As Blagojevich and his political handlers know, the U.S. Senate has an abysmal track record when it comes to diversity. Obama was only the third black senator elected since Reconstruction, and Obama was the only black senator in the body during the four years he served.
The Senate currently has three Hispanic members, but two of them are on their way out. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., was tapped to join Obama's Cabinet, and Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., is retiring his seat at the end of 2010.
African-Americans have had little success in entering the legislative body sometimes called the "world's most exclusive club."
Before Obama took office in 2005, only two African-Americans won Senate seats via the popular vote, and they served a total of three terms between them. Edward Brooke, R-Mass., served from 1967 to 1979, and Carol Moseley Braun, D-Ill., occupied the seat that Obama would later take, serving from 1993 to 1999.
Burris' appointment was cast against that backdrop, and that may be one reason Senate leaders eventually find a peaceable solution that involves Burris taking the Senate seat after all.
Burris is slated to meet with Reid on Wednesday. Reid has privately expressed concern about Burris' ability to hold onto the Senate seat, leading to speculation that Reid could drop his opposition if Burris commits to only staying in office through 2010, allowing Democrats to find a stronger candidate.
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