MyDD :: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!!

William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!!

by Ignored and Disgusted, Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 09:50:41 AM EST

Though many on both Mydd and Daily kos are strong advocates of leftist primary challenges to more centrist congressmen (as illustrated by the Fallon/Boswell challenge in Iowa), I personally oppose challenging centrist congressmen in swing districts because it could potentially imperil the democratic majority in the House. However, as with all rules there exists an exception, this one in the form of Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson.
Having been indicted on numerous charges of corruption, Congressman Jefferson has been stripped of his committee assignments in the House, has had numerous members of his family charged on various counts, and can no longer effectively represent the people of his congressional district. (See http://www.dailykingfish.com/showDiary.d o;jsessionid=E6298C977E4A404458FB4DDB4C1 AA242?diaryId=754) Now, the Jefferson political machine is very strong, as illustrated by his 2006 reelection over Karen Carter, so it will take a concerted effort to defeat him in Louisiana's new primary system. At the present time, Jefferson is merely a distraction from the Democrat's purpose in congress and provides fodder for Republican attacks linking him with Obama. ANYBODY is better than congressman Jefferson, a sentiment felt by most except for his many African American followers in his district. Please, can't we agree that Jeffeson has got to go?

Poll

Votes: 5
Results : Vote Link : Polls

Tags: William Jefferson, Louisiana, congress, Obama, corruption (all tags)

Permalink :: 23 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

Why the Obama tag? What has this got to do with him?

Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius

by Blue Neponset on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 09:53:19 AM EST

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

Because the republicans may seek to link Jefferson's corruption with Obama, at least in Louisiana. Jefferson's reelection bid imperils Obama's standing among white voters.

by Ignored and Disgusted on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:00:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

Obama is going to lose LA by a wide margin. You shouldn't be so concerned about Jefferson hurting him there.

In fact, I would say that repeating this whisper campaign about Obama having anything to do with Jefferson is probably exactly what the Repubs are hoping for. We should be more careful about spreading their innuendos.

Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius

by Blue Neponset on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:08:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The diarist has been very careful (1.50 / 2)

about how he spreads innuendos. That's why he's got the Obama tag.

by Mobar on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:16:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The diarist has been very careful (none / 0)

I explained in a previous comment the reason for the obama tag. Please educate yourself before making baseless accusations.

by Ignored and Disgusted on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:21:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

the button for "I disagree" (none / 0)

is the "Reply to This" button, not the troll rating. Allow me to demonstrate.

Your explanation that you gave this diary an Obama tag because this story might cause Obama problems with white voters was exactly why I made the comment I made. Tags are designed to make searching by subject easier. Tagging a non-related diary with "Obama" because you fear the diary topic will cause him problems with white voters only increases the odds that someone else doing a search for information on Obama would find this story. Which causes me to question several things about you, all of which will remain unstated.

by Mobar on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:31:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: the button for "I disagree" (none / 0)

Simply put, Republicans might try to link Jefferson to Obama simply because he's black. Simple enough for you? Unless theorizing has suddenly been banned from this site, I see no reason for your pathetic insinuations that I am a troll.

by Ignored and Disgusted on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:34:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Unless theorizing has suddenly (none / 0)

been banned from this site, I see no reason for your pathetic labelling of my post as a troll post. You've got your "insinuations," I've got your goofy ass actually troll rating me.

And no, it really isn't simple enough for me. Give me more detail, more analysis, more basic thought.

by Mobar on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:38:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

Amony Obama supporters, isn't his strength among blacks touted as a way to win the deep south states? Wasn't it the other day when I heard of a massive voter registration drive in Louisiana that could potentially "win" the state for Obama? Also, implyoing that I go around spreading Republican talking points is frankly just insulting and stupid.

by Ignored and Disgusted on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:19:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (1.50 / 2)

You are spreading Republican talking points. Obama has nothing to do with Jefferson. Period. Asking me to pretend you aren't spreading R talking points is frankly just insulting and stupid.

Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius

by Blue Neponset on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:25:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

Nothing is getting through your head. I said that Republicans might find it helpful in the deep south to associate obama, despite a dearth of any connections, with jefferson to aloenate white democrasts. Trying to prepare for all eventualities does not make me stupid so please drop the contemptuous demeanor. I sure hope you do not support Jefferson for reelection.

by Ignored and Disgusted on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:31:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

You don't seem to understand my point. Jefferson has nothing to do with Obama. Repeat nothing. As a result there is no good reason to use an Obama tag. What don't you understand about that?

The truth is on "our" side here. We don't need to repeat Republican frames/talking points/whisper campaigns in order "to prepare for all eventualities."

Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius

by Blue Neponset on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:41:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Have you changed your mind on this? (none / 0)

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/10/8419 /63223

by Mobar on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:34:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Have you changed your mind on this? (none / 0)

If anything, the FISA flip flop lowered Obama's stature in my book. A candidate that stands fr nothing does not deserve my support. Now, McCain would probably be worse for this country than Obama, but Obama must still try to earn my support. I did not support a candidate based on race or gender, I supported her based on qualifications.

by Ignored and Disgusted on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:37:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Have you changed your mind on this? (none / 0)

Then why do you give a shit about Republicans linking Obama with Jefferson, cause you know, they're both black.

You don't.

If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.

by Jess81 on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 12:31:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (2.00 / 1)

The $90,000 they found in his freezer was pretty damning. I've yet to hear a good explanation for that style of savings.....

by Reaper0Bot0 on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 09:57:49 AM EST

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

I totally agree.

by Ignored and Disgusted on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:01:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I agree that he shouldn't run for the seat again.. (2.00 / 1)

...but absent a criminal conviction - and, depending on the laws of the state of Louisiana, perhaps even with a criminal conviction - it's his right as a citizen to do so, and if the people of his district choose him, he is the rightful holder of that seat in Congress.

That said, the Party should do everything in its power to dissociate from him, including fully funding a primary challenger.

Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.

by mistersite on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:12:54 AM EST

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

Jefferson's got to go. So does Landrieu. This is the same state which allowed the Jena case to fester under Blanco's rule. Lousiana democrats have been an embarassment to the party. So Jefferson no longer occupies my top priority to get rid of. I think people like Dianne Feinstein are just as corrupt and more dangerous with her husband's defense oriented contracts(conflict of interest?).

by Pravin on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:17:56 AM EST

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

As much as I do not like Landrieu, I think she's the only Louisian Dem at this point who could hold the seat if only because of the advantages of incumbency.

by Ignored and Disgusted on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:32:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (2.00 / 1)

Yeah... we need all the Senate seats we can get, and Landrieu, as milquetoast as she is, isn't corrupt - just centrist.

Jefferson is another matter. I'll take a Blue Dog over a Repub any day of the week, but given the choice between a Repub and a deeply-corrupt Dem... I'm honestly not sure. A non-corrupt Dem, though, is undoubtedly better than either.

Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.

by mistersite on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:38:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

But most senators seem to be morally corrupt anyway. So my outrage for Jefferson has died down. Like I said, exhibit A : Dianne Feinstein's husband. How did politician's wives and kids get such cushy salaries more than they would have earned if they were not connected? Maybe Jefferson just did not have the connections to be discretely corrupt.

Mind you, I will be pleased to see Jefferson go away. But Lousiana is in need of serious reform. I saw a lot of glee in Jindal's ethics reform being exposed as toothless in a way. Hey, at least that christian lunatic attempted some sort of ethics reform. Why did the Democrats even allow someone like him to be in that position of proposing an ethics reform bill?

by Pravin on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 11:43:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: William Jefferson MUST leave Congress!!!!! (none / 0)

The people of Louisiana apparently have no problem with him. I don't like him, but I can't force the voters to change their minds.

by rfahey22 on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 10:58:16 AM EST

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