This morning, NBC 5's City Desk aired an interview with Roland Burris, who told reporter Mary Ann Ahern at the outset, "I am the senator." Burris went on to explain how he came to accept the appointment, what his plans are for Tuesday on Capitol Hill, and whether he would be interested in running for reelection in 2010, assuming he's eventually seated. Watch (the full eight-minute interview is currently nowhere to be found on NBC 5's website):
Ahern also asked Burris about his invitation to testify before the House impeachment hearing. He said he would be happy to appear, but added: "I don't even know why they would bring me into the hearings. I mean, I have nothing to do with the governor. I am no part of whatever the governor is involved in. I don't what kind of witness I can be."
This play-it-dumb posture is one of the more tone-deaf aspects of Burris' PR strategy. Since being appointed, he has repeatedly implied that questions about the legiitimacy of the process are somehow irrelevant, unnecessary, or off-target. But he should know better. You can't accept the appointment and then say, "I am no part of whatever the governor is involved in." That's not going to fly.
Also this morning, Sen. Dick Durbin appeared on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopolous. At the end of a lengthy discussion regarding Burris, Durbin addressed efforts to racialize the issue. Watch (full video here):
On NBC's Meet The Press, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also pushed back on the racial angle. Interestingly, Reid addressed reports out of the governor's office that he privately told Blagojevich he didn't want Danny Davis, Jesse Jackson Jr., or Emil Jones to be appointed to the seat by saying that Blagojevich is "making it up." Watch (fast forward to 7:40 for the race discussion):
Reid went on to bring up the fact that Rep. Bobby Rush -- who has been pushing the racial angle hard -- supported Blair Hull, a white candidate, over Barack Obama in the 2004 Democratic Senate primary in Illinois:
So what's next? Well, Burris expressed hope on NBC 5 that the Illinois Supreme Court will take up his motion against Secretary of State Jesse White tomorrow. Meanwhile, Senate leaders are scheduled to meet regarding Burris tomorrow. And this evening, Burris himself will be addressing "Chicago ministers and his supporters," according to the AP.
