Blagojevich appoints Obama Senate successor

Defying U.S. Senate leaders and his own state's lawmakers, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder, praised the 71-year-old Burris' integrity and asked that the corruption allegations not "taint this good and honest man."

"The people of Illinois are entitled to have two United States senators represent them in Washington D.C.," Blagojevich said. "As governor I am required to make this appointment."

Burris, standing at the governor's side, said he's eager to get to work in Washington. He said he has no connection to the charges against Blagojevich, who was arrested on Dec. 9 and accused of trying to profit from appointing Obama's replacement.

The Democratic governor can announce Burris as his pick, but it may be an empty gesture. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must certify the appointment, said Tuesday he will not do so. And U.S. Senate leaders reiterated that they won't accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges.

Video   Chuck Todd: What happens next? Dec. 30: NBC's Political Director and Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd offers analysis on how the Blagojevich appointment is likely to play out in Washington. Nightly News

Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family, said he supported the Senate Democrats' decision not to seat the Blagojevich appointee. "Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat.

"I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place," he said.

One of the accusations is that Blagojevich schemed to benefit from his power to name Obama's replacement in the Senate. Federal prosecutors said they recorded conversations in which Blagojevich discussed appointing someone Obama favored in exchange for a position in the new president's Cabinet or naming someone favored by a union if he got a high-level union job.

Blagojevich has faced a flood of calls for his resignation, and the Illinois House has begun impeachment proceedings.

His own lawyer said recently that there would be no point in Blagojevich naming someone to the Senate because leaders there would reject his appointment.

Within minutes of the report that the governor would name a successor, Senate Democratic leaders were conferring over how to prevent Burris from actually taking office. Later Tuesday afternoon, they issued a statement saying that Blagojevich's appointment "will ultimately not stand."

"Under these circumstances," the statement continues, "anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus."

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