Senate Democrats Yield to Obama, Retreat on Burris

The scene Wednesday was a reversal from the day before.

Illinois U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris leaves the U.S. Capitol, seen rear, in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, after he was turned away when he appeared to take his seat. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

(AP)

Burris showed up at the Capitol Tuesday to be sworn in with the rest of the 111th Congress but was turned away by Senate officials who said his certification lacked the required signature from White as well as the official seal of the state of Illinois.

Senate Democrats refused to let Burris talk to reporters inside the Capitol but cleared the way for him to hold a news conference just outside. What followed was a bizarre, soggy procession in pouring rain as Burris, his advisers and dozens of news crews crossed Constitution Avenue to the news conference site.

The spectacle, broadcast live and repeated throughout the day, did not sit well with Democrats eager to project unity with Obama and to begin work on an economic rescue package.

Several behind-the-scenes phone calls and public statements later, displeased Democrats had conveyed a clear message to Durbin and Reid: Make this problem go away.

And a public crack appeared in the Democrats' wall of opposition when Rules Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein of California said that Blagojevich, however sullied, had the constitutional authority to make the appointment regardless of any Senate rules.

Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday arguing that blocking Burris was unconstitutional.

Further pressuring Senate Democrats were the 41 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who voted unanimously Wednesday that Burris should be seated.

"This is a situation where we have a senator who has now missed out on his first day," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. "It's only fair that he be sworn in immediately. This is a no-brainer."

Senate Democrats weren't quite ready to do that. But it appeared that all concerned were anxious to step back from the brink of a political and racial confrontation.

The get-to-know-you meeting with Reid on Wednesday was the first of several steps toward seating Burris, Democrats said. Second, the Illinois Supreme Court would have to force White to sign Burris' certification to comply with Senate rules. Third, Burris would have to give a sworn statement to the state's impeachment inquiry on Wednesday, which he promised Reid and Durbin he would do.