Jan 2, 2009 6:06 pm US/Central
Rush, Activists Turn Heat Up For Burris
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Roland Burris supporters like Bill Walls met outside the Thompson Center on Friday to put pressure on those opposing Roland Burris' Senate appointment.
CBS
In Chicago Friday, there was a show of support for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's Senate appointee, Roland Burris -- on the street and in two of the city's papers. Meanwhile, Chicago Congressman Bobby Rush stepped up his support for the trailblazing African-American politician.
More than a dozen community activists and a few clergymen were outside the Thompson Center. The idea was to put pressure on the Democrats who are opposing the Roland Burris Senate appointment.
"It's a cold day in the Windy City, but it's a hot day in Illinois politics," community activist Bill Walls said.
Activists were there to put some heat on Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who refuses to certify the governor's choice of Burris as well as Sen. Dick Durbin, who calls the Burris choice a mistake and "an act of defiance" by the governor.
"We want to make it real clear that there will be repercussions in the next election that they're involved in," Walls said.
Their anger was not directed at another Illinois Democrat, President-elect Barack Obama, whose Senate seat would be filled by Burris. Obama opposes the Blagojevich appointment, too.
"That's very unfortunate that is his position, but that is his personal position. He's one voter when it comes to Illinois politics," Walls said.
Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges in December and is accused of trying to sell the Senate vacancy to the highest bidder.
Friday, a Chicago Sun Times editorial declared that the law is likely to be on Burris' side and called for him to be sworn in.
Two pages away, an op-ed piece called Illinois politics "a rotten apple barrel."
It was written by former Chicago reform Alderman Dick Simpson. He told CBS 2 the Senate selection process should be done again after a new governor is sworn in.
"I would prefer a process in which a blue-ribbon committee either of senior statesmen or community organizations and civic groups vets the candidates, that the process is transparent and just like we do with judges, would then give that list to the new governor," Simpson said.
Late Friday afternoon, lawyers for Burris asked the Illinois Supreme Court to hurry its decision on his move to force the secretary of state to certify the governor's letter of appointment.
Meanwhile, Rush announced he is leading a coalition to make sure Burris isn't blocked at the Senate door next week when he shows up to be sworn in.
Rush continues to bring race into the controversy. When Blagojevich appointed Burris earlier this week, Rush expressed gratitude an African American had been tapped. Rush says Blagojevich's troubles have nothing to do with Burris' qualifications or the legality of his appointment. He stopped short of calling the current outrage a conspiracy.
"Those individuals who are a part of that plan or program are relentless in their efforts to keep Roland out so they can get their person in," Rush said.
Burris' legal right to hold the senate seat received support from political analyst Paul Green.
"Burris should be the next senator," he said. "`Tainted' is not a legal word. It's a political word."
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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