Harry Reid Adds His Own Controversy to Illinois Senate Seat Debate

Robert Dougherty
Robert Dougherty, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jan 4, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
The Rod Blagojevich scandal hasn't left the front pages yet, mainly because Blagojevich hasn't left yet. Blagojevich's troubles have now spread into a full blown battle over Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. They now include prospective Senator Roland Burris, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and for good measure, the race card.

Blagojevich evoked the wrath of Harry Reid and many other Democrats by going ahead and selecting a new Senator in Illinois. This comes despite the fact that Blagojevich has been indicted for trying to sell that Senate seat for profit and personal gain.

If not for that little issue, the selection of Roland Burris, the former Attorney General of Illinois may have been celebrated. Burris is also African American, a race which now has almost no representation in the Senate now that Obama has left to become President. But this instead has caused the race card to be played on both sides of the issue.

Those who support Reid's decision to try and block this appointment say that Blagojevich cynically picked a black man to make it much harder, and more controversial, to challenge Burris' Senate seat. On the other hand, those who are on Blagojevich and Burris's side say that Reid is the one who is being racist.

Reid offered three other possibilities for the vacant Senate seat, none of which are black. There have also been accusations that Reid has said other prominent African American candidates, like Jesse Jackson Jr and state Senator Emil Jones, would be unelectable in Illinois in 2010.

Despite these accusations against Reid, he continues to promise that Burris will not be approved by the Senate. Reid even said that the Constitution provides the legal authority to block the appointment, when he appeared on Meet the Press this morning. However, Reid has arranged to meet personally with Burris on Wednesday.

If Reid wants to go fourth and block Burris, it must be done before his planned swearing in on Tuesday. However, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White still has to sign Burris's credentials.

Even if he does, Reid and the Democratic leadership would likely send the matter to the Rules and Administration Committee. At the least, that would deny Burris any privileges on the Senate floor while the matter is debated.

Reid is taking on this matter while he himself has very low approval ratings as Senate Majority Leader, and as the Democrats scramble to get their leadership and Senate majority in order before Obama takes office.

Not only that, Reid may well have to get in the middle of the still ongoing recount in Minnesota between Al Franken and Norm Coleman, which needs to be settled shortly.

Sources

Politico.com- "Top Dems won't budge on Burris" www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0109/Top_Dems_wont_budge_on_Burris.html

CQ Politics- "Reid to Meet With Appointee to Obama's Senate Seat" www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm

Published by Robert Dougherty

Author of a trilogy of Lost books, concluding with "Lost: It Only Ends Once" now available at Amazon and iUniverse. Readers can now go to my Yahoo Sports section to see the majority of my new stories....   View profile

More from

5 Comments

Post a Comment
  • Susan Anderson 1/9/2009

    interesting... thanks :0)

  • Ronald B. Keys, JD, PhD 1/5/2009

    Gov B Affair In IL

    Dear Senator:

    Please take a course in government and constitutional law. Ignorance of the concept of DUE PROCESS seems to exist in your case. You show not even the most rudimentary understanding of the process of DUE PROCESS OF LAW and THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENSE with your constant pronouncements of TAINT OF GOV. B. The only taint is upon you for your ignorance concerning the confusion of charge/accusation with a finding of guilt. How could you have gotten as far as you have in government with such profound ignorance?

    This GOV B has been found gulty of NOTHING.

    Even you have the right of DUE PROCESS OF LAW, not just GOV. B.

    Tell me, Senator, whether you have ever heard of the right to confront and cross -examine your accusers where rules of engagement exist either in court or even before legislative bodies?

    Gov. B., this moment, stands before the public as innocent as you or I. He is only charged, not convicted or found guuilty or adjudicated ex

  • CJ Mathis 1/4/2009

    Good report here. thanks for the information.

  • Tom-eh 1/4/2009

    BREAKING NEWS...There is a "cloud" now over New Mexico. As reported by Reid "my lips" earlier to-day, there was "a clould over the whole state of Illinois", the result of corruption as seen by the Holier than One Reid.
    The breaking news headline is a democratic strom front has blanketed the whole state of New Mexico. This cloud emerged spontaneously with the announcement by the State Governor, yes Governor, Richardson withdrawing for confirmation of the Commerce position with the One. But the fluffy white stuff in the sky must not be as dark a pay-to-play cloud as over Illinois, as least for now, as no impeachment has commenced like in Illnois. On the otherhand the seer Reider has not got around to crystalizing his prognois for atmospheric stuff over New Mexico.
    Exit question...Just what kind of executive orders has Richardson made over the last month? They would be tainted, wouldn't they Harry my boy?

  • Jesse Mathewson 1/4/2009

    Nice one here!

Displaying Comments

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.