CBC digs in for Jefferson

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/cbc-digs-in-for-jefferson-2007-06-07.html

CBC digs in for Jefferson
By Jonathan E. Kaplan
June 07, 2007

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) dug in its heels yesterday in defense of indicted Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) and expressed concerns that a House ethics investigation on the lawmaker’s alleged corrupt activities could influence, even poison, a future jury trial.

Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), the CBC chairwoman, said in a release, “We trust the merits of the case against Congressman Jefferson will be examined in a court of law instead of the chambers of public opinion.”

“The presumption of innocence has a significant meaning, even for a member of Congress,” said Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), who said he had spoken to Jefferson during the past 48 hours. “It is difficult to read these very serious allegations and not jump to a conclusion, but we must not do that.”

Nevertheless, nearly all CBC lawmakers voted for a measure that requires the ethics committee to investigate any lawmaker who has been indicted. Of the six Democratic lawmakers opposed to the Democratic resolution, two were CBC members: Reps. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) and John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.).

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[Captain Hilts]

1. Not a good idea considering he had $90K in his freezer at home. nt

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. I agree.

It's hard to say we're "draining the swamp" when we do things like this.

[babylonsister]

4. I agree; they should make him an example of what happens when

someone breaks the law. But innocent until proven guilty...

[Throwing Stones]

6. I agree that he deserves his day in court

but this asshole should step down so that the people of New Orleans can have an effective voice in DC.

[BOSSHOG]

2. The worst aspect of the Jefferson case

is that his constituents (New Orleans) are suffering. He is losing influence on the capitol when the city needs a very loud and powerful voice. He's still in office because the white's in the suburbs voted for him to ensure this nonsense would happen.

[Totally Committed]

5. I absolutely agree that this is the worst aspect of this.

If ever NOLA needed a strong voice in Congress, it is now.

That having been said, however, it is proof that we do get the government we choose to elect. I just wonder if he would have been ferreted out so quickly and so strongly if he wasn't Black? The way things are in this country these days (in both Parties), I do have to wonder if this prosecution is racially motivated.

TC

[MidwestTransplant]

7. Jefferson is a POS. He should have never run again. 90K in marked bills in his freezer.

RESIGN SCUMBAG

[Solo_in_MD]

9. and that the CBC has and continues to back him so strongly speaks volumes about them

[MidwestTransplant]

10. Yep. Pretty pathetic.

[BOSSHOG]

13. Part of this story

makes me chuckle in a perverse manner. My dearly departed Dad used to contract bush hog for companies in the small town in Arkansas where he lived back in the 70's and 80's. He'd mow their large lots and keep them slick all summer long. He got paid in cash and he kept his earnings in a plastic bag which he always kept in the freezer. He said that was his mad money. Although it was in the hundreds and not thousands and honestly earned. Its the first thing I thought of when I heard about Jefferson's nonsense. I believe the man should get a fair trial but for the sake of New Orleaneans he should do the honorable thing and help them get a representative in place sooner rather then later who does not have his baggage.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Do you have any data to back up the assertion that he is still in office because of

whites in the suburbs voted for him?

[BOSSHOG]

11. He won

the part of the district in Jefferson Parrish outside of New Orleans which he doesn't normally carry. Political analysts said they believed that that constituency did not want State Senator Karen Carter (who made the runoff against Jefferson) to get elected because they feared she would then be there for a long while. Prognosticators said the Jeffersonians (Parrish residents) were biding their time hoping that Jefferson would get indicted so they could run their own candidate most likely a republican to run on a platform of "integrity."

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. Shepherd won the Jefferson Parish part of the district 34%-23%

http://www.jpclerkofcourt.us/elections/result.asp?OfficeID=372&ElectionID=95

It doesn't appear that the is was the suburbs that sent him back to DC.

[BOSSHOG]

15. Shepherd wasn't in the runoffs

[dsc]

17. They need to look in some mirrors then

If they hadn't voted for him because they hated gays more than they hated corruption.

[JNelson6563]

12. Fools

Very disappointing.

[OHdem10]

16. I believe they are making a big mistake. " The Sting" Aspect is ot

not going to help him that much.. No one likes the idea
of stings--setting someone up in order to catch him.

Attitudes in the country have changed. Libertarian
Ideals have been squelched so to speak.

There was a time, our Libertarian instincts would be
incensed at the idea of the Government setting someone
up. Can you not catch him in an open and above board
way. That attitude has changed. Now the attitude is, use any means
necessary. Look at how easy it was to pass the Patriot
Act.

With so many counts alleged against him. The CBC would
be better off as a group: to lead with example, and say
we support the idea that Government be run with transparancy;
and the support the House, by saying We cannot Support
Jefferson.


Jefferson is popular enough in his state that if he goes
to trial and wins his case--he could run again for office.

Get it over with while we still have a Democratic Governor
to make appointments.

[ClassWarrior]

18. Does anyone know about the US Attorney in this case?

Is it a Bush/Cheney** political hack?

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

20. The CBC aren't fools. Does anyone know ANYTHING about this case...

...apart from the endlessly-regurgitated Corporate Media meme, "The FBI found $90,000 in his freezer?"

Can someone provide some facts?

NGU.

[AtomicKitten]

19. we need to cut him loose NOW and forget about him

This is not behavior we can condone in our representatives. That would make us hypocrites.

[aikoaiko]

21. Backing Jefferson is going to hurt the party. Sometimes you have to cut the line.