which caused this mess.

Now, of all times, is the time to stop a man like him from being appointed if it's preventable.

This man has shown in the handling of Blago that he'd be willing to throw his ethics out the window to better himself. Whats to stop him from doing the same in the senate? Lining his pockets at the expense of all of us.

[AZ Criminal JD]

35. So you wish to subvert laws and the Constitution

for every Senator who doesn't meet your standards? Or just Burris?

[Ichingcarpenter]

20. Interesting how Faux news frames the story

and only quote one person in congress

[ColesCountyDem]

24. This is such a silly thing to fight over. n/t

[dpbrown]

29. Just seat him and shut-up

I think the Democrats should stop trying to screw Blagoyevich for a minute and just do their fucking jobs.

[AtomicKitten]

37. I cringed when Bobby Rush used the word "lynching" in his admonition about seating Burris.

Race is being used as a cudgel; truly a low point for Democrats. :(

[MasonJar]

38. This is a direct result of Harry Reid not being able to get Blago to do his

bidding and then opening his big mouth and inserting his foot in it. Now Reid looks bad whatever he does, and so doubtless he will stupidly persist in a poor decision. I say Reid needs to go asap.