Senate opposition fiercer than Burris thinks
Burris' trip to Washington on Monday sure to be a media circus
WASHINGTON -- Roland Burris does not want to be in the face of the senators whose ranks he hopes to join, I am told. Yet Burris, appointed by the scandalized Gov. Blagojevich to replace President-elect Barack Obama, is expected here Monday. Burris' mere presence to try to claim the seat will, of course, be a spectacle.
He won't get into the chamber because the Senate Democratic leadership doesn't want anyone sent by Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell Obama's seat for a plum job or campaign cash.
(AP)
Complete coverage: Blagobusted.com
Here's what I've learned New Years Day:
I think Burris is underestimating how hard the Senate Democratic leaders are resisting his appointment. No one doubts that Burris is eligible to serve. No one is going to challenge Blagojevich's power to make the appointment. But they won't make it easy.
The new Congress will be sworn in Tuesday. Burris will arrive with no floor privileges because Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White will not certify his appointment. The Senate will likely refer the matter to the Rules Committee, where it will be handled as s-l-o-w-l-y as possible. For example, the rules panel will require a very, very, very complete investigation to make sure the appointment is stain-free.
While the Senate Democrats are slow-walking, they want the Illinois House to fast-walk the Blagojevich impeachment proceedings, and then have a swift state Senate trial, conviction, and installation of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn as governor. Quinn then can make the pick, preferably a Democrat with an excellent chance of winning either a special election or the 2010 contest.
Given Burris' string of statewide defeats for senator and governor, he does not fit that profile.
Burris has unrealistic hopes of getting assistance from Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate leader. If he thinks Durbin is going to escort him into the chamber -- he will not. Durbin called Burris twice to discuss the situation, but Burris never got the messages because he hasn't got his cell phone thing down.
Durbin will be marking the beginning of his second term Monday and Tuesday with a series of receptions. Though Burris is not on any invitee list, "if he shows up, we will be gracious about this," Durbin spokesman Joe Shoemaker told me Thursday. Durbin's team has been told Burris would like to see him. "I can't imagine that we wouldn't meet with him," Shoemaker said.
Burris faces a big challenge in pulling off this trip. He wants to look senatorial, but coming here will just fuel the media circus surrounding his selection.
Burris, the first African American to win statewide office in Illinois, may want to tone down the race rhetoric. The point has been made by Rep. Bobby Rush. Obama was the only African American in the Senate, and his departure for the White House leaves a void.
But Illinois voters -- unlike those in any other state since Reconstruction --have twice sent an African American to the Senate, Obama and Carol Moseley Braun. There is no reason to think that over time, Illinois will not send more minorities and, may I add, females to Congress.
David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist, told me Thursday, "The PE [president-elect ] has a high regard for Roland Burris. He simply doesn't believe the process by which he was appointed was appropriate, given the circumstances surrounding it."
Remember, this is not about Burris, though national reporters are fascinated that Burris, ever the chest thumper, has built a mausoleum for himself decorated with a list of his accomplishments. But I wouldn't chisel in "Senator." Not yet.