Jesse White: I've been made the fall guy (by US Senate) ***audio link added***

[wndycty]

Jesse White: I've been made the fall guy

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said this morning he has been made "the fall guy" by the U.S. Senate, which he said is using him as an excuse not to seat Roland Burris.

"They could have seated him without my signature; my signature is not required," he told WGN-720AM's John Williams.

The Senate barrred Burris Tuesday, saying he lacked proper credentials in that his appointment was not signed by White.


But White said today that "my signature is mostly ceremonial, rather than a point of law."

"They played a little bit of a game with him yesterday," he added.

Asked by Williams if he had been made "the fall guy," White responded: "You're absolutely correct."
-snip-

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/01/jesse-white-ive-been-made-the-fall-guy.html

Audio: http://caster.wgnradio.com/news/090107jessewhitejw.mp3

[Jennicut]

1. Oh boy. And so it begins. I thought his signature WAS needed though.

[Blarch]

2. It is not needed.

But he has to sign it per law.

[global1]

3. Didn't The Word Originally Come Out Of White's Office That He Wasn't Going To Sign It?....nt

[wndycty]

5. Yeah but he has maintained for sometime that he didn't think it was necessary. . .

. . .I think the spin will be that he saw it as an act of defiance against Blagojevich but never intended to hurt Burris.

[Solomon]

6. He's being an ass. At least he now understands that his role

his ceremonial. He's being a bit disingenous though. If he knows he doesn't have the discretion NOT to sign it, then why doesn't he just sign the damn thing?

He's being an ass and hopingthat some in the public fall for it. It's new day, however.

[Blarch]

4. I fucking hate Harry Reid.

[Jennicut]

7. Well doesn't everyone here though? Still, I think Blago should never

have appointed him in the first place. He did to stick it to everyone who would not play his games, like a temper tantrum.

[Blarch]

11. I agree 100%

But does that we mean we should dance around the State Constitution ?

[Jennicut]

13. Yeah, I guess so. But its likea reward for bad behavior on Blago's part

I say Burris should agree to serve until 2010 and then step aside. The Senate should allow him to be seated and get on with it, we got more pressing issues to deal with right now.

[IsItJustMe]

33. I say it is up to the people of Illinois to decide that, and nobody elses business.

[bdamomma]

9. Harry Reid shouldn't have never intervened in this whole thing.

[Thrill]

8. Might as well seat Burris. As usual the Democrats are weak and begin to eat each other

Feinstein started it yesterday

[global1]

18. I Think Feinstein Chimed In On This To Embarrass Obama Because He.....

didn't consult her on the Panetta appointment to the CIA. It was her way of getting back.

[IsItJustMe]

34. Do you have a link for that?

[global1]

37. No - I Said "I Think" - I Didn't State This As Fact.....nt

[bunnies]

10. Sign the frigging paper then.

Whats the problem?

[Blarch]

12. Corruption is the problem.

Jesse White is a idiot who is getting played by Reid in the same way Burris is being played by Blago.

[bunnies]

21. Certainly seems that way.

What a bunch of tools. *sigh*

[Shrek]

14. He says he's just keeping his word

White: Why I refused to sign off on Burris

SPRINGFIELD - I would like to outline my reason for rejecting and refusing to co-sign the governor's appointment proclamation to fill Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat.

First and foremost, I wish to emphasize that my actions are not a reflection on former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, for whom I have great respect. I have known Burris for more than 20 years, and I feel honored to call him my friend. In fact, had this appointment been made under different circumstances, by a governor not plagued by scandal and wrongdoing, I would have gladly certified the appointment of Burris to fill Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Quite simply, the cloud of controversy surrounding the governor prohibits me from accepting a document that certifies any appointment made by Rod Blagojevich for the vacant U.S. Senate seat from Illinois. Such an appointment, regardless of the merits of the appointee, would be tainted by scandal, and our state deserves better.

Weeks ago, I publicly stated that the governor should step aside or resign immediately for the good of the state. I stand by this statement and again call for him to step aside or resign so we as a state can move forward and address the many important issues we face today.

