The corruption-tainted governor of Illinois defied Democratic Party leaders by appointing a prominent African-American statesman to the US Senate seat vacated by president-elect Barack Obama (click here to watch his news conference).
Senate Democrats vowed not to seat former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris, saying he would 'serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety' in the wake of federal corruption charges stating that Governor Rod Blagojevich tried to sell the seat to the highest bidder.
Mr Obama said that while Burris is a 'good man and a fine public servant,' the president-elect supports the decision not to seat anyone appointed by Mr Blagojevich.
Mr Obama called the governor's move 'extremely disappointing,' and said the 'best resolution would be for the governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place.'
'While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy,' Mr Obama says in a statement.
But Illinois congressman and civil rights leader Bobby Rush said Senate Democrats should 'not hang and lynch the appointee as you try to castigate the appointer.'
Mr Rush said Burris is a 'worthy' candidate without an 'iota of taint' on his 40-year record of public service and noted that with Mr Obama's departure, there are no African-Americans in the US Senate.
Mr Rush, who joined Mr Burris and Mr Blagojevich at yesterday's press conference, said he would 'challenge' and 'persuade' his colleagues in Congress not to block a qualified black candidate. 'I don't think they want to go on record doing that,' he said.
Mr Blagojevich, who has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, said he was merely fulfilling his duty to the citizens of Illinois after state lawmakers failed to call a special election.
Mr Burris, 71, became the first African-American elected to statewide office in Illinois in 1978 when he won the office of state comptroller, a post he held until he was elected attorney general in 1990.
