Burris: By "Whatever Means Necessary"

Senate Appointee Distances Himself From Impeached Gov., Paraphrases Malcolm X In Asserting His Right To Obama's Seat

(CBS)  Despite the cold shoulders of prospective congressional colleagues who have refused to accept his appointment by a governor indicted on (and later impeached for) charges of corruption, the man chosen to fill Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat said his selection is legitimate, and demands that he be seated before Inauguration Day.

Roland Burris, the former Illinois Attorney General chosen by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill out Obama's term, said this morning that according to the Illinois State Supreme Court and by other constitutional authorities, the appointment was legal.

Appearing on CBS' Face The Nation this morning, Burris also said that the documents he has submitted are in compliance with Senate Rules, and furthermore he complied with the requests of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Illinois' senior Senator Dick Durbin to appear before the Illinois House of Representatives' impeachment committee to answer questions about Blagojevich.

Following a meeting between his attorneys and the Senate's lawyers, Burris said, "It is our position that we have done everything that's required, and that, yes, I should be seated forthwith, and I should be seated prior to the inauguration of our 44th president, a seat for which I now hold."

"I am the junior senator from the state of Illinois. There is no question of my legality of appointment," Burris told host Bob Schieffer. "Illinois has two senators. That is the law. We have two senators."

Even before his selection as Obama's replacement was announcement, Senate Democrats had said they would not seat anyone picked by Blagojevich, owing to the taint perceived to attach itself to anyone associated with the embattled governor.

Schieffer asked Burris, after federal prosecutors had indicted the governor for trying to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder, "how can you accept such an appointment from such a person and expect people to take you seriously, or not question your character, as it were?"

"Very easily," Burris said, "and I hope that no one ever questions my character. And as you know, Bob, even though - by the way, the governor certainly has been impeached, and the legislature took their constitutional duties and responsibilities, but remember this: … A person who does bad can also do good. And what Governor Blagojevich did was good for the people of Illinois and good for the people of the country, when he exercised his constitutional duties to appoint a person to the vacancy of President-elect Obama. Appointing me to that vacancy certainly is good for the people of Illinois."

"I have nothing to do with all of his problems; those are his problems," Burris said. "And with my experience, my knowledge of Illinois and my commitment to be a public servant in my state, I know that I can take on that mantle and do the work for the people."

"Well, don't you feel you're being used by someone who is just trying to save his political skin?" Schieffer asked.

"Whatever means necessary," Burris said, paraphrasing the 1960s radical Malcolm X. "I have nothing to do with the governor's motives. What we needed was something to be done for the people of Illinois. That was his constitutional duty. That was his responsibility. The Illinois Constitution does not say the governor 'may' or the governor 'might' or the governor 'should.' Bob, it says the governor 'shall' appoint a person to fill the vacancy. That's what happened."

When asked by Schieffer about his attorneys' promise to take the matter to federal court if need be, Burris said, "Well, certainly, my lawyers will drive that situation. I will more than likely make the final decision. But I do not want to be creating any type of scene. I do not want to have some long, drawn-out legal process that's going to hamper the important work of this body. We have bigger and better things to do.

"We, as public servants, must get about that business and put all of this other activity aside," Burris said. "Let us have that 58th vote in the Democratic side of the Senate, and when my colleague, [Al] Franken, comes from Minnesota, we'll have a 59th vote, so we can get some business done."

Burris said he expects to be in Washington soon. "I will be there, certainly, in a day or two, to pursue taking my seat, absolutely. I am the junior senator from the state of Illinois."

Earlier on the program, Illinois' senior Senator Dick Durbin said he thought the Senate would make a decision on Burris' fate before the Illinois Senate can decide the fate of Blagojevich. [It may be weeks before a Senate trial will decide whether the impeached Governor is to be removed from office.]

Durbin also said that the Senate has the right to block Burris from being sworn in. "Under the Constitution and the rules of the Senate, we judge not only the qualifications of a person who comes to this Senate by appointment or election but also whether the election or appointment process was appropriate," he told Schieffer. "The Senate has that power to stand in judgment of its members."

Durbin said that after the allegations and wiretaps of his now-impeached governor, "certainly all of the Democratic senators said, we don't want anything to do with Rod Blagojevich's choices."

Nonetheless, Durbin seemed to soften on the Democrats' hard line about seating a Blagojevich appointee. "We want to be fair to Roland Burris. If he has the proper certification and papers, then we're going to take one look at the process and move forward from there. But I won't presume what the Senate is going to finally decide. I will just tell you we'll do it fairly and we'll do it on a timely basis.

"And I will tell you," Durbin said, "if you don't pay close attention, the plot changes. And late Friday, the Secretary of State of Illinois, who had withheld his signature from a key document that the Senate has required for 125 years, sent a new document to the Senate. It's now being evaluated by legal counsel."

Durbin could not answer a question about the prospective timing of such a decision. "When I talked to Senator Reid, we have a number of things scheduled this week. And, of course, the Senate calendar is not easy to invade."

Click here to see the papers submitted by Burris

Click here to see the paper submitted for a prior appointment on Sept. 17, 1969.

Also on the program: House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, who discussed the economic stimulus package being proposed by President-elect Obama and about the disbursement of the remaining $350 billion of TARP funds, which he said would be "irresponsible."

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Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

By CBSNews.com producer David Morgan.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Based on Obamas performance in office they could leave the seat vacant and no one would know the difference."
Posted by d7767w

But they didn''t, and you lost the election, it must really suck to be you right about today...

[brianbwb-2009]

"...Remember the people who built this country, can just as easily destroy it." Posted by JenValen1982

You tried, you failed, get over it.

"You bob for this guy huh? Idiot puke." Posted by TheMasses100

Nope, I bob for the rule of law, which you fake patriots have a habit of ignoring when the law doesn''t see it your way.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Ah hayle, dem white folks theys tryin tuh keep duh black man down ''''gin. Dat how dey do dat, fo sho."
Posted by HymieTown1

But now dey ain''t succeedin'' dat well no mo, da new day is here, now all dem ofays do is whine an'' pine fo da "good ole days" dat ain''t neva comin'' back agin.

[concorde5]

Posted by brianbwb at 04:29 PM : Jan 12, 2009



I couldn''t agree with you more. This country was built by a lot of different people including african slaves, chinese immigrants, and mexicans.

[brianbwb-2009]

"...Choose your words wisely." Posted by valhalla14

I always do, it is yourself who has comprehension problems.

What I wrote was that such as those who still subscribe to the myth that "white" people built the country, and are entitled to rule it by virtue of the skin tone, are becoming extinct, apparently you are among them.

Such Neanderthal miscreants won''t be missed.

[concorde5]

Wow! It looks like the toothless rednecks and hillbillies are out in force today. I hate inbreds, they are ruining this country!

At least Obama is in office now and we''re about to see some much needed changes in this country.

[oldone61-2009]

"What are Burris'' qualifications you ask?..."
-----------------------
Posted by kuei12 at 02:06 PM : Jan 12, 2009

He was appointed by the Governor of his state in accordance with the laws of that state. That, and being a US citizen over age 35 are the only qualifications needed, I think.

[bushwhacked8]

The appointment of Burris was nothing more than a poke in the eye by Blagojevich. It proved to be a great diversion. So much so that even Burris thinks he was appointed based on his qualifications.

[kuei12]

What are Burris'' qualifications you ask? He is black. That was the ONLY reason he was chosen. Blaggy was trying to use Burris as a race card tool to avoid prosecution and impeachment and Burris was too stupid to realize it.
Burris'' senate career was doomed from the get go.

[erasmus606]

Yes, there is still racism but it is only most notable when there are those who continually point it out.

Posted by JenValen1982 at 01:31 PM : Jan 12, 2009

You must live in a cave or under a rock, huh?

[valhalla14]

"Unless of course you are of the ilk who still yearns for the good old days of slavery, in which case you might as well give it up, your time is over, you will soon be extinct, rotting in the septic tank of history."

Again, coloreds always looking for a handout, I hope you were not meaning white people will become extinct, because let me tell you somthing, that is not going to happen. This country needs to be restored to its greatness that our WHITE forefathers created. Remember the people who built this country, can just as easily destroy it. Choose your words wisely.

[valhalla14]

Furthermore, All the policies Obongo wants to inact, have failed severely in EVERY country they were implemented in. But again Lib err.. Reds are not the brightest bulbs in the socket, this just further backs it up. And this colored guy Burris, he has every right to this seat. However, if he claims that if he deserves it because he is colored, he is sorely mistaken.

[jenvalen1982]

Brian, you do know that africans weren''t the only ones to be enslaved, and that in fact many races have claim to some past suffering. What you need to embrace is that is what our ancestors went through, not us those times are over. Yes, there is still racism but it is only most notable when there are those who continually point it out.

[valhalla14]

wow...race war comin''''

Tell me reds, what exactly has obongo done, to deserve to be president?? Doesn''t he come from the same ilk as Blugo, and the rest? And you actually think this charlatan can fix this country? Know wonder why we have the label of being stupid americans, wool over the eyes can get kinda itchy.

Better to be dead than red

[erasmus606]

"I can only imagine how much trouble this guys ancestors caused, locked in the belly of a slaveship for 600 years!" Posted by DaVicar3

If they caused any at all, then they are to be honored as heroes.

Unless of course you are of the ilk who still yearns for the good old days of slavery, in which case you might as well give it up, your time is over, you will soon be extinct, rotting in the septic tank of history.

Posted by brianbwb at 12:14 PM : Jan 12, 2009


I''m thinking he is......and let''s hope.:)

[jenvalen1982]

sorry about the errors in my previous message.

[jenvalen1982]

Burris doesn''t seemed to be concerned with the job at hand he seemed to be more concerned with getting the job, perphaps he sees himself as the next african american president. We are in the middle of some very hard times and he is not acknowledging that fact instead all that he is saying is me me me me me we me me me me me me. We do not need another self absorbed politican, and his seat should be withheld until the trial has been completed. Blagojevich''s motives were questionable, and until those questions have been ansered Burris should not be allowed to take his seat.

[mnelsonix]

wow...race war comin''!

[rosesnpearls]

Whatever means necessary? Does that mean he might call up Obama''s friend Ayers for a little explosive assistance in forcing his way into the limelight. Boy, this guy is power hungry to a fault.

[brianbwb-2009]

"I can only imagine how much trouble this guys ancestors caused, locked in the belly of a slaveship for 600 years!" Posted by DaVicar3

If they caused any at all, then they are to be honored as heroes.

Unless of course you are of the ilk who still yearns for the good old days of slavery, in which case you might as well give it up, your time is over, you will soon be extinct, rotting in the septic tank of history.