Blagojevich Senate Appointment Fallout; Even Obama Says Burris Should Not Be Seated

Even Barack Obama opposes the move!

“Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat.”

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Senate Democrats say they won't seat Burris.

Article I Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution says: "Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member."

That means the Senate can vote not to seat former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, argues Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Asked to explain how the Senate could expel an appointed senator who qualifies to sit in the chamber, Reid's office issued a statement Tuesday saying the judgment will be based on whether Blagojevich is qualified, not Burris.

"We are not making a judgment about qualifications of (the) appointee, but about whether (the) appointment itself is tainted by fraud. ... This is like judging the integrity of an election, free from fraud or corruption. It's the process that led to the appointment, not the appointee's fitness," Reid's office said in the statement.

Can someone please tell me what's going on? And why do Liberals like Alan Colmes continue to espouse the "innocent until proven guilty" argument!? Trying to claim that so long as Blago is technically governor he can continue to act as governor and appoint Obama's replacement.

Let's also keep in mind Rep. Bobby Rush adding the race card to the mess for no apparent reason during yesterday's press conference.

"I would ask you the not hang or lynch the appointee as you castigate the appointer and separate the appointee from the appointer," said Rush. "Roland Burris is worthy and he is the only one who can stand in the gap during this time and gather the confidence, re-establishing confidence of the people of the state of Illinois."

Rush then challenged Senate to not seat Burris. "There are no African-Americans in the Senate, and I don't think that anyone, any U.S. Senator who is sitting right now would want to go on record to deny one African-American from being seated in the U.S. Senate. I don't think they want to go on record doing that."
Rush promised to take his case to the Congressional Black Caucus, and he said he intended to lobby Senators as well -- including his Illinois colleague, Dick Durbin. "Let me remind you that the state of Illinois and the people of the state of Illinois in their collective wisdom have sent two African-Americans to the U.S. Senate," Rush said. "That makes a difference. This is not just a state of Illinois matter ... but indeed, by this decision, it has tremendous national importance."

But it was Rush who said in early December:

"I believe that the acts that are alleged to have been committed by the Governor are so heinous that he has forfeited his right to appoint someone to fill the seat of President-Elect Barack Obama. My bottom line is that the Governor should not be the one to make the appointment to this important office."

Blago simply does not care about the people of Illinios or America and he is still connected to Obama and Rahm. Just saying. What a mess.