Posted on 12/09/2006 8:16:52 PM PST by LdSentinal
Congressman William Jefferson has been re-elected to Congress, according to WWL-TV election analyst Greg Rigamer.
With two-thirds of the vote counted, Jefferson had a 6,000-vote lead over challenger Karen Carter.
"I'm a little worried about what this is going to say to the nation," said City Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, a Carter supporter.
Jefferson was forced into the runoff against a fellow Democrat when he failed to win 50 percent of the vote in a crowded open multiparty primary. His opponent, state Rep. Karen Carter, is seeking to become the first black woman from Louisiana elected to Congress.
Jefferson, 59, has been handicapped by a wide-ranging investigation into allegations that he took bribes – including $90,000 allegedly found in his freezer during an FBI raid -- from a company seeking lucrative contracts in the Nigerian telecommunications market. He has not been charged with any crime and denies any wrongdoing.
The scandal turned the race into a debate largely divided along racial lines, an age-old dynamic in this city that has intensified since Hurricane Katrina displaced large numbers of blacks and upended their demographic and political dominance.
Whites, who overwhelmingly voted for Carter in the primary and have been her most enthusiastic financial backers, believe a Jefferson win would confirm this city's image as corrupt and untrustworthy as it asks the nation to fund its recovery from Katrina.
So nothing has changed in NOLA after all. Suprise...
I honestly believe that the majority of our national politicians are compromised and the majority of those who aren't compromised are complicit with them and in no hurry to expose their partners in legislation.
Louisiana politics is very interesting..never boring.
Good luck to you and Jindal...I have heard he is a good man.
We couldn't get WM. Jefferson in prison.."
YET,!!!!!,,,lol;0)
The best.
I honestly believe that in 2020, you will be casting your vote for Jindal for President.
So if a natural disaster hits Massachussetts, you will expect its citizenry to rise up and vote Republican all of a sudden.
We are doing our best to change the situation here but it is like trying to turn a cruise ship. It takes a while. Nonetheless, as bad as this looks, it is a good thing for the GOP and many conservatives voted for Jefferson today.
"God, I hope the national GOP gets on this immediately."
Yeah, this man needs defending immediately!
Oh, wait, you didn't mean that, did you?
Correction....he accepted $100K....evidently spent $10K and put the remaining $90K... IN MARKED BILLS...in his freezer.
bump
Hey There,,,Ain't This "Another" Mess ?,,,Bout Monday,,
"MOON" will be "RANT-ON",,,LOL;0)
"I'm a little worried about what this is going to say to the nation," said City Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, a Carter supporter. "
Democrats couldn't care less about that, Cynthia.
Many Dems don't care about corruption.
I wouldn't call it the most stunning election result, that honor goes to the psycho-creep Senator-elect from Virginia. This election featured two objectionable candidates, a crooked candidate who wasn't insane on social issues, and an "ethical" candidate backed by White liberals who was insane on the issues. I'd have voted for Dollar Bill myself. Carter may very well end up in the House if and when WJ is convicted.
What's interesting is that his opponent is still, while conceding, with her coterie of white, feminist, upper class, New Orleans Garden District ladies up on the stage with her, trying to frame it as a 'race' thing. She is also black, but she was supported by elitist pro-abortion white Democrats in New Orleans, while Jefferson was supported by whites in the outlying towns, Metaire, Gentilly, which is Jefferson Parish. The district covers both Parishes.
This election had nothing to do with race, or even party, because there were no Republicans running; on Nov. 7th it was all Democrats, and Jefferson and Carter got the most votes. Jefferson has been solidly pro-life for many years, and Carter is a rabidly pro-abortion feminist in the mold of Hillary Clinton. Given the choice between the two, folks held their noses, since Jefferson still hasn't been convicted of anything. Even the Jefferson Parish sherriff, Harry Lee, was vocal in his support for Congressman Jefferson, precisely because he said that the man was innocent until proven guilty. Besides which, many voters suspected that Carter, who had been Chairman of the Insurance Commission in the LA legislature, probably had a little crookedness going on, too.
Because the Congressional Republicans don't believe in conservatism, they just say whatever they thought would get them elected. It's all about power to them, ideology is just a means to an end for them.
Good analysis.
I also think some of the west bankers wanted the opportunity to put one of their own, Derrick Shepherd, in office when the seat becomes vacated after Jefferson is convicted. Not that he would be much of an improvement, but from what I can tell Shepherd is just stupid and not corrupt.
I don't think it's wierd. Maybe he'd never really given it much thought until recently. Many adults just cruise along in their faith and never really think seriously about it. He was looking for something more, I guess. Good for him for doing that!
Yeah, the gang of "ladies who lunch" who were with Carter during her concession speech seem to represent that group.
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