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THE BIG QUESTION for Feb. 20: The Roland Burris Controversy

by Michael O'Brien - 02/20/09 12:38 PM ET

The Big Question is a feature where influential lawmakers, pundits and interest group leaders give their answers to a question that’s driving discussion in news circles around the country.

Some responses are gathered via e-mail, while others are gathered in person via tape recorder.

Today’s Big Question is:

Can Sen. Burris survive? Should he? And will Obama be able to stay out of it?

See responses below from John Zogby, Dr. Larry J. Sabato, Tom Fitton, and Melanie Sloan.

Read the previous Big Question here.

John Zogby, president/CEO of Zogby International, said:

The first two questions are easy — no and no. For heavens sakes, the man who appointed him has the credibility of Nadia Suleiman and his senior Senator has called for a full investigation. Read the full response here.

Dr. Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said:

Now that Roland Burris has held the “United States Senator” title for a few weeks, he can carve it into stone at his mausoleum, and perhaps can be convinced to step aside and go into early retirement. Read the full response here.

Tom Fitton, president, Judicial Watch said:

Senator Burris will probably resign if pushed. The Democratic leadership needs to push him by making it clear they will support an effort to expel him. If Senator Reid and the rest opposed Burris’s seating with no evidence of misconduct, how can they support him now with all the evidence of perjury and public lies? Read the full response here.

Melanie Sloan, executive director, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said:

No, Burris cannot survive. The Senate Ethics Committee, not known for its eagerness to sit in judgment of senators, quickly agreed to consider Sen. Burris’s inconsistent statements. Read the full response here.

Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, said:

It’s hard for Sen. Burris to survive. The governor has now called for him to get out. Voters want to get rid of the corruption and start over. There should be a special election.