Sen. Feinstein: Roland Burris Should Be Seated In US Senate

Senator Dianne Feinstein of California voiced her dissent in the Democrats’ opposition to allow former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to be seated in the US Senate.

For the time being, the heat is off embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Back in December of 2008, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell a vacant US Senate seat. That seat was vacated by United States President-Elect Barack Obama after winning a landslide victory on November 4 over GOP rival Senator John McCain of Arizona. Many had called upon Blagojevich to step down from office. Blagojevich brushed off all calls. He has every intention to fight tooth and nail. There were also calls to step down from Obama. Blagojevich ignored those calls. Then Blagojevich would appoint former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to fill Obama’s seat. Senate Democrats have already said that they will not seat anybody appointed by Blagojevich. The issue of race has already been injected into the controversy. The heat has been deflected from Blagojevich. In turn, it was placed on Burris. Also, the heat has been placed on Senate Democrats. In that respect, Blagojevich could have the last laugh. Today, the appointment of Burris was rejected. However, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California broke away from other Senate Democrats. She said that Burris should be seated. “Does the governor have the power, under law, to make his appointment? And the answer is yes,” Feinstein explained. She said that refusal to seat Burris will have an adverse effect on gubernatorial appointments. The Congressional Black Caucus has been thrown into the mix as well. They said that Burris should be seated in the US Senate. This could spell a major domestic problem for Barack Obama once he takes office of US President on January 20. Those that oppose Burris’ appointment state it for legal reasons. It lacked the signature from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Other opponents say that it was an appointment tainted by dirty hands. They say those dirty hands belong to Blagojevich.