William Jefferson MUST be purged from Congress and the party - NOW

[Stinky The Clown]

This has to be dealt with swiftly and surely.

Congressman Jefferson must be expelled from our party and from the Congress *now*. And if not now, then yesterday. Or the day before.

Jefferson is the only Democrat currently in deep shit over any sort of corruption. There are some hints (or stronger) against others, but this guy is NOW.

Fact: He took a bribe and it is on tape, real clear. Color and Sound. Made for Teevee.

Fact: His bribe consisted of $100,000 in serial-number-recorded bills of good old American cash money.

Fact: $90,000 of it was found in his freezer, disguised as filet-o-salmon, Freschetta Pepperoni Pizza, and foil wrapped whole wheat bread.

Fact: He was used to stage a fake separation of powers 'crisis'.

Fact: Gonzo, et al, are faking an intent to resign over some other fake 'crisis' betwixt them and Congress.

Fact: This story is Page One Above The Fold

Imagine: FatTimmyPotatoHead to RW shill guest: "Is it true Rep Jefferson had $90,000 in his freezer at home?"

Imagine: Leslie Blitzer to a muzzled, tied-to-his-studio-stool Jack Cafferty: "Today, Jack, Speaker Hastert spoke very bravely to a Presidential order that some say is a violation of the separation of pwer between the Executive and Legislative branches. This stems from an ongoing investigation into CORRUPT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN WILLIAM JEFFERSON, A DEMOCRAT, FROM NEW ORLEANS. AND DID I SAY THAT HE'S A DEMOCRAT?. The investigation started when DEMOCRATIC Congressman Jefferson was fgound to have *stashed* $90,000 in marked bills in his freezer at home. Congressman Jefferson - Jack, did I say he is a DEMOCRAT? - was a really bad man."

Imagine: Man in Ernie's Barber Shop down on Main Street, speaking to Ernie: "You know, I heard about that DEMOCRATIC congressman, what's his name? Washington, Turman? Something like that. Anyway, they caught him with ninty grand ... in his fucking FREEZER! Imagine that?" Ernie to man: "Yeah. But he;'s just part of the whole thing there in Washington. They're all corrupt." Man: "I don't know, Ernie. I mean, I hear all this confabulated shit about his one or that one, but geeez, Ernie, they got that DEMOCRATIC guy with 90 grand. In his goddam freezer. I'm gunna vote for the Republican again. They may be corrupt, but they sure ain't **that** damn stupid."

We're not gunna win on this one. No how. No way.

If he won't resign on his own and leave the Congress, then the party needs to disavow him and cut his ass loose.

Right fucking NOW.

[TomInTib]

1. Pelosi should knock him out of the park.

This shit is ridiculous.

He has to go.

[meow2u3]

40. Damn straight!

I don't give a rat's ass what color he is, and if the Congressional Black Caucus is willing to protect Jefferson, it's on them!

The Democratic Party may be a big tent, but we have no room for corruption, unlike the Repukes, which comprise a culture of corruption.

[inthebrain]

2. This stuff isnt exclusive to Jackoff and

had been going on for years.

A LOT of politicians are in the game of dirty contributions. That how NAFTA, CAFTA, The Bankruptsy bill and the like all get passed. It's one of the reasons why they scream for BiPartisanship and the far left is easily shunned in politics today.

It was we "fringe folks" that have been screaming about this for decades. The Dems attatching themselves to the far left only became an issue cause we started convincing some moderates and conservatives to get angry about the issue.

Also we can thank Granny D. I think it's funny that now all the pigs are screaming about their civil liberties being violated on the hill. Wouldn't want to punch that gift horse in the mouth now would they!!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Be that as it may, he's and electoral

albatross that we just don't need right now. We can actually get some power back if we take the House. This guy is not helping one damned bit.

Shit can get flushed after we get he house, but first we have to ... well ... get the house.

Yanno?

