Ill. Sec/State: 'Don't ask me to sign'

Posted: Friday, January 09, 2009 4:46 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Following Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, Secretary of State Jesse White took the microphone in Chicago and opened up with a joke.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "don't ask me to sign anything today, OK?"

He continued, to laughter, "I know I need some sensitivity training."

To Roland Burris, it is no joking matter. But Burris may have been helped today by an Illinois Supreme Court ruling that said White did not have to sign off on Blagojevich's appointment of Burris. Senate Democrats, however, as NBC's Ken Strickland reported, are sticking to their interpretation that Senate rules do require White's signature in order for Burris to be seated.

"I'd like thank the Illinois Supreme Court for the ruling today," White said. "They have affirmed what Attorney General Lisa Madigan and I have maintained all along that I have fulfilled my legal obligations regarding the appointment of Roland Burris to the United States Senate seat."

White added, "I want to make it clear that I could not and would not in good conscience sign to any appointment made by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill the senate vacant seat. This governor was arrested, in part, for trying to sell the same Senate seat that he appointed Roland Burris to. The Illinois Supreme Court has made it clear in its ruling today that I am under no obligation to affix my signature to that document. And as I have maintained all along, the ultimate decision to seat or not to seat the senate appointee is left up to the United States Senate."

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Dawn in WV: '...Why does Illinois keep electing crazy people?...'

You should see the clowns they elect in Texas, Kentucky and Tennesse !!

Or who they elect for governor in California

MSierra, SF (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 5:25 PM)

Time to stop this nonsense. Sec. of State White needs to recuse himself on this issue and have a deputy or assistant sign the certification. Of course, Big Hair Blago could have done the same on the senatorial appointment issue, kept his job-temporarily-and let Lt. Gov. Quinn make the appointment.

B. Bear (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 5:25 PM)

I think Blagojevich should withdraw Burris' nomination and nominate Jesse White. You would meet the racial requirement and maybe have someone with some marbles (either area of the body will do)to fill that senate seat.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 5:44 PM)

Okay White, just sign the darn thing. State in writing that you sign under duress of the US Senate and let Burris be seated. In 2 years there will be an election and then he may be voted out of office but that is up to the good people of the State of Illinois to decide. Somehow I think they will work around White if necessary but that will take more time and cost money the State doesn't have.

eagle1776 (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 5:51 PM)

The interesting thing about this subject, is they all know each other and talked to each other but they can not remember the facts of the conversations! Very interesting comrade!

Raymonty,Albany,NY (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 5:57 PM)

And he never listens to them,
He knows that they're the fools
They don't like him,

The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down,
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning 'round.

Jeremy (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 6:10 PM)

The decision to seat is by the Senate, but the only reasons the Senate can reject an appointee is failure to meet the constitutional minimum criteria (age, citizenship, residency), or having not been actually appointed. Since Burris meets the criteria, and the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that he has been legally and actually appointed, isn't this over? Seat the man.

tkd (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 6:25 PM)

I think the gov. Blagojevich need to go, but all the other political officials need to come off thier high hourses. making fun of poeple in bad situations like roland burris or anyone show lack of class. they need to remember this.
The "ONLY" difference between Blagojevich and the rest of the politicans is he got caught.

mss (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 6:28 PM)

I like Roland Burris's answer to the Illionis House's question on if he bribed Blagojevich:

"I don't got no money."

Looks like there is one honest man in Illinois.

Honest Cal (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 6:55 PM)

Jesse White is one more useless idiot in a state that appears to full of them.

Mattie LaBounty, Indiana (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 6:56 PM)

IT IS GOOD THAT SOMEONE IS STANDING UP FOR HONESTY AND INTERGRITY.

I SUPPORT YOU MR.WHITE

Jean2 Los Angeles (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 8:19 PM)

At this rate if the US senate sticks to it rules and the Illinois State Sec'y signs nothing, Illinois is going to be without a second senator for a while. Just what does White's signature mean anyway? Is it that is he notarizing this is Blagohevitch's signature or is there deeper meaning to White's signature. Someone needs to define what his signature means and why if it is no more than a fancy notary of public why he is not required to sign.

