Burris: Don't Hold Blago Against Me

He says guv has power to appoint, objections might just be racist
By Gabriel Winant,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 31, 2008 12:19 PM CST

This should be about me, not Rod Blagojevich, Ronald Burris has been saying in TV interviews since Blago named him to fill Barack Obama’s open Senate seat yesterday. Last night, he told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, “I have nothing to do with the problems of the governor.” And Democratic senators who think otherwise? “Is it racism that’s taking place?” Burris asked NBC’s Meredith Vieira today. “That’s a question for someone else to ask.”

Democratic senators, along with Barack Obama, have called it inappropriate for Blagojevich to appoint anyone at all, under the circumstances. Responds Burris, “The appointment is legal. I mean, no one has said his appointment is illegal. They just said his appointment is tainted. What does tainted have to do with legal? And I don't think it's even tainted, because his appointment, Rachel, is legal.”
(More Rod Blagojevich stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X