Burris Plows Ahead In Senate Bid

Exclusive: "I'm Qualified," Illinois Governor's Pick To Replace Obama Tells The Early Show

(CBS)  Despite overwhelming political support against his appointment to the U.S. Senate, Roland Burris said Tuesday he plans to take his seat as Illinois' junior senator.

On CBS' The Early Show, Burris, who was selected to take President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat, dismissed his critics, saying his appointment by the scandal-plagued governor, Rod Blagojevich, is valid.

"They're causing the drama, my appointment is legal. Are you saying there is something wrong with me? I'm qualified," Burris, who was the first African-American elected to statewide office and was the former Illinois attorney general, said.

"There's nothing wrong with Roland Burris and there's nothing wrong with the appointment," Burris said.

In his defense, Burris, 71, pointed to Blagojevich's decision Monday to hold an election for a successor to Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., Mr. Obama's chief of staff. Burris said it proves the embattled governor still has legal authority to carry out his duties.

"As I read the U.S. Constitution," Burris said, it says the "governor shall fill a vacancy, and as a former attorney general of my state, I have no knowledge of where a secretary of state has veto power over a governor carrying out his constitutional duties."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Monday that Burris cannot take his seat because he "has not been certified by the state of Illinois." Additionally, Senate Democrats say Burris' appointment is tainted because of the charges Blagojevich faces.

Burris has threatened to sue Senate Democrats if they do not swear him in as the chamber's only black member.

[remrafbn]

rmonroe said "Wow, one smuck from Illinois is going to take down the ENTIRE Democratic Party? LOL, the do grow them dumb down there in Texas, don''''t they."

Although President Bush and txfrouch are fine examples of your claim there are two maybe three people from Texas who are not dumb...wait...I am being told those two or three are tourists. Sorry!~

[remrafbn]

cabbate3 said "txgrouch i cant follow what your saying. you dont make any sense".

He has a talent for saying moronic things such as "DEMOCRATS GOIN'''' DOWWWWWWNNNNNN!!!!" at a time when they are about to take the White House, the Senate, and the House. Is that going down in Texas? Something is very wrong with the person!~

[remrafbn]

txgrouch said "He''s no smarter than the average crook."

That still smarter than you!~ Wait. What am I saying? A moron is smarter than you. "LOL"

[rmonroe401]

txgrouch2008
"He''''s playing the whole deck. He''''ll take the whole Democrat party down with him."

Wow, one smuck from Illinois is going to take down the ENTIRE Democratic Party? LOL, the do grow them dumb down there in Texas, don''t they.

[rmonroe401]

Bush=Hitler

[rmonroe401]

"Where in the constitution does it state that there has to be a black man,in fact where does it state that you have to be white,yellow or any other color. I am so sick of the race card being played. Go home Mr. Burris . I believe you are there to further your retirement benefits and get a retirement from the senate with one term served and a pension for life, just like a ll the other money grubbing congressmen and senators."

Yea, down with the blacks! What do they think, they are equals or something! You go skeeter4419! Keep racism alive! Yippeee

[cbsnews55]

so roland ... you being appointed by a loser ... and accepting the offer from a loser ... makes you a loser too.

Posted by bobnjersey at 11:13 AM : Jan 06, 2009

Your definition of Governor of Illinois is interesting to say the least.

[omega40]

The circus has begun! Obama hasn''''t even been inaugurated yet, the new Congress hasn''''t even been seated yet, but we''''re already seeing the kinds of "Hope" and "Change" we can expect from the "democrats", that were foretold. Richardson, Panetta, now the Burris meltdown! I suggest that we might now consider an additional descriptive term besides the commonly used "Cluster----", we could also refer to this type of situation now as a "Full Blagojevich!" This is to be expected when qualifications, experience, patriotism, and the best interests of the nation are held in contempt, and only naked politics, cronyism, and self-interest are valued. (By the way, how much did BURRIS pay for the appointment?)

Posted by lightnin001

Of course, how many scandals would have trickled out of the maverick ticket of McCain/Palin by now if the shoe was on the other foot? Just yesterday we learned that Levi''s mother temporarily avoided arrest for political reasons seemingly tied to the governors campaign.

[cbsnews55]

The circus has begun! Obama hasn''''t even been inaugurated yet, the new Congress hasn''''t even been seated yet, but we''''re already seeing the kinds of "Hope" and "Change" we can expect from the "democrats", that were foretold. Richardson, Panetta, now the Burris meltdown! I suggest that we might now consider an additional descriptive term besides the commonly used "Cluster----", we could also refer to this type of situation now as a "Full Blagojevich!" This is to be expected when qualifications, experience, patriotism, and the best interests of the nation are held in contempt, and only naked politics, cronyism, and self-interest are valued. (By the way, how much did BURRIS pay for the appointment?)

