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WASHINGTON: Top Democrats symbolically barred the Senate door on Tuesday to the man chosen by Illinois's scandal-tainted governor to take president-elect Barack Obama's seat, in the latest twist of a bizarre political sideshow.
"My credentials were not in order and will not be accepted," said Roland Burris, standing with his lawyers before a media scrum in freezing rain across the street from the Capitol building.
Burris, 71, was picked last week to fill Obama's vacant Senate seat by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested in December for alleged corruption, including seeking to sell Obama's empty Senate seat to the highest bidder.
Because his appointment had not been signed by the Illinois Secretary of State, as required by Senate rules, Burris' credentials were rejected by US Senate Secretary Nancy Erickson.
The frenzy surrounding Burris' appointment is an unwelcome distraction for Obama and Democrats in the new Congress, whose top priority is pushing for swift action on a massive economic stimulus package, worth at least three-quarters of a trillion dollars.
But on the day lawmakers were sworn in to take their seats in the 111th Congress, Burris cautioned that, for now, he wasn't looking to be seated through a public fight with top Democrats, namely Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
"I am not seeking to have any type of confrontation," Burris told dozens of jostling reporters and photographers, who had followed him and his security entourage in steady rain from his hotel to Capitol Hill for the meeting, then back again across the street.
Burris has maintained the scandal surrounding the Illinois governor "is all politics and theatre."
In response to his appointee's rejection, Blagojevich said the "people of Illinois are entitled to be represented by two senators," and that he had fulfilled his duty as governor in filling the vacant spot.
"Any allegations against me should not be held against him and especially not the people of Illinois," Blagojevich said in a statement.
Burris, a veteran Illinois statesman, has found little support from fellow Democrats in Washington over the past week, while his supporters have made thinly veiled charges of racism over the situation.
If successful, Burris would replace Obama as the only African-American in the 100-seat Senate.
Obama, who resigned his seat after winning the November 4 presidential election, has backed the Senate leadership by saying he regrets Burris' appointment and repeatedly calling on Blagojevich to resign.
Speaking to reporters outside the Capitol, Burris' lawyer Timothy Wright said there were several options to move the appointment forward, including further negotiations with top senators or seeking a court challenge to the decision.
Wright even questioned the legal foundation for Burris being barred from the Senate floor or taking the oath of office.
"All of which we think was improperly done. And it is against the law of this land," Wright said.
Burris will remain in Washington until he can "deliberate with the Senate leadership and perhaps get them to reverse themselves," added Wright.
"We think there's never an end to discussions, there's always a point to see if we might resolve this impasse and move forward on behalf of the people."
Reid, speaking to a virtually empty Senate chamber later Tuesday, described Burris' rejection meetings at the Capitol as "gracious," and confirmed Burris had not been "in possession of the necessary credentials."
Burris' attorneys, however, were apparently unconcerned about any legal uncertainty.
Citing a "200, 300-year-old case" as precedent, Wright told reporters: "From that we have determined that senator Roland Burris is the junior senator from the state of Illinois."
CNN reported that a deal could be in the making between Democratic lawmakers and Burris that would have the Illinois statesman take his Senate seat as long as he vows not to run for in the 2010 legislative elections, when the seat comes up for grabs.
Democrats begin the new Congressional session with a comfortable majority in the 435-seat House, after gaining more than 20 seats in November's election.
In the Senate - including a Democrat appointment in Illinois and a victory for comedian Al Franken in Minnesota's contested seat - Democratic lawmakers are one seat short of the magic, 60-seat barrier that would allow them to thwart Republican filibuster obstruction tactics. - AFP/de
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