Posted on 10/20/2006 7:01:38 PM PDT by yoe
The Congressional Black Caucus is in open revolt over House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's attempt to discipline Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., after he was caught red handed with $90,000 in alleged bribe money.
And at least one CBC staffer is warning that any move against Jefferson could jeopardize Democrat chances to retake the House this fall.
According to Roll Call, Pelosi checked with key members of the CBC before she told Jefferson on Tuesday that he should resign his post on the House Ways and Means Committee "in the interest of upholding the high ethical standard of the House Democratic Caucus."
Rather than complying, Jefferson defied the top Democrat - and instead accused her of discrimination, arguing that other ethically challenged Democrats faced no such discipline.
Things got uglier on Wednesday when some of the same CBC members who had OK'd the Pelosi putsch changed their minds.
"A members-only CBC lunch meeting produced an emotional consensus that Pelosi had overreached since Jefferson has not been charged with any crimes," said Roll Call.
"One after another, CBC members rallied behind their colleague, arguing that he was being singled out."
"I would say that the people who spoke were very vehement in their opposition," CBC member James Clyburn told the paper.
Jefferson's defenders cited Rep. Alan Mollohan, who was forced to step aside as the ranking member of the ethics committee but permitted to keep his coveted seat on the Appropriations Committee.
"There's no precedent for doing this to someone who has not been indicted," complained CBC member Al Wynn.
By late Wednesday, top CBC members, including Charlie Rangel, John Conyers and John Lewis, had informed Pelosi that the entire Black Caucus would publicly oppose any attempt to discipline Jefferson - a move that could severely undermine African American support in this year's mid term election."I think she's taking us down to the point where on Nov. 8 she'll still be the Minority Leader," an aide to a CBC member told Roll Call, in a none too thinly veiled threat.
I understand your point. My point is, they have a backbone, sometimes they just don't know what to do with it. If it weren't for the House Republicans, the Senate immigration reform bill would be the law of the land.
Well, I can dream, can't I?
Wishful thinking. Pelosi and the Dem leadership have no principles that they wouldn't jettison to keep the black vote on the plantation.
Jefferson is dead meat. The Congressional Black Caucus ought to be able to figure that out. So what's the big deal if the Congressional leadership takes the opportunity to give him a wrist slap?
Brings to mind a Bill Murray scene. "Stripes"? Reaching way back here.
He and a bud were trying to enlist. Recruiter asks, "Ever been convicted of a crime?"
Murray, with full irony..."Convicted?" Hmmmmmm
Of course, he's right about that. But to discipline democrats even-handedly, all of them would have to step down.
In this case, it's really not about ethics per se but the appearance of ethics. Jefferson got caught dead to rights and that's the difference.
Yeah...they wouldn't dare print Jefferson's exact words in the form of a quote.
No way that Jefferson would be so vague in his term 'other ethically challenged democrats'.
These politicians are usually smart enough to have dirt on one another for these types of surprise events in their careers.
And with 900 FBI files, Bill and Hillary were the masters.
Just below here is SUE ME! I was typing fast!
The Republicans could make a great commercial out of this one.
Kind of a stretch, but I got it!
"Convicted? No, never convicted."
"Are either of you homosexual?"
"No, but we willing to try"
"Do they send us someplace special?"
Sorry. I bow to your superior knowledge.
YES!!
Where else but this board could one get that instant recall?
Hmm, when my wife says that it usually means something else ;-)
Blacks and the Dem leadership always seem to find a way to kiss and make up when it comes time to fight evil [Republicans]. I simply don't see any evidence that is going to change anytime soon.
Because we are the Wusspublicans who can't seem to screw up the courage for anything. We'll let him skate for sure. Pathetic.
Mmmm, let me fix that somewhat. "There's no precedent for doing this TO A DEMOCRAT who has not been indicted". there, thats more accurate.
"Bro Jackson was only tryin' to he'p out a foreign diginitry, fer cryin' out loud.
The bro got a email from Nigerian General Kachinga Cheatchusuckah.
The General needed $100 million foreign aid quick-like.
In return for Bro Jackson's he'p, Gen Cheatchusuckah's gonna transfer $500
billion of Idi Amin's secret Ugandan gold reserves from a Swiss bank vault
to a refrigerated truck Jackson leased."
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