Sunday, December 10, 2006

LA-2nd Re-elects Corruption Plagued Representative


Striking a blow for corrupt politics as usual, Loisiana voters re-elected one of the nations most (non-Republican) congressmen, William Jefferson.

From the invaluable New Orleans Times-Picayune:

Guilty pleas by aides and associates who admitted to bribing the New Orleans Democrat, and the revelation in court documents that FBI agents had found $90,000 in marked bills in Jefferson's freezer, had prompted pundits to begin inking his political obituary.

Instead, Jefferson, 59, scored a decisive win largely by routing Carter in Jefferson Parish. That may have attested less to his appeal than to the power of Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, whose bitter attacks on the challenger appeared to have been a factor in sharply suppressing turnout that Carter needed, especially among white voters.

I guess this is one for the, "sure, but he's OUR crook" file.

But then, I suppose, in Louisiana, a scandal just involving money isn't hardly any scandal at all.

(And by the way, be sure to follow the link to the NPR article on Harry Lee who's a true piece of work and no kidding.)

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Actually, pride was the main emotion in this race. Harry Lee, powerful sheriff of white conservative Jefferson Parish, had his feelings hurt by opponent Carter. She criticized him putting armed guards on the bridge preventing New Orleanians from evacuating the flooded city to Jefferson Parish. He told his supporters to stay home and not vote. America will never understand south Louisiana. Don't even try. It is a lesson in frustration. The only good news is that it won't affect the recovery because America deserted New Orleans a long time ago.
http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/1...12/10/85326/ 942

Citizen Kang said...

I've written fairly extensively on the travesty that was Katrina relief so I think I know what you mean about abandonment.

For me that article on NPR was the real eye-opener.