U.S. Representative William Jefferson (C) (D-LA) watches proceedings during an inauguration ceremony for Mayor Ray Nagin (L) in New Orleans June 1, 2006. REUTERS/Lee Celano (UNITED STATES)
Posted on 06/01/2006 4:00:31 PM PDT by Libloather
Jefferson case chills Democrats
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
By MARIE COCCO
Democrats, repeat after me. In his freezer.
This is the retort that chills the Democrats' contention that Republicans in the House have nurtured a "culture of corruption" which can only be undone by electing Democrats and booting the GOP from control over Capitol Hill.
And just think. Freezer jokes will keep their freshness only until we see the videotapes.
That is, the videotapes of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., allegedly taking a briefcase full of bills -- about $100,000 in all -- in what the FBI believes was a plot to enrich himself by promoting business ventures in Africa. The investigators allege that most of this cash (marked bills, of course) was divided into handy tin-foil packets and stashed in Jefferson's freezer.
We will, no doubt, soon see leaked videotapes played constantly on those annoyingly repetitive cable news channels. And then, guess what?
The biggest congressional scandal in a generation -- that is, the one involving convicted Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, disgraced former Republican leader Tom DeLay, a still-unknown number of mostly Republican lawmakers and former Republican staffers -- will suddenly look like a Democratic scandal. Why? Because that's what will be on TV. Visuals are everything.
There is only one thing for Democrats to do now: Show that they really are different from Republicans.
They must demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption. They can't push Jefferson out of Congress -- only the voters in his New Orleans district can do that. But certainly Democrats can usher Jefferson out the door of his committee rooms.
**SNIP**
Pelosi must solve the Jefferson problem fast -- before we go to the videotape.
(Excerpt) Read more at northjersey.com ...
yeah,looks like a guy i'd give $100,000 in cash to...
Unfortunately, the GOP foolishly diverted attention from the crime by accusing the FBI of violating the Constitution in conducting the search.
The GOP leadership is dumb as rocks.
Short of their own corruption, I don't know what they could have been thinking. Others have attributed some grand political scheme to this, or plain worry over the constitutionality, but I don't see it. It was just plain dumb.
I understand it. It's due to a false impression of their own self-importance. They don't seem to understand that they are no better than anyone else.
"Put some ice on it."
Rep. William Jefferson is merely following the Culture of Corruption legacy of Bill Clinton.
It would he hard to come up with the name of any politician from Louisian who did not leave office a rich man -- other than David Duke.
Talk about a brood of vipers.
Rocks are smarter.
Video of Marion Barry smoking crack may have slowed his political career, but it did not stop it.
I'm getting so sick and tired of this damning sound bite regarding Tom DeLay. He will be vindicated when the trial does take place, unless Earle throws in the towel before it starts. In the meantime, the drive-by media gets to continue trying to destroy him for their own politically biased purposes.
What's the deal about wrapping the cash in foil and putting it in the freezer?
Is he worried about the 'freshness' of his bribe??
Does anyone know if William Jefferson, Democrat Louisiana, has a wife? I mean....my husband couldn't find the tin-foil, and he sure couldn't stash anything in our freezer without me knowing what it was.
They can't? Art. I, Sec. 5:
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns, and Qualifications of its own Members....
Clearly an attempt to fool those looking for it. I think the idea is that someone looks in the fridge, sees tin foil, and thinks there are steaks wrapped up, not thousands of dollars.
Apparently the FBI is not fooled by such tactics.
Dennis Haster is an idiot.
There, I said it.
Why this man would defend the FBI from acting (with a Judge's authority) to confiscate evidence is beyond me. Hastert must either be on crack cocaine, or he is a mental patient.
He is full of arrogance if he thinks members of Congress are beyond morality and the laws that Congress themselves pass.
I hope someone who knows him or works for him reads this. Tell him he did irreparable damage, and he should apologize to the GOP, and more importantly, to God.
I meant to say attacking the FBI.
That is why we call them The Stupid Party.
I guess the rats "culture of corruption" mantra isn't working out too well.
I think you're on to something. They threw away the perfect trump.
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