[Selatius]

8. What you say is so true; politicians sold out the US on NAFTA, etc.

NAFTA would never have seen the light of day if so many politicians did not bow to the power of corporate money. It takes two to tango, and as much as one would like to attack corporatists for their nature, one must also attack those who willingly become corporate servants.

[jerry611]

3. It shows that neither party is immune to corruption

Both parties are bought and paid for. It doesn't matter who wins. The corporations will simply bribe whoever is in power.

Just look at who's at the top levels of each political party... rich white men that want more money and power.

Just remember: the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. That's all fine and good

but right now, its about what it takes to win. And this guy is NOT what it takes. Clean up what we can now - him - and then we have a fair shot at getting more of them when we control the House agenda.

[Selatius]

9. Yeah, we agree on that point

If the Democrats get control of the House--God willing Diebold is out of the picture--it's far past time to clean house. In fact, I'd push Democratic leaders to make fighting corruption a far bigger, more prominent plank in the platform than it already is.

[JanusAscending]

15. If you REALLY believe that, why are you posting here on DU?

The only folks I know who say this type of thing, are those that don't bother to vote, and use this as an excuse!! "oh, they're all a bunch of crooks and liars, so why bother"!! Is that what you really want to say here? On DU?? That is a puzzlement!!

[dsc]

18. Yeah that man Pelosi

[gulliver]

38. While both parties have the disease, the Republicans ...

... have it far worse than the Democrats. I'm not buying your "wisdom" here. It shows no sense of proportion. Nothing is ever perfect. There is only better and worse. The Democrats are a lot better.

[rumpel]

6. agree. His last comments should be: I do not wish to be a burden on my

party - without admitting guilt or claiming innocence- (he should not be until proven guilty anyway)

[LaPera]

7. The republicans need him in office and they will protect him...

To point the finger at the Dem's also being corrupt and it gives the republicans a chance to show voters how they stood up to the unpopular Bush...Seems Rove has things well in hand for the republicans to win in November...Keep giving and making up more reasons(as time goes on)to go against Bush for the voters to see, and hold the majority, keeps BushCo from impeachment, keeps the republicans in congress from going to jail on corruption charges and BushCo can continue his fascist agenda full speed ahead after November...

It's another great Rove plan the Democrats aren't aware of to even counter!!!

[Peace Patriot]

10. I think the Democratic Party should defend him to the hilt and tell

Bush and his sucking corrupt, torture memo writing, toady "Justice" Department to go to hell.

[inthebrain]

13. I think your crazy for advising that

Getting to the heart of the problems means understanding how deep that shit is.

What makes it worse that that these clowns are SUPPOSED TO LOOK OUT FOR US!!!!!

THe little guys.

Too many go into politics for the very sole reasons that can act as corrupt assholes. Many of them when they leave rake in this kind of dough as lobbyist. All because they have access to the system.

That's what it costs to have legislation passed and to have a sit down with your reps. Toss this guy to the wolves and anyone who defends him.

[Peace Patriot]

16. I stick by my advice. Tell them to go to hell. Tell them he's innocent

until proven guilty. And just try to prove him guilty, after releasing that evidence tape to the press and tainting every jury from DC to Hawaii! Tell them the tape could have been manufactured by the same people who manufactured evidence of WMDs in Iraq. Tell them to shut up. Tell to stay the hell out of Congress. Stick the Constitution in their faces! Wave it under their noses! Show it to the American people on the steps of Congress, and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

[Jane Austin]

11. Joe Conason pointed out on Al Franken's show today that Jefferson

was asked if he had ever accepted any bribes, and Jefferson wouldn't say "No".

Conason averred that it's pretty bad when a politician can't say "No, I've never accepted any bribes".

That's all you need. He wouldn't say "No, I haven't accepted any bribes".

