Burris belongs in Senate seat

Re “The law is on Blagojevich’s side,” Opinion, Jan. 6

In his support for Ill. Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris to the Senate, UC Irvine Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky argues that to deny this appointment would be a dangerous precedent that would “overturn the will of the people.”

However, I note that in previous arguments regarding Proposition 8, “the will of the people” is called “the tyranny of the majority.”

Jeremiah Flanigan

Long Beach

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As an African American, I find Rep. Bobby L. Rush’s (D-Ill.) use of the race card to explain the Democratic leadership’s refusal to seat Burris tiresome and unnecessary. As Chemerinsky pointed out so clearly, Burris has the Constitution, a ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court and Illinois law on his side. Blagojevich’s motives and political chicanery and the posturing of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and his tribe are irrelevant.

Burris can take the high road on this one and should not negotiate or compromise.

Sidney Morrison

Los Angeles

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Chemerinsky gives an accurate opinion of the constitutionality regarding the appointment of Burris to the Senate by Blagojevich.

However, Chemerinsky, an intransigent liberal, cannot resist ending the article by accusing President Bush of undocumented constitutional violations.

Gary A. Robb

Los Feliz

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Re “Curtain rises on Congress,” Jan. 7

I watched, with great interest, as Burris was turned away at the Senate door in his attempt to be seated as the junior senator from Illinois. He and others have claimed racism as a factor. Did I mention that the news was being reported by an African American woman reporter to an African American woman anchor? And the issue? A Senate seat that was held by an African American male who is now president-elect.

To paraphrase Samuel Johnson: Crying racism when you don’t get your way is the last refuge of scoundrels.

Joseph R. Healey

Fullerton

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Burris should have been seated. The governor of Illinois has not been convicted of any crime and has the right to appoint an interim senator. This is no way to start a new session of Congress.

Paul H. Taylor

San Francisco

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It is incredible that the Democrats are making such an issue over Burris. So much time was wasted on infighting between Republicans and Democrats. I thought, now we can get some work done, some legislation passed. Burris is very well qualified. Is Reid upset because he did not get his way? Is this a leader’s ego trip? This is not the change we all wanted.

Lucille Cordova

La Habra