Defiant Illinois governor names Obama replacement

Wednesday 31st December, 05:52 AM JST

CHICAGO —

A defiant Gov Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday appointed a former state attorney general to Barack Obama’s former Senate seat, a suprise move that put his opponents in the uncomfortable position of trying to block a veteran political trailblazer from becoming the Senate’s only black member.

Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris injected race into the drama surrounding the embattled governor, who sought to make the issue more about the man he selected rather than the seat he’s accused of trying to sell.

“Please don’t allow the allegations against me to taint a good an honest man,” the governor said, turning to the smiling 71-year-old standing by his side.

Burris said he discussed the appointment with Blagojevich Sunday night. “I was asked if he would appoint me, would I accept, and the answer is yes,” Burris said.

Burris said he has no connection to the charges against Blagojevich, who was arrested earlier this month on charges that he tried to sell Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Burris was the first African-American elected to major statewide office in Illinois. He served as comptroller and ran for governor three times—the last time losing to Blagojevich.

The Democratic governor’s announcement may be an empty gesture. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must certify the appointment, said Tuesday he will not do so. And Senate leaders reiterated that they would not accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich.

In a statement Tuesday, Senate Democrats maintained that Blagojevich should not make the appointment because doing so would be unfair to Burris and to the people of Illinois.

“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,” the statement 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.”

Lt Gov Pat Quinn said Blagojevich’s decision to appoint Burris is an “insult to the people of Illinois.”

“We believe in clean government, and Rod Blagojevich has unclean hands,” Quinn said.

But Rep Bobby Rush, an Illinois Democrat who is black, dared Senate leaders in Washington to block Burris’ appointment, pointing out that Burris would be the only black man in a chamber populated overwhelmingly by white senators.

“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,” said Rush, who defeated Obama in a 2000 Democratic congressional primary.

Blagojevich was arrested Dec 9 after federal prosecutors allegedly recorded conversations in which he discussed appointing someone Obama favored in exchange for a position in the new president’s Cabinet or naming someone favored by a union if he got a high-level union job.

The governor has faced a flood of calls for his resignation, and the Illinois House has begun impeachment proceedings. He maintains his innocence, and has vowed to stay in office.

Blagojevich’s own lawyer said recently that there would be no point in the governor naming someone to the Senate because leaders there would reject his appointment.

White, who handles the state’s paperwork, said he would not formally certify any appointment made by Blagojevich “because of the current cloud of controversy surround the governor.”

It’s not clear whether White’s refusal would be enough to prevent a Blagojevich appointment from taking effect.

Burris is a native of Centralia in southern Illinois who graduated from Southern Illinois University before earning his law degree from Howard University.

He served as Illinois’ comptroller from 1979 to 1991 and as the state’s attorney general from 1991 to 1995. He also served as vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1985 to 1989.

More recently, however, Burris has had a string of political disappointments.

He lost campaigns for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1994, 1998 and 2002—the last time losing to Blagojevich. In 1995, he was badly beaten when challenging Chicago Mayor Richard Daley in the primary.

Before taking public office, Burris worked in banking and served as national executive director and chief operating officer for Operation PUSH, the Chicago-based civil rights organization founded by Rev Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader.

Burris has been a consistent donor to Blagojevich, giving thousands of dollars to his campaign in recent years.

___

Associated Press writers Anne Flaherty, Laurie Kellman and Matt Apuzzo contributed to this report from Washington.

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12 Comments

Badsey at 08:15 AM JST - 31st December

if you don't like it -sue. Blago has out manuvered everyone again. -Now talk to the Chicago mayor about plowing the streets next snowfall.

Governators actually have work to do while Senators just hand-out money to beggars rattling their cans and leaving in jets.
Wolfpack at 08:57 AM JST - 31st December

Rahm Emmanuel most have given his consent - what's the problem?
VOR at 10:44 AM JST - 31st December

just another example of a democrat putting themselves ahead of the good of the nation. blago is thumbing his nose at Americans and the party he rightfully belongs.
ilcub76 at 11:39 AM JST - 31st December

While I don't agree with the way Blago is conducting himself, the selection of Roland Burris couldn't have been better. With an absence of African-Americans in the Senate, no one in his or her right mind would vote not to seat him. Even Burris said that he is willing to serve the remaining two years of Obama's term and not seek re-election. Had Burris been appointed under better circumstances, I would fully support it. Because of the current circumstances, I'm sure everyone is looking at this in a different way.
USARonin at 11:45 AM JST - 31st December

In Chicago politics, anything is possible. Chicago is the Mecca of political corruption in America. It is strange though that Obama makes statements he never met "socially" with all the bigwigs of Chicago politics considerin' that's where he's from and from where his power in the Illinois senate was derived. Maybe he wasn't invited to all their soirees because he was half-African. Or maybe Obama is full of...
shiuu at 11:53 AM JST - 31st December

The amount of political corruption that exists in Illinois actually makes Louisiana look good in comparison.
USARonin at 11:57 AM JST - 31st December

Shiuu, right on, and Bush didn't give that gubernatorial disgrace Edwin Edwards his pardon either.

I've lived in Louisiana.

Thank you, President Bush.
urufuls at 02:36 PM JST - 31st December

Whoever Gov Blagojevich was going to appoint was going to be tainted. While I don't agree with the whole issue of race being brought into the ordeal, I guess it was inevitable.

With an absence of African-Americans in the Senate, no one in his or her right mind would vote not to seat him.

I would hope that people would make decisions based on character, experience, and merit, not just because there aren't any African-Americans in the US senate. Hopefully that is the case.

“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,” said Rush, who defeated Obama in a 2000 Democratic congressional primary.

Even bringing up the whole race issue makes it worse, and Rep Rush isn't doing anybody any favors by making threats.

This whole thing stinks of appeasement. It's like Gov Blagojevich is asking "Am I cool now?"
Sarge at 09:41 PM JST - 31st December

Heh, heh, Blago certainly is a trouble-maker!
adaydream at 10:57 PM JST - 31st December

Please enjoy yourself republicans. This is your Christmas and New Year's present from a dumb democrat.

Too bad it bleeds over onto Roland Burris. < :-)
Wolfpack at 01:21 AM JST - 1st January

Democrat's would be racist's if they do not seat Blogo's African-American appointee! There is no end to their hypocrisy! Hee..hee...
Triumvere at 04:20 AM JST - 1st January

Blago's political judo is strong... your tiger-style cannot defeat him.