Hurrican Katrina - Rep. William Jefferson An Outrage And A National Disgrace

Witness your tax dollars at work. Poor people are dying, havoc in the streets - and this elected (your expletive of choice here)  is using military resources to clean things out of his house. This is the epitome of what is wrong with American politics - no, check that - that this pathetic individual will get away with it without a fuss - THAT is the true measure of what is wrong with politics in America.

I am so fed up with these so called power brokers thinking the public dime should be at their disposal, regardless of the circumstances. The fact is, that shouldn't be the case under ANY circumstances.

This man should immediately be investigated - hauled before the House Ethics Committee and impeached. It's an outrageous abuse of the public trust. And not until good Americans begin stepping up to the challenge of tossing these bums out can we ever hope to have anything like ethical government in this country.

I'm disgusted.

Sept. 13, 3005 — Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a local congressman used National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal belongings — even while New Orleans residents were trying to get rescued from rooftops, ABC News has learned.

On Friday, Sept. 2 — five days after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast — Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., who represents New Orleans and is a senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, was allowed through the military blockades set up around the city to reach the Superdome, where thousands of evacuees had been taken.

Lt. Col. Pete Schneider of the Louisiana National Guard tells ABC News that during the tour, Jefferson asked that the truck take him to his home on Marengo Street, in the affluent uptown neighborhood in his congressional district. According to Schneider, this was not part of Jefferson's initial request.

The water reached to the third step of Jefferson's house, a military source familiar with the incident told ABC News, and the vehicle pulled up onto Jefferson's front lawn so he wouldn't have to walk in the water. Jefferson went into the house alone, the source says, while the soldiers waited on the porch for about an hour.

Finally, according to the source, Jefferson emerged with a laptop computer, three suitcases, and a box about the size of a small refrigerator, which the enlisted men loaded up into the truck.

"This wasn't about me going to my house. It was about me going to my district," he said.

Two Heavy Trucks and Helicopter Involved

The Louisiana National Guard tells ABC News the truck became stuck as it waited for Jefferson to retrieve his belongings.

The soldiers signaled to helicopters in the air for aid. Military sources say a Coast Guard helicopter pilot saw the signal and flew to Jefferson's home. The chopper was already carrying four rescued New Orleans residents at the time.

read the whole thing - ABC News

Comments

[!]

I am not surprised at all. I mean what do you expect from a liberal democrat. !! They think they are special !!

[Ron]

you better stop picking on this poor black man,are he will have jesse jackson on you lol hhehehehehehehhhahahahahahhahhhaaaaaaa.im laughting so hard im crying.

[clintcarter]

All the noise about how we shouldn't be partisan and bashing and now this?
This guy is a member of CONGRESS for crissakes!
Does anyone else think this kind of treatment, as in the recovery of papers and essentials for a member of CONGRESS, is in any way confined to Democrats or liberal Democrats, or is not available to any member of CONGRESS, especially in their Home district?

What would have been said if this were Bush, or Cheney, or Rice, or Lott? Would we be mentioning the 'public dime' for the use of the National Guard? "The truck became stuck"? C'mon!
If Bush-bashing s/b prohibited in the spirit of nation-building, why is their so much Other politician bashing here? Where does one draw the line?

[cathy]

this is an absolute outrage and a totally shocked tucker carlson
just reported this and he said...well, i'm sure there will be
repercusions tomorrow...me thinks that is an understatement....

[Dan]

Clint I don't care what party the guy is in - and I absolutely know it goes on on both sides of the aisle. I didnt even identify his party. That is irrelevant to me in this case.

[clintcarter]

I was influenced by the first comment...

Aren't y'all in this together? ;-)

[Ron]

I hope jesse dont see this lol hhahahahahahaha

[splashtc]

I have no problem with the congressman using the military to pick things up from his house.
This kind of story one would expect from the dems/liberals. Are we getting as bad as them.

[*flo*]

as part of a federal investigation into the finances, this alone would put Rep Jefferson in a compromising situation, riding in military vehicles, would be considered a pert for congressmen/women....

[tonychilling]

This story has no significance and is a waste of web space.
People do selfish and stupid things under stress.
The real story is to dig into the decision making of Congress and why
New Orleams was denied monies for the Levees.
In fact, last year the cut was so such, no levee work was done.
Did Congress have a priorized list based on what? Safety of lives?
Why was New Orleans neglected for as much as 16 years, when it was first
known of the inadequate state of the levees?
I understand it would have taken about 1 to 2 Billion to make the levees withstand a category 5 storm. Now it will take 200 Billion to fix N.O..?
It is the bad decision makers in Washington who need to be flushed out and ridiculed; Not this selfish Congressman.