Posted by lightnin001 at 11:24 AM : Jan 06, 2009

And I suppose Bush''s little Iraq war isn''t a circus? Oh that''s right, it''s not your kids being blown to bits on a daily basis by US troops, so you don''t give a rat''s azz.

[lightnin001]

The circus has begun! Obama hasn''t even been inaugurated yet, the new Congress hasn''t even been seated yet, but we''re already seeing the kinds of "Hope" and "Change" we can expect from the "democrats", that were foretold. Richardson, Panetta, now the Burris meltdown! I suggest that we might now consider an additional descriptive term besides the commonly used "Cluster----", we could also refer to this type of situation now as a "Full Blagojevich!" This is to be expected when qualifications, experience, patriotism, and the best interests of the nation are held in contempt, and only naked politics, cronyism, and self-interest are valued. (By the way, how much did BURRIS pay for the appointment?)

[bobnjersey]

["They''re causing the drama, my appointment is legal. Are you saying there is something wrong with me? I''m qualified," Burris, who was the first African-American elected to statewide office and was the former Illinois attorney general, said. ]

yes ... there''s something wrong with you.

here it is ... spoken very slowly ... ''you were appointed by a loser who was planning on selling the seat to the highest bidder''.

so roland ... you being appointed by a loser ... and accepting the offer from a loser ... makes you a loser too.

[skeeter4419]

Where in the constitution does it state that there has to be a black man,in fact where does it state that you have to be white,yellow or any other color. I am so sick of the race card being played. Go home Mr. Burris . I believe you are there to further your retirement benefits and get a retirement from the senate with one term served and a pension for life, just like a ll the other money grubbing congressmen and senators.

[omega40]

Typical liberals. Playing the race card.

Bigots

Posted by GOPHwy71

The only ones that seem to be making this about race are Republicans such as yourself......Have you read Pat Buchanan''s column today?

[gophwy71]

""""hey txgrouch - i feel like i know you - do you live in the midwest - are you sitting in a trailer right now in a robe and tighty whities - perhaps drinking a budwiser - do you have shag rug in your trailer - maybe an 80s style pc with the a picture of jesus on top - a few guns on the wall - deer hunting seasons coming soon - bet you cant wait - huntin''''s much better than healthcare right - and free market capitalisms really important to you right - i mean considering your on welfare - i could be wrong you may live in texas.

Posted by cabbate3 at 10:19 AM : Jan 06, 2009""""

Are you seriously a LWNJ stooge moron, or do you just play one on PC?

[omega40]

If you say "Bush is Hitler," I''''m turning you in.

Posted by txgrouch2008

Bush isn''t Hitler, he doesn''t even look like him. They do share some ideological similarity though.

[gophwy71]

Typical liberals. Playing the race card.

Bigots

[clovernyc]

Talk about hubris. It is really sad that Roland Burris is so dead set on showing the nation and the world the hideously ugly and indecent side of Chicago politics.

It is no small miracle that P-E Barack Obama was able to sidestep this poop slinging race baiting nonsense.

[cabbate3]

hey txgrouch - i feel like i know you - do you live in the midwest - are you sitting in a trailer right now in a robe and tighty whities - perhaps drinking a budwiser - do you have shag rug in your trailer - maybe an 80s style pc with the a picture of jesus on top - a few guns on the wall - deer hunting seasons coming soon - bet you cant wait - huntin''s much better than healthcare right - and free market capitalisms really important to you right - i mean considering your on welfare - i could be wrong you may live in texas.

[lastdance136]

CBS NEWS : Explain this Threat : To use a Firearm
Posted by : txgrouch2008
_____
The world is a safer place beause I have a gun.
The world is a safer place because YOU DON''''T.
Posted by txgrouch2008 at 10:57 PM : Dec 30, 2008

[nolalou]

So where is the moral outrage from the faithful left?? Wouldn''''t this guy be the only black senator?? I mean, after all, the chosen one is only half black.
Gee, I don''''t see jessie and al calling out harry.
Oh yea, if this were a Republican THEN we would hear the outrage.
No double standard here. None at all.
You people are just beautiful!

Posted by Xlib

There has been plenty of outrage against Gov Blagojevich from the right and left! The question is NOT rather Mr. Burras is qualified to be a U.S. Senator, the question is does a governor under indictment for trying to sell the seat (among other crimes) have the right to fill that position?

You right wingers aren''t ''just beautiful!'', you''re ''just plain STUPID!''