The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Customer Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out

  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Times News Services
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Алекс Овечкин
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
    • Donne Travels
    • Lives Common
    • National Pastime
    • Politics 101
    • Stories of Faith
    • Civil War
    • Middle - America
    • Chicago Blue State
    • Zadzooks
  • Marketplace
    • Autos
    • Jobs
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Shopping
    • Dining Out
    • Education
    • TWT Store
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Inside the Beltway
    • Inside the Story
Home > Blogs

Burris takes Senate seat

Credentials handed to Reid, Durbin

By David R. Sands (Contact) | Tuesday, January 13, 2009

  • Bookmark and Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Print
  • [-][+] Font Size
  • E-Mail Alerts
  • Tell a Friend
  • Got a Question?
  • You Report
  • Click-2-Listen

UPDATED:

Overcoming intense opposition from his own party leaders, former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris on Monday won a battle of wills and is expected to fill the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, and Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, a Democrat from Mr. Burris' home state of Illinois, conceded defeat in their bid to deny the 71-year-old the seat after his Dec. 30 appointment by scandal-plagued Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. Mr. Obama, Mr. Reid and Mr. Durbin had all vowed early on to block the appointment.

But after Mr. Burris' attorneys hand-delivered to the Senate the final documents he needed to confirm his credentials for office Monday, Mr. Reid and Mr. Durbin waved the white flag.

"We have spoken to Mr. Burris to let him know that he is now the senator-designate from Illinois and as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a senator-elect," the Democratic leaders said in a joint statement.

Mr. Burris, addressing a press conference in Chicago, was magnanimous in victory, saying he bore no ill will to Mr. Reid and Mr. Durbin.

"Never once did I doubt their intentions were motivated by anything other than doing what was right for the people of Illinois and by what they believed had to be done to protect the Senate as an institution," he said.

He said he accepted the appointment from Mr. Blagojevich because he "believed the Illinois people didn't deserve to be punished again" by having the Senate seat remain vacant for an extended period of time.

"It's always darkest before the dawn," he said. "I believe the dawn is here and brighter days are ahead for the state of Illinois."

Mr. Reid and Mr. Durbin said that, barring an objection from the chamber's Republicans, "we expect Senator-designee Burris to be sworn in and formally seated later this week."

Continue reading 12Next

[Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for reprint permissions!
Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC

Bookmark and Share

Comments

Read Comments

Post your comment:

Please login or register to post a comment

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Senate appointee Roland Burris leaves a news conference in Chicago on Monday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin have cleared the path for Mr. Burris' seat.
  • Roland Burris' attorney, Timothy Wright, leaves the Capitol on Monday. Mr. Wright hand-delivered to the Senate the final documents needed to confirm Mr. Burris' credentials for office.

Click the photo to enlarge. « Previous | Next »

Advertisement

Top Stories

Most Read

    Most Shared

    1. Powell airs doubts on Obama agenda
    2. Fed money may benefit Russian-backed firm
    3. Croatia's leader resigns
    4. Rick Warren envisions coalition of faith
    5. Wrong-turn Obama
    6. Cap and traitors
    7. None dare call it Marxism
    8. Gingrich back with a vengeance
    9. Holiday marked by anti-tax Tea Parties
    10. Challenges abound for Obama abroad

    Most Commented

    1. Jeb Bush, GOP: Time to leave Reagan behind
    2. WH communications director leaving
    3. Freddie Mac acting CFO found dead
    4. Kerry aims to rescue newspapers
    5. Fidel Castro: Obama 'misinterpreted' words
    6. President Obama said those who approved harsh interrogation techniques for suspected terrorists may be subjected to criminal charges. Do you agree?
    7. President Obama said those who approved harsh interrogation techniques for suspected terrorists may be subjected to criminal charges. Do you agree?
    8. Gibbs: Pay no attention to what Rahm said
    9. Politics' Talking Heads Highlight Speaker Series
    10. Fleecing Mike Ditka

    Related Stories

    Welcome to ObamaCare Theater

    Franken gets the last laugh

    SOLUTIONS/PERKINS: Dealing with abortion in health care reform

    WARREN: 'First father' calls dads to take action

    Gingrich back with a vengeance

    Senate loss fails to sink Coleman political dreams

    The Al Franken shtick

    Democrats claim deep cuts in health care bill

    The Founding Fathers

    Inside Politics

    Poll

      Market Data

      Advertising Links
      TWT Store
      • e-edition
      • Print Edition
      • Weekly Washington Times
      TWT Affiliates
      • Middle East Times
      • Golf
      • UPI
      • Arbor Ballroom
      • Washington Times Global
      • About TWT
      • Press Room
      • F.A.Q.
      • Work for TWT
      • Advertise
      • Sponsors
      • Contact Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Site Map

      All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.