Jan 14, 2009 10:28 pm US/Central
Truth In Politics: What Burris Faces In The Senate
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Ill. U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris (center) is surrounded by supporters and members of the news media while arriving at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2009, in Washington, DC.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
He forced leaders of the U.S. Senate to back down from their threat not to seat him. And Thursday afternoon, Roland Burris will join their exclusive club. Vice President Dick Cheney will administer the oath of office at 1 p.m.
In Wednesday's Truth in Politics, CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery looks at what faces the man Republicans have dubbed "the junior senator from Blagojevich."
Roland Burris went to a west side school to dole out one of the perks of his new office: he gave tickets to a group of eighth graders.
"They are going to Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20th in Washington," Burris said. "They will have the tickets."
At almost the same moment, there was evidence in Springfield of the political price Burris will pay for accepting the appointment from Rod Blagojevich.
There was a standing ovation for a man who temporarily blocked Burris's appointment.
"Thank you very much Secretary White, and thank you for standing so strong," said one House representative.
"You have been a profile in courage and I thank you," said Rep. Bill Black.
Members of the Illinois House were saluting Secretary of State Jesse White. They praised his refusal to co-sign the governor's appointment of Roland Burris to the Senate.
Privately, some Democrats fear that if Burris tries to keep the seat and runs next year, he may drag down the whole Democratic ticket.
Already, Republicans on Capitol Hill and here at home are in eager campaign mode.
A typical mass e-mailing from the Illinois Republican Party declared: "Meet the Junior Senator from Blagojevich."
It laments that, "Roland Burris refused to call on Governor Blagojevich to resign," adding that Burris's lobbying and "consulting firm received almost $300,000 in state contracts," and "donated over $20,000 to the Governor Blagojevich."
The scrutiny of Burris is now more intense than anything he has ever faced in his long career. Within minutes of being sworn in Thursday, Burris will cast his first big Senate vote. He is expected to support Barack Obama's request that Congress release $350 billion in economic recovery funds. Then, he has to lobby for committee assignments, although the best ones are already gone.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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