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Blagojevich Senate appointee finds support in Chicago

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 5, 2009

CHICAGO - Just days before a high-stakes showdown in the nation's capital, the man selected to take President-elect Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat sought spiritual and political support yesterday at a South Side Chicago church.

Warm words of support and prayers for Roland Burris contrasted with the frigid reactions from Senate leaders, many of whom say his appointment by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is so badly stained that Burris shouldn't be seated when the new Congress convenes this week.

Burris took the stage at New Covenant Church last night to a crescendo of drums, organ music and applause from hundreds of supporters, including black leaders and ministers.

"The appointment is legal," he said, thanking those gathered at the prayer service. "That is all there is. I don't know what all the confusion is about."

Before the service, Burris supporter Bobby Rush, a Democratic congressman, and about 60 ministers condemned Senate Democratic leaders for rejecting Burris. Rush called the Senate "the last bastion of plantation politics."

The Senate's top two Democrats defended their right to deny the seat to Burris - who would be the chamber's only black member - while refusing to rule out a deal as Congress and its new members begin work this week.

Democrats say Burris' appointment is tainted because it was made by Blagojevich, who is accused by federal authorities of offering to sell the vacancy to the highest bidder.

Burris, a former state attorney general, says the appointment is legal and the governor had the authority to do it. He has threatened to sue Senate Democrats if they refuse to swear him in.

"Anything can happen," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) But he described the chances of Burris's joining the Senate as "very difficult." The second-ranking Democrat, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, acknowledged that his governor has the state constitutional authority to fill the vacancy.

"The Senate of the United States has the U.S. constitutional responsibility to decide if Mr. Burris was chosen in a proper manner and that is what we're going to do," Durbin said.

Rush called on Durbin to meet with African-American leaders, calling the Illinois senator "cavalier and one-sided."

Burris planned to go to Washington today.

Democratic leaders, however, plan to afford Burris few, if any, privileges even if he were to come to the Capitol with the proper credentials. Senate officials have said a Democrat will object to Burris being duly sworn with the rest of his class tomorrow and will propose that his credentials be reviewed by the Senate Rules Committee.

That would give Burris the status of a senator-elect and buy some time as Democrats hope Blagojevich will be removed from office before the committee completes its investigation.