Roland Burris: Judgement Day

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jan 6, 2009 4:30PM

Did The Lord's Senate Appointee™ become The Lord's Senator™? For now, the answer is no. Burris was barred from entering the Senate floor today since the Secretary of the Senate rejected Burris's appointment on the grounds that Illinois Secretary Jesse "Tumbler" White refused to approve the appointment. However, there wasn't much of a dramatic showdown; instead, there was a heavily choreographed tango followed by a denial where the press couldn't see. Via The Swamp:

Presenting his credentials in a third-floor Capitol room where he could not be seen by the media, Roland Burris was on a floor where press photography is prohibited.

There would be no visual image of the Senate's rejection of the disputed appointee from Illinois, whom Senate leaders refused to seat because of the "cloud" surrounding the Illinois governor who appointed him.

But Burris - appearing calm, and accepting no questions -- left the secretary's office at 10:50 am EST escorted by the sergeant at arms, ushering him to an elevator as Capitol police barred photographers from snapping shots

At a press conference outside the Capitol after his denial, Burris remained defiant, saying, "My name is Roland Burris, the junior Senator from the State of Illinois. I was advised that my credentials were not in order."