Hopefully, the next time I visit this site, there will be a list of elected and appointed individuals that we can shake some answers from, and in the end, fix this systemic problem in Washington.

[TheAlamo]

For Clint:

I was very intrigued by your post the other day, and was hoping you would have a chance to reply. But Dan is moving this thing so fast that it seems there is little time for any meaningful discussion. (not knocking him--this is his site)
So Clint, I am interested in your repsonse. go to:
http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2005/09/how_federal_bud.html#comment-9343986

Hope you see this before it disappears!

[TheAlamo]

Flo...

Did you like the new car?

[Dan]

Alamo - Just FYI - Posts stay up on top for two days, no matter how many I make. But everything remains archived. I had to reduce the main page content to two days so the page would load reasonably quickly.

[TheAlamo]

Not griping Dan...this is your deal and we appreciate it...merely pointing out to Clint he needs to get here quicker. I think we all appreciate what you have here.

[clintcarter]

Alamo I got you, just haven't had the time for in-depth (read: thinking) writing as am going away for another weekend.
Down to VA. to visit my good buddy Mark Warner...

Just one thing; am I still a victim if I'm self-employed, or were you being general about all of us? Or my state of mind?

[clitncarter]

Whoa! You're right there. Eerie.

I won't forget. Not tonite though, that'd be another half hour.

[TheAlamo]

LOL! No, I meant that you were a victim because nobody in the public (or most private even) school system will give you what I left for you on that post.
Absolutely nothing personal or negative about you at all!

[shonane]

What he did does not surprise me at all - my guess is a lot of people in positions of power who could , would.

Article was unclear if he really was riding around with the guard to look at his district, which would be very appropriate. And if he was looking out where he lived I don't think it would have been inappropriate to ride by and look at and in his house and his general neighborhood as well, as long as he was looking at others also. That is just human nature. Even to quickly go in and pick up a few prized personal valuables (wedding pictures or legal papers) may not have been so bad. He probably could not prep and pack prior to evacuation if he was out based in DC (IF he was up there when hurricane was coming in). But, to tie up the guard or have them go way out of their way so he could pack personal belongings (and hour's wait) while people were waiting to be rescued??? That's a pretty selfish OOPS!

[shaunomac]

To hell with both parties, the Democrats are as at fault for this mess in New Orleans as the Republicans are. The failure of extending the levees falls on both local, state and federal bureaucrats.

This finger pointing and flooding that area with money with no accounting whatsoever, is ridiculous.

I would recommend to all that you take a look at the American Centrist Party and see what you think http://www.americancentristparty.com

Shaun

[DeeDee]

New Orleams was denied monies for the Levees.
Tonychilling: In fact, last year the cut was so such, no levee work was done.
Did Congress have a priorized list based on what? Safety of lives?
Why was New Orleans neglected for as much as 16 years, when it was first
known of the inadequate state of the levees?
I understand

No, obviously you don't understand. The Bush administration increased the funding over what the Clinton administration was giving to the levee board and yet the local officials diverted the funding to a port project. You should be questioning Mary Landreau concerning how the money was spent. This was all laid out in a recent Washington Post piece and I am very sure that you can research this with a local representative as well.

[faithfulreader]

I know most politicians get special treatment, it happens so much more than we know about. I don't think it's right. Seems to me that he used this opportunity of going to his district to check on his house instead.
I'm so sick of our tax monies being spent by those greedy politicians. We all work hard for our money and I know it hurts everytime I see that chunk come out of mine and my husbands paycheck. It is about time America starts speaking up and start asking questions on their accounting.

How come I have not heard a lot of fall out on the MSM regarding Mayor Nagin when he gave special treatment to the 100 tourist stranded at the Ritz Hotel? Early on in the news coverage on CNN or Fox they had the live telephone conversation with one of the ladie's who was rescued and she told in detail how they were led to safety out of NO and flown to their hometowns. While the rest of the people could not even get water or food at the Superdome or Convention Ctr. By the way the tourist were all non black.

[professor]

I can't get all hot and bothered about this one. The congressman has every right to use the national guard to retrieve items from his home that might be useful in conducting the public's business.

But Mayor Ray Nagin, who spends most of his time now in Dallas, who has now enrolled his children in school there, and who has now purchased a home there, and who only returns to N. O. for photo ops and for finger-pointing. . . Now, that's a different story.

And the Senators and Congressmen who voted for pork-barrel omnibus spending bills over the past 30 years that built bridges in Alaska but did not upgrade the levees in N. O. . . That also is a different story.

[pro]

It was the Hyatt, not the Ritz, Faithful. But the rest of your facts appear to be correct.

[professor]

It was the Hyatt, not the Ritz