“We are just faced with a hard-headed room of people in the Senate who want to keep an

“We are just faced with a hard-headed room of people in the Senate who want to keep an African-American out of the Senate.”

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush

On Senate opposition to the appointment of Roland Burris, who was picked by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to take President-elect Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

“I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process.”

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson

Abandoning his nomination to become commerce secretary in light of a grand jury investigation into a state contract awarded to his political donors.

2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.