Posted on 06/08/2006 7:04:22 PM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON - A drive by the Democratic leadership to strip embattled Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) of his committee post triggered a backlash Thursday as the Congressional Black Caucus opposed the move and said the Louisiana lawmaker deserves a "presumption of innocence."
The caucus chairman, Rep. Melvin Watt (news, bio, voting record) of North Carolina, told reporters that some black voters might ask why action was sought against "a black member of Congress" when there was neither precedent nor rule for it.
Jefferson has not been indicted and has denied all wrongdoing in connection with a federal bribery investigation that has netted two convictions. He has rebuffed repeated calls from Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and others to step aside until any involvement is clarified.
Watt spoke after a Democratic leadership group voted to strip Jefferson of his committee post, at least temporarily. The entire rank and file was then summoned to debate the issue but postponed a vote until next week.
"I can guarantee" he will not voluntarily step aside, said Melanie Roussell, Jefferson's spokeswoman.
Several officials said Jefferson had rebuffed a final appeal to step aside in a meeting with three fellow Democrats dispatched by party leaders. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the delicate nature of the conversation.
The maneuvering came as part of a determined attempt by the Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) of California, to ease Jefferson from his position. "I feel he should step aside," she told reporters but declined further comment.
Democrats intend to campaign against Republicans this fall by accusing them of presiding over a "culture of corruption." Jefferson's continued presence on the committee presumably would allow Republicans to blur the issue in the midterm elections.
Several officials said Watt had spoken up at the meeting of the rank and file to invoke a rule that provides for a five-day delay.
Emerging from the session, he distributed a statement that said the Congressional Black Caucus perhaps has a "unique appreciation of our nation's constitutional guarantee of the presumption of innocence."
The statement added the group "therefore opposes suggestions that some have made to force Rep. Jefferson to resign from Congress or to remove him involuntarily from his position on the Ways and Means Committee in the absence of precedents that have been historically applied and will be consistently applied in the future."
Speaking for himself, Watt was more pointed.
He said the leadership was open to a charge that it was acting out of political expedience. "It's about to blow up in their face," he added.
How does the Black Caucus feel about the BS Blackwell has hadto deal with here in Ohio?
Oh..... yeah.... I'm stupid,... he's a Black Republican...
Nevermind........
Notice how Jefferson is "embattled", yet almost all republicans named in a scandal are "disgraced"
The Tupperware Party speaks .....
"Congressional Black Caucus opposed the move and said the Louisiana lawmaker deserves a "presumption of innocence."
This is the same presumption of innocence they demanded for the duke lacrosse players, obviously..
Well, aren't they special....
Yeah, it does. As if the Black Caucus doesn't object to even the treatment of obvious black criminals.
And the Dims think they're going to make progress this fall.
I think you may be on to something.
By the time this is over, both parties will have built and stocked a walk-in freezer for this bozo.
Please, please, please.. Let them continue spouting off their insanity. Eventually it will get through the censors.
'Presumption of innocence', my word! A right that does not apply to Republicans (as in Delay, Libby and Limbaugh)...
Screw William Jefferson.
The man has no honor, neither does the Black Caucus.
Dontcha know there the protected class.
Am I ever surprised. NOT!!
said the Louisiana lawmaker deserves a "presumption of innocence."
DeLay should be presumed innocent? You could knock me over with a feather! Oh wait, it's a Democratic lawmaker. Never mind.
All us New Orleans poe people keep our cash in the freezer. It stay so much crisper that away.
Race trumps everything for these CBC jackasses.
LOLOLOLOL
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