DEMS, what do we do about (90K in the freezer) William Jefferson????

[RiverStone]

Ok, I know Mr. Jefferson is a DEM and all; yet to walk our talk regarding regime change, we must include sweeping him out too. When Rolling Stone Mag picked the 10 worst Congressmen, 9 were rethugs! All very deserving of slimy recognition. But we got one bad DEM apple.

Rolling Stone on Jefferson:

While his constituents back home were still reeling from the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, Jefferson was lining his own pockets in Washington. In May, the FBI raided his office after the Louisiana Democrat was caught accepting $100,000 in bribes -- most of which was later discovered in Jefferson's freezer. Vernon Jackson, the CEO of iGate, was sentenced to seven years for bribing Jefferson to push the tech company's products on the U.S. Army.

more
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12054520/the_10_worst_congressmen/4


Jefferson, who obtained only 30% of the vote on November 7, 2006, will face Louisiana State Representative Karen Carter in December 2006. How's it looking down in LA for Karen? It seems it would be best for our party if he lost.

On Edit: Anyone know if DEM leaders or folks in the DNC are actively opposing him? Or endorsing Karen Carter?

[Erika]

1. I'd say let the locals decide

Why not?

[MADem]

4. Well, they're gonna...one way or another. NT

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. Is there a good reason to treat him better than Lieberman?

Just askin.

I say, lend support to his opponent in the runoff.

[rwheeler31]

15. correct

nt

[eleny]

2. .

:popcorn:

[MADem]

3. The point is made quite clearly here--he is a fucking sleaze who needs to GO

In a little less than two weeks, we'll learn if the growing cloud of corruption allegations surrounding Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) will motivate his constituents to end his career before the Justice Department gets its shot to do the same.

On Saturday, December 9th, Jefferson's fate will be decided by a runoff election in which he faces Democratic state Rep. Karen Carter. Will voters be content to wait around for Jefferson's promised "honorable explanation" for why federal agents found $90,000 cash in his freezer?

No polls seem to be available, only a wide expectation that the race will be close. Jefferson led Carter 30%-22% in the general election...To make matters even more interesting, the muck hasn't stopped coming on Jefferson, despite the fact that the DoJ's mammoth bribery investigation has gotten tied up in the courts over the FBI's raid of Jefferson's congressional office.

The FBI is also investigating a host of charities connected to Jefferson's brother and sister, we learned last week. The groups have received "more than $7 million in funding from the state earmarked by either state Rep. Jalila Jefferson-Bullock, the congressman's daughter, or former state Rep. Renee Gill Pratt, the congressman's former legislative aide," ...Add that to the fact that Jefferson's been caught on tape apparently soliciting bribes, that he took a "personal loan" from an Ethiopian businessman five years ago which he's never paid back and failed to report on his financial disclosure forms, and that he allegedly tried to hide evidence from FBI agents during their raid of his house, and it's a wonder that this is even a contest. Of course, Jefferson has gamely tried to level the playing field by making ethics allegations against Carter -- but with enough muck to keep several teams of FBI agents busy, that's a tough case for Jefferson to make.


http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002035.php

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Do a search on Jefferson & you'll find that he was the topic of

a lot of invective on DU months ago. The general consensus was of course that he deserves what he gets in criminal penalties.

[RiverStone]

9. Thanks Jackpine. My concern is Jefferson may be leading...

...and very competitive for the run off with Carter next month (polls?). Do you know if DEM leaders or folks in the DNC are actively opposing him? Or endorsing Karen Carter?

[AllieB]

6. He should be held accountable for any crime he may have committed

but why do you point out the one example of Democratic corruption when there are literally thousands of Republican shenanigans we could discuss here?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Same thing should happen to him as if he were a Republican.

A crook is a crook; we shouldn't tolerate corruption just because he's a Dem. Kick his ass out and let the criminal justice system take care of him.

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. Right after jr is impeached.

[Liberal In Texas]

10. Investigate. Then wait until the justice system cogs turn. If he's dirty, cut him loose.

I expect nothing less than appropriate behavior from any public official, dem or repuke.

We need to keep our own house clean if we expect to be allowed to clean up the mess left by the theives that have been running the country for the last 6 years.

[Warren DeMontague]

12. I agree. I think he should be replaced.

Sounds like this Karen Carter is a far better choice.

[LoZoccolo]

13. I know what we should do!

We should say "dooga booga looga nooga schmooga tooga!"

That's what we should do.

[upi402]

14. Yep, out he goes

It's too bad, but we will be defending against it in the corporate media 100% of the time if he is not out. We need to have the moral authority of Mother Theresa with the corporate media and phony Republicans.

[skipos]

16. Why shouldn't everyone be supporting Karen Carter? nt

[leftofthedial]

17. press for rapid justice

[madmusic]

18. We? Do we vote on it?

Is this CourtTV?

Seriously, aren't they procedures already in place for that?

[rwheeler31]

19. please let the voters decide

do not push

[RiverStone]

22. Would value some clarity here....

Thanks rwheeler, though I'm confused by your reference to "pushing". How is advocating for what is best for our wonderful BLUE party pushing? Granted, it is but one person's (my) opinion and I can't vote in LA, but it seems advocacy is a healthy part of what we DEMS do (both in life and on DU).

Are talking points which highlight Jefferson's corruption "pushing" or educating? If it helps to elect Karen Carter, that seems like win/win.

[Warpy]

20. Investigate him, let him have his day in court if need be

and let the chips fall where they may. One of the annoying parts of "innocent until proven guilty" is that you have to keep embarrassments like Jefferson around until the whole thing plays out.

Just make sure it's all fair.

[LSK]

21. the DNC does not deal with Congressional Issues

This has been said numerous times.

[RiverStone]

23. Did not know that. Thanks.