Fella, Apple Valley, MN (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 8:48 PM)

As a resident of Illinois, I would like to thank Jesse White for sticking to his convictions. He is an honorable man. Governor Blago should not be rewarded with the privledge of appointing a senator to the US Senate. I also applaud the US Senate and Sen Dick Durbin for sticking to their convictions. No person, in any good conscience would accept that senate seat from Governor Blago. Burris accepting that seat, tells you all you need to know about the man. Someone shoud ask Mr. Burrs why three weeks ago he said the governor should not appoint and was not capable of appointing anyone to the seat. I guess he meant, anyone but him.

Brian, Joliet, Illinois (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 8:59 PM)

these bunch of jackasses have tried to run things without the governor all along. they're just like a bunch of little kids. Pat quinn offered sex in a public restroom but I'm not going to have him arrested

terry hanks, odin,IL. (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 9:55 PM)

The question is, what will Jesse White do when Burris asks for, and pays for, an official copy of the governor's appointment? I'm stunned that there is so little media coverage of the final paragraphs of the Illinois Supreme Court's opinion, which set out precisely how it thought someone such as Burris could force White to affix his signature and the state seal (albeit to a document accompanying the copy).

Undoubtedly he will do this. Durbin, consistent with the general theme of the Senate drawing arbitrary and ill-considered lines in the sand to its own detriment, now is saying the Senate won't act on Burris until the impeachment hearings are complete. He may have to eat his words.

When will these Senators learn to stop digging their hole deeper? Or at least conduct sufficient legal research so that they know the lines they draw are legally sustainable?

Rob, Chicago IL (Sent Saturday, January 10, 2009 1:31 AM)

BURRIS IS COUNTING ON THE "RACE CARD" WINNING FOR HIM!

BURRIS IS PLAYING THE "RACE CARD" ... (Sent Saturday, January 10, 2009 9:23 AM)

A full 90 percent of donations to fund Barack Obama’s Jan. 20 inauguration have come from well-heeled fundraisers — including Wall Street executives whose companies have received federal bailout money.

A total of 207 fundraisers have collected $24.8 million of the $27.3 million in donations disclosed by Obama through Thursday, according to an analysis by Public Citizen commissioned by The Wall Street Journal.

Slightly more than 2,000 donors accounted for the $27.3 million raised, but 378 of those people each contributed the maximum $50,000 allowed by Obama, raising almost 70 percent of the total, or $18.9 million, the analysis found.

Wall Street employees have been the largest single source of private donations, and many of the contributions have been channeled through financial-services executives who have put together bundles of donations worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“The preponderance of large donors and the fact that so many come from an industry receiving government handouts comes as the president-elect has sought to keep his inauguration free of special interests,” The Journal observed.

Something smells very fishy here. Change we need!

Pete, Salinas, CA (Sent Saturday, January 10, 2009 9:55 AM)

Watch the political, bouncing ball, or is it a hop potato?

Mike Groshong, McMinnville, Or (Sent Saturday, January 10, 2009 9:57 AM)

Unfortunately Mr white is showing the
true colors of being an uncle Tom.He is a disgrace to the memory of Dr.king.The african American have to stick together like the Irish .Mayor Richard lord rest his soul is crying from heaven at your cowardness . Govonor ROD TRIED TO HELP THE WEAKNEST OF OUR STATE AND THE WEALTHY ARE TRING TO NAIL HIMFOR IT .YOU ARE GOING ALONG WITH THE REPUBLICANS UN TRING TO STOP ALMOST PRESIDENT OBAMA.

Gregory W. Meegan (Sent Saturday, January 10, 2009 4:02 PM)

I strongly support Jessie White's decision to stand his moral ground. In all the corruption in Illinois history having somebody stand his ground. I hope he continues to not sign anything. Just hand that man and erasure!

Matthew Sampson, Cisne, Illinois (Sent Saturday, January 10, 2009 4:44 PM)

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