[Blarch]

15. White thinks he has veto power over the Gov.

The guy is a hack.

[olkaz]

16. The OP is proof that this isn't true.

But go on trashing a figure very popular in his own state.

[Blarch]

19. Excuse me ?

I was replying to post #14 ...where you find this ...

I would like to outline my reason for rejecting and refusing to co-sign the governor's appointment proclamation to fill Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat

And this quote PROVES he thinks he has this power. I can assure you that the SOS DOES NOT have the power to veto the Gov.

[olkaz]

22. This took me forever.

"They could have seated him without my signature; my signature is not required," he told WGN-720AM's John Williams.

I don't know how much clearer he could get. He would say his signature WAS required if he thought he had veto power.

Got any more insults for him? "Hack" is kinda overplayed.

[Blarch]

23. Oh please.

He knows Reid is using him ...he could stop it all by signing the fucking paper.

Why is he still playing reids game ?

[olkaz]

24. You're changing the topic.

He spoke directly to your criticism, and you disregarded it AND called him a hack.

That's brilliant.

[Blarch]

25. WTF ?

Doesn't this sentence prove White thought he could veto the Gov. ?

I would like to outline my reason for rejecting and refusing to co-sign the governor's appointment proclamation to fill Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat

This shows White thought he could refuse and reject the Gov.'s appointment. It says it right fucking there for gods sake.

[olkaz]

27. Your spinning skills need work.

He refuses to fulfill his completely ceremonial role in protest of the Governor's decision. Being that White himself believes that hsi role is COMPLETELY CEREMONIAL as proven by his statement (again):

"They could have seated him without my signature; my signature is not required," he told WGN-720AM's John Williams.

He doesn't believe he has that power.

Are you such a stranger to nuance that you can't see that White saying he rejects the governor's proclamation doesn't mean that he STRICTLY believes his role allows him veto power over the Governor's decisions? I, personally, reject the Governor's decision. Should you accuse me of the same thing?

[Blarch]

28. You are forgetting the law......again.

This issue isn't about opinions ...it's about the law.



15 ILCS 305/5) (from Ch. 124, par. 5)

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State:
1. To countersign and affix the seal of state to all commissions required by law to be issued by the Governor.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=19...

[olkaz]

29. I give up.

This is going nowhere.

[IsItJustMe]

35. Jesse is just refusing to do his job. No different than a pro-lifer working at a pharmacy refusing

to hand out birth control pills. What does one do when a person refuses to do their job?

Fire him?

[Nickster]

38. He says that now, but he sure wasn't saying that over the last few days. Just this morning on

Chicago TV, White was saying how frustrated he was because they tried to bypass him and that he wouldn't sign the documents, etc etc. What he's saying NOW is true, but he sure wasn't saying that earlier. He DID play it as if he had veto power.

[bunnies]

20. aw geezus.

Could this whole thing get any more petty? *THIS* is what our government spends time bickering over? :banghead:

[Armstead]

17. What does the Lonely Maytag Repairman have to do with this?

Ooops. Wrong Jesse White. :)

[pipi_k]

26. Real life Soap Opera

Susan Lucci, eat your heart out...


:7

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

30. Yes, he's the fall guy... but he should still be impeached for what he did.

[redstate_democrat]

31. Well duh

And he allowed them to... He deserves to look like a fool.

[IsItJustMe]

32. No shame Jesse. Everybody plays the fool, sometimes. And there is no exception to the rule.

[goodhue]

36. An LBN thread on the same story . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3677829&mesg_id=3677829

[PurityOfEssence]

39. FUCK HIM; he's playing games. Hopefully, this will be his legacy

That's absolute crap. He was trying to keep the seating from happening, not making some kind of move of symbolic conscience.

Fine, then he should sign it; if he can't see that he's the problem and it's now HIS fault, he's just continuing to play games.

Seat the guy already; this is so very, very transparent and childish on so many people's parts.

[goodhue]

40. Madigan agrees with White . . .

http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-2937-burris-court-motion-.html