[Peace Patriot]

22. Maybe he doesn't like "have you stopped beating your wife?" questions.

Maybe he felt insulted. Maybe he was fearful of harming his own defense against criminal charges. Maybe he was upset, stressed, angry, ill. Maybe he doesn't feel he has any chance with the press. He's been convicted already, by everybody. There could be many reasons he didn't answer that kind of question--a rude, intrusive, insulting question, designed to make him look guilty, to mess up his trial, and to illicit an angry or ill-considered response.

Nice work, Conasan and Franken, piling on, spreading hearsay, kicking a man when he's down!

"That's all you need." Nope. Sorry. But that is NOT all I need! So the Bushite FBI accuses somebody of something and they have a tape. That proves NOTHING to my satisfaction. I don't trust them one bit. Nor should you.

[KoKo]

27. Jefferson hasn't been indicted yet, though. He should resign from his

Committee (Ways & Means) and the minute he's indicted he should resign.

Rupugs are making this their Corruption Case against Dems but they sure weren't calling for Delay's resignation before he was indicted.

[rman]

23. you're not being serious, right?

[bluestateguy]

12. He can be thrown overboard. It's a safe Democratic district

Nagins proved that last week.

Democrats had no problem throwing Traficant overboard. Now I exepect they will do it to this guy.

[dsc]

19. Trafficant voted for Speaker hassert

which is what was his undoing. Though he still had a seat in Congress and a D by him name. Jefferson can't be removed under the Adam Clayton Powell precedent.

[Democracy deth watch]

14. Imagine? I've already heard Joe Sixpack talking about the money

Joe Sixpack loves this story. Crazy Congressman with freezer full of cash. EZ image to make attack ads from. He'll cost us the rest of the Congress if he doesn't disappear with Democrats chasing him, denouncing him, cursing him, and shoving him out the door in a really obvious sort of way.

[The_Casual_Observer]

17. Has he been charged with anything?

Has anybody actually seen the video?

Your "facts" seem to be based on what you heard on teevee, not on anything real. The facts will come out in due time, that's the time when action should be taken.

[NI4NI]

20. At least suspend him from his committee seat

Pelosi needs to remove Jefferson from any congressional committee seat that he holds if she has the authority to do so. Other than that, what else can be done? She's already asked him to resign his chair and he refused. If only half of the evidence and testimony already reported is true, how can Jefferson not be indicted? The Dems better speak up and act now before that happens, or shut up about the republican culture of corruption after it does because then even more of average Americans who already think both parties are crooks will see Dems worse as lying hyprocrites.

[rumpel]

21. The democrats should not demonize him. You have to give him an exit

with dignity. It has to come from him. Only he knows, whether he is going to drag everyone down or not.
Gonzales is not going to let this one go, this is a dagger that fell from heaven, they will exploit it 'till thy kingdom come.

Unlike repubs - screaming and kicking in arrogance -
We are different.
A humble dignified exit is the best way, the dems should NOT make him look bad any more than it already seems. If he is ultimately innocent - it may even give him a chance to come back.

[rman]

24. Shouldn't we wait until he is found guilty?

Or does that make to much sense?

[KoKo]

28. We just need to wait for him to be indicted to have him resign his seat...

That's why Tom Delay is out as of June 9th...but we don't hear much about Tom Delay anymore. Jefferson is the coverup for Delay's leaving. Repugs want to make him the issue.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

29. Not necessarily

That's the standard of proof required for criminal conviction.

For removal from a political party, the standard should probably be "balance of probabilities" - if it looks more likely than not that someone is a crook, the Democrats should expel them from the party (the same standard, I believe, that applies in civil trials). From the little I've heard, the balance of probabilities is fairly clearly that this Congressman took a bribe.

In most jobs, the employer has a duty both to the employee and to the service it's providing. A political party, however, is there solely to serve the interests of the electorate, not to provide a fair deal for its Congressmen, and it can best do that by dismissing him even if he's innocent. It's tough on him if he is, but it's still the right thing to do.

