Posted on 06/09/2006 11:25:07 PM PDT by SmithL
Washington -- House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi's bid to temporarily remove embattled Democratic Rep. William Jefferson from the powerful Ways and Means Committee while he remains the subject of a federal corruption investigation is headed for a showdown next week.
The Democratic leader from San Francisco views the scandal involving Jefferson as undercutting her election-year message that the Republicans who control the House have produced "a culture of corruption." Her bid to remove the eight-term Louisianan from the committee, even temporarily while the investigation continues, has become a key test of her leadership as the Democrats seek 15 seats in November to retake a majority in the House.
Jefferson maintains his innocence, even though two former associates have pleaded guilty to bribing him, and has refused to step down. He has the support of some leaders of the 43-member Congressional Black Caucus who feel that Jefferson is being singled out because he is African American, a charge Pelosi vigorously rejects.
Pelosi first publicly pressed Jefferson to step aside from the powerful committee, which deals with taxation and trade, before Memorial Day. On Wednesday, the House Democratic Steering Committee, run by Pelosi, voted to remove Jefferson from his committee post. The full Democratic House caucus is scheduled to vote on the action Thursday.
The Black Caucus resolution backing Jefferson said he is entitled to a presumption of innocence and hasn't even been indicted yet. The FBI reportedly has videotape of Jefferson accepting $100,000 from an informant, and $90,000 of the marked money was seized from a freezer in Jefferson's New Orleans home during a court-authorized search.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
rush was brilliant today in taking the congressional black caucus' side on this issue, exposing once again the liberal elite for what they are.
Pelosi and her cronies are impotent, shriveling whiners that are getting shouted down by the real masters of the party who REALLY play the race card. It is fun to watch. I can hardly wait until she throws up her hands, gets down on her knees, and asks what she can do for them.
It's going to be a bumpy night/day/week/month/session ;-)
so if she removes a democratic criminal congressman then she can go ahead to accuse the Republicans of being"a culture of corruption." !!! huh??
Yep, it looks like we're going to get some entertaining fireworks this coming week. It'll involve more than just Pelosi and the CBC too, Murtha's already put his iron in the fire. Wonder how many others will get into it?
Well he's right. Instead of making blacks ride in the back of the bus, Democrats are always throwing them UNDER the bus.
"He has the support of some leaders of the 43-member Congressional Black Caucus who feel that Jefferson is being singled out because he is African American..."
Yeah. All the democrats, white and black keep $90,000 in their freezers.
But they picked on this poor black guy. Yeah.
yitbos
Nancy Pelosi failed the "ethics test" when she was elected minority House speaker. Flush with extra campaign cash, she bought enough votes to win by contributing to the campaign funds of dozens of Democrat congresspeople. As I recall, she was fined about $70,000 by the FEC for her violation of ethics and federal election law. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee, a far more moderate and diplomatic voice than Pelosi, also ran for House leader but didn't stand a chance against her sleazy tactics.
True!
The Dems strategy has been to sit on the sidelines and do nothing to offend any of its constituents, and hope the Republicans self-destruct. They may have been lulled into thinking that was possible when they observed the Miers SNAFU; the Dubai non-story only added to this feeling, as does the illegal immigration ruckus. But where have the Democrats been in this current debate? Again, sitting on the sidelines. They are behaving with their eyes on election day. They are not behaving as potential leaders. And THAT may prove fatal. The special elections and primaries so far this year sure aren't pointing to their posture as having any early success.
The Dems are acting according to a strategy based on polls and focus groups, not according to the impulses a dynamic, enthused party with a core of values behaves. They're playing poker while the Republicans are wild game hunting. (Cheney pun not intended)
Talk about a separation of powers. This is too cool.
That would put Republicans in the position of being able to decide whether a Democrat accused of corruption could keep his committee assignment.
Trouble in the evil donkey's barn, how nice to watch.
"Washington -- House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi's bid to temporarily remove embattled Democratic Rep. William Jefferson from the powerful Ways and Means Committee while he remains the subject of a federal corruption investigation is headed for a showdown next week. "
This is strategery on Pelosi's part. She wants this in front of the nation so she can show everyone how the Democrats are tough on corruption.
It is just a question of what under the table guarantees the CBC will get to convince Jefferson to leave. My bet is a not-guilty verdict followed by either a teaching stint at LSU or a lobbyist job.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.