Posted on 10/21/2003 12:06:20 PM PDT by yoe
PHILADELPHIA (Talon News) -- As the offices of Democrat Philadelphia Mayor John Street's attorney as well as three other city departments were raided by the FBI last week in the ongoing investigation of corruption in city government, Democrats have launched racial and political accusations against Republicans over the digging.
Attorney Ronald A. White, who has actively raised money on behalf of the Street reelection campaign, has previously conducted a substantial amount of legal work on behalf of the city of Philadelphia as well as regularly assisted private companies with obtaining city government contracts.
Last Thursday, the FBI scoured White's office perusing many documents over several hours and taking with them boxes of files and folders, including bank records for White, Street, and his family.
White contends that he was targeted in the federal investigation because he does not fit the traditional role of a black man in society.
"I am a black man in America doing what I think needs to be done, and people resent that," White expressed to the Associated Press. "Black men in America are supposed to be bowing down all the time and not doing nothing but having babies and not taking care of them."
The federal agents also took possession of records from the finance, treasury, and Board of Pensions and Retirement departments. Also, several city government officials have been subpoenaed to release records they have on the private companies with which they have done business.
The local NBC-TV affiliate in Philadelphia is reporting that as many as 15 city government employees have been instructed to stand before a federal grand jury in the investigation of Street and members of his administration. The grand jury is expected to convene either Tuesday or Wednesday according to the report.
The mayoral election in Philadelphia is still scheduled to take place on November 4. Republican candidate Sam Katz is in a close race with Street as all the controversy surrounding Street persists.
Street has attempted to capitalize politically on the federal probe by characterizing himself as the victim of a racially-motivated personal attack by Republicans. Talon News recently reported that Street even accused President George W. Bush of orchestrating the FBI bugging of his office in an effort to help himself in his bid for reelection in 2004.
"I think people in this city are enormously fair, and they don't like it when they think an injustice is happening," Street told the AP as he campaigned on Sunday. "People can't figure this out, so therefore they are left to conclude that something funny is probably happening."
Street has received support from a couple of prominent liberal Democrat lawmakers from Washington who echo the comments that these charges against the incumbent mayor of Philadelphia are politically and racially motivated.
Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN) told a small crowd of 40 people on Saturday on the campus of Penn College that Street has "done a good job as your mayor."
When asked about the FBI investigation, Ford said Street should be commended for facing up to the Bush administration on this issue.
"I give John Street great credit, because he didn't take the George Bush out," Ford stated to the AP, never explaining exactly what he meant by that statement.
Ford admitted that electing a Republican as the mayor of Philadelphia will likely swing the state of Pennsylvania to Bush and the Republicans in 2004.
"Democrats need to win this election," Ford told the group of college students and faculty.
He continued by saying that this election "will play a big role on many Democrats in determining who the next president is."
In addition to receiving support from Ford, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) lent her endorsement of Street as well.
Clinton told a group of Street supporters in a teleconference call over the weekend that an investigation happening this close to an election is suspicious. Although she never specifically accused Republicans of deliberately doing this for political gain, it was clearly implied.
Street's recent cries of racial bigotry and political accusations have actually helped his campaign gain more of the black vote in the past couple of weeks.
A recent popularity poll found that 84 percent of probable black voters support Street, sharply up from the 70 percent he had in the month of September. Conversely, Katz has the support of 72 percent of probable white voters, which is an increase of just 1 percent since last month.
Katz says the Democrats are only using this federal investigation against Street to further divide the city along racial lines.
"Philadelphia is in a moment of historic crisis and unfortunately the mayor has fueled the fires with a blatant appeal based on race," Katz exclaimed to the AP. "That's just wrong."
Katz added, "They know this investigation isn't about race. It's about corruption."
Talon News reported last week that the investigation into Street's office is likely surrounding several questionable government contracts, including a $13.6 million maintenance contract at the government-owned Philadelphia International Airport, $1 million of which was awarded to a company owned by Street's brother.
They like the fools in D.C. can re-elect this crook with the same results.
Utter collapse of the economy of the city and collapse of all public services.
ALSO .. Do watch the next video that follows about Mary's story
Click on where it says to watch the ad
Yup, if the Republicans get into the mayor's office in Philly, they might suppress the vote, they might even get it under 101% of registered voters!
That should put some of them in prison for a while, regardless of race.
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