Obama condemns Blago's move to appoint Burris

[kpete]

Source: Daily Kos

Obama condemns Blago's move to appoint Burris
by SusanG
Tue Dec 30, 2008 at 02:59:23 PM PST
The transition team released the following statement from President-Elect Barack Obama:

Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy.


Read more: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/12/30/175541/32/717/678657

[EconomicLiberal]

1. Obama, grow a sack.

Start leading and stop trying to please the Republicans everywhere you go. You should lead the way in uniting the Democratic Party and the state and national levels behind this terrific public servant.

[Faygo Kid]

7. Right call, Mr. President-elect.

Blagojevich has zero credibility. And deservedly so. I couldn't disagree more with you here.

Obama is right. Again.

[NYC Liberal]

19. So just because you disagree with him on this

he's weak?

This isn't about whether the man is qualified. It's about Blagojevich. The scandal is relevant because it was about him *trying to sell the Senate seat*.

Honestly, if he was accused of anything but that, I'd say him appointing someone to the seat wouldn't matter. But now, it does.

[bunnies]

2. Silent on Gaza but noisy on this?!

Really?!

[monmouth]

3. Perfect statement. Gaza?? Not his job right now....n/t

[iandhr]

4. thank you

[lordcommander]

6. Correct and hes not even sworn in yet. n/t

[ashling]

5. Obama said he was not involved, so STAY OUT OF IT ALREADY

This is not the president's business. Period. I am not a "state's rights" advocate, but the executive is the executive, and this is not his call.

Nor is it Reid's decision to make. If Blogahooey appoints someone who is qualified, then he has to seat him END OF STORY.

Mr. Obama, there are bigger taints to deal with than this.

Can you say WAR CRIMES????

[earthlover]

10. I think Reid is over-stepping his Constitutional limits....

Yes, the Senate can rule on the qualifications of an incoming Senator. But....a big but....the qualifications are the age, residency requirements set forth in the Constitution. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say one of the qualifications for holding the office of Senator is not being appointed by a dingbat governor! In addition, the Supreme Court has specifically ruled that the Senate can only rule on issues relating to constitutional qualifications. And this is as it should be....otherwise, the senate could theoretically reject ANY new senator it didn't like!

I don't know the best solution to this problem, but from a constitutional position, Reid is way off. Sorry.

Burris obviously fulfills the constitutional requirements for the office. It is a pretty lame arguement for the Democrats to say, sure he is qualified, but he can't serve. Whaaaaaaaat?

I don't like Blago at all. I would not shed a tear if he stepped down. But, at the present time, he has the Constitutional power to appoint the new Senator.

[ashling]

11. Exactly

n/t

[Bacchus39]

17. yep, you got it n/t

e

[earcandle]

8. I'm dissappointed in Obama's speech.

These people don't want a hard working honest Democrat inside
their circle.

I would like to see Burris win this with the votes of the
people of Illinois.
BTW:

Blago IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.  

This is just a mob trying to keep the guy from doing his job.
Burris is a fine pick.

If Obama cannot point out that Blago is innocent until proven
guilty than he cannot be
a good leader able to correct all of these messes this admin
is going to leave behind.  This is one principle our rule of
law is based on.  Why can't he stand for that? 

Patrick Fitzface started this and then didn't back it up. 
This is really his fault.  Blago spoke out against BofA, and
boom!  They are on the guy and out to smear him.  Give him a
fair hearing, let us see the evidence.  IN the meantime, let
the man do his legal job. 

They cannot stop him.  Obama just put himself on the wrong
side of hearsay bull dung. 

In my no so humble opinion. 

[monmouth]

9. I think your FReeper is showing. Obama made the correct statement,

the wiretaps are the evidence and to call Patrick Fitzgerald "Fitzface" gives you away.

[ashling]

12. I disagree

He should have stayed out of it PERIOD.

There is such a thing as due process, and this ain't it.

[earthlover]

13. good point....frankly I am surprised at Obama's statement

Obama as impressed me as a Constitutional expert. Something as basic as this should not have escaped his grasp!

I suspect politics is involved here. The Dems want to run for cover and not be besmirched by Blago.

Sorry, but they can throw Blago under the bus and STILL follow the constitution. It is not either-or.

Maybe they are just raising a fuss for show, to distance themselves from Blago-the-numb-skull. But, I am still disappointed in their blind spot to what the Constitution and Supreme Court clearly have spoken on the issue.

[mike_c]

14. I agree with you completely....

This is NOT Obama's dog to fight. He's right about one thing-- the citizens of Illinois deserve a functioning government, and that means that as long as Blago holds the office Obama should stop trying to undermine him. If he's not fit to serve, then it's up to the citizens of Illinois to remove him-- and many of them are trying-- but no state can have an effective government if the rest of the country thumbs its collective nose at the office of its chief executive.

[madrchsod]

16. dam right we do ....this is-

a feud between the different factions in the democratic party here. blago and obama did`t endorse each other in fact they have`t spoken in several years. then there`s the other families that are waiting the outcome of this farce.

what`s worse is the people of this state are going to get fed up with the democrats - between reid telling us who we can have,blago not resigning,and the cost of a special election....they`ll be a republican in that democratic seat in the senate.

[NYC Liberal]

20. Well...

"The citizens of the United States deserve a functioning government, and that means as long as Bush holds the office, everyone should stop trying to undermine him. If he's not fit to serve, then it's up to members of Congress to remove him-- and many of them are trying-- but no country can have an effective government if the rest of the people thumbs its collective nose at the office of its chief executive."

[madrchsod]

15. cool website but ...

blago needed to step aside and let the lt governor pick. this is blago fuck you to the democrats that do`t like him. unfortunately his big fuck you is going to cost this state a senate seat if this situation is`t resolved soon. the state and political parties do not have the funds for a special election.

[customerserviceguy]

18. This is not going to go down well with a lot of people in this country

I hope it does not tear us apart, but sadly, I fear that happening.

[Zhade]

21. "But having a known bigot give my invocation is okay."

All I can do is shake my head, Obama.