Burris says he is 'humbled' to be next Ill. senator
Moving to squash a controversy that became a distraction to President-elect Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration, Senate Democratic leaders on Monday accepted Roland Burris as Illinois' next senator even though the man who appointed him, Gov. Blagojevich, is accused of trying to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat.
(Keith Hale/Sun-Times)
In Chicago, a "humbled and honored" Burris said he expected to be sworn in by the end of the day Friday. The 71-year-old lobbyist and former Illinois attorney general did not rule out seeking a full term in the Senate in 2010.
Senate Democrats and Obama initially vowed not to seat any Blagojevich appointee. But they ended up backing down in the wake of thin legal grounds for blocking Burris and a racial backlash that developed over filling the vacancy of the only African American in the Senate.
In a statement, Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan slapped Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin for flip-flopping.
"Harry Reid and Dick Durbin have placed Washington politics above the people of Illinois or transparency," Duncan said. "Democrats had every opportunity to strip Gov. Blagojevich of his power to appoint a U.S. senator, but ultimately they accepted a Blagojevich appointee rather than risk losing a Senate seat in a special election."
Burris disputed any idea his appointment was tainted and defended fellow Democrats, including Reid, Durbin and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who took considerable heat in the black community for not signing one of Burris' nominating papers.
Reid and Durbin initially said Burris could not be seated without White's signature. But Burris' legal team presented other paperwork to Senate officialsthat they said satisfied Senate rules.
Said Burris of Reid and Durbin: "Never once did I doubt their intentions were motivated by anything other than doing what was right for the people of Illinois and by what they believed had to be done to protect the Senate as an institution."
White reiterated Monday he refused to sign Burris' nominating certificate because Blagojevich "was arrested in part for trying to sell this very same Senate seat."
Burris told reporters he has formed a campaign-finance committee to cover expenses tied to his appointment fight. He also said he's forming a legal-defense fund.
In a statement, Obama's camp voiced his "high regard" for Burris. "He looks forward to working with Sen. Burris and the rest of the United States Senate to rebuild our economy and meet the great challenges of our time," said Dan Pfeiffe, spokesman for the Obama-Biden Transition.