Politics is (the?) one field where Ceasar's wife must be above suspicion.

[Stinky The Clown]

35. Bingo

You're today's Blue Light Winner!

And just to add a bit to what you said ..... due process notwithstanding, does **anyone** really think this guy's innocent? Not even Trafficant looked this guilty at this point in his saga.

[MSgt213]

25. Jefferson has and always has been a crook. I'm sorry if that hurts any

ones feelings or make me a bad democrat, but there is more then enough evidence besides the money in the fridge.

[bowens43]

26. Don't care much for Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?

Sad.

It's not about winning , it's about due process.
He hasn't even been charged with anything yet.

BTW it's not a 'fake' separation of powers issue.

[NavyDavy]

32. I wholeheartedly agree, I thought the repukes were the only

ones who find people guilty until proven innocent.....how sad we are if we start witch hunting based on MSM report...

[Donald Ian Rankin]

46. If anyone tries to send him to prison

without him having been found guilty in a court of law, I'll be up in arms.

But that's not the standard of proof that should be applied to expelling him from the Democratic party.

A political party exists to serve the interests of the electorate, not of its officials; if it can best do that by dismissing someone for whatever reason, fair or not, it should do so.

Jefferson has become a political liability, as such, proved guilty or not, he should be expelled.

The problem with the attitude that "it's not about winning" is that if you act on it you don't win, and then you get more years of Republican governance. A political party has no duty whatsoever to its officials; they are there solely to serve the electorate, not to further their own interests.

[Hippo_Tron]

47. No, I don't give a shit about innocent until proven guilty

All that means is that Jefferson is LEGALLY innocent until he is proven guilty in a court of law. Congressmen aren't judged in a court of law, they are judged in a court of public opinion and if they don't like that, they shouldn't be a in congress.

The seperation of powers issue is a great legal question that must be raised but it should be done when we are debating whether Jeffersons hould be convicted of a crime and put in jail, not while we are debating whethre he should resign.

[The Magistrate]

30. Hear Hear, Sir!

It is in the Party's power to expell him from our caucus, and that should be done immediately.

Immediately afterwards, the Republicans should be challenged to do the same with Ney and several others....

[jrd200x]

34. and Here Here also

[enough]

31. Exactly.

[jrd200x]

33. Must we use the term PURGE for elected officials?

I don't think the guy is innocent, but he was democraticaly elected. Purge sounds so . . . Soviet.

[Stinky The Clown]

36. Okay, let's try the term

'throw his dirty ass out' ....... or 'dump the bastid' ...... or let's use Lewis Carroll's famous 'off with hs head'.

[OzarkDem]

37. I'd like to know what's in his files

something so important that Hastert had a fit when they were siezed and Bush had to issue an order to seal them.

[Stinky The Clown]

39. The seize and seal move was nothing but a well executed

action to give the story legs well beyond its inherent merit.

See 'Imagine' number 1 in the OP.

[gulliver]

41. Randi Rhodes said that Pelosi turned Jefferson in in the first place.

According to Randi, Pelosi has the Dems covered. Pelosi requested the investigation in the first place (paraphrasing). So it's a case of the Dems turning in their own when they are corrupt compared to the Republicans protecting their corrupt members.

And yes, Jefferson must go.

[ladjf]

42. Why hasn't he been arrested?

[opihimoimoi]

43. The Dem Party needs to be self cleansing in order to be credible

Throw the dude out....

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

44. Fact: Former Jefferson Aide Sentenced to 8 Years

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000765.php

[Stinky The Clown]

45. Fact: A form of 'Imagine' number 1 started today

The story on MSNBC was about FatDennyHastert and Gonzo and Muller. Not about Jefferson. But sure as shit, there was a clip of Jefferson, the DEMOCRATIC congressman who took a $100,000 bribe and kept it is his DEMOCRATIC congressman's DEMOCRATIC freezer and his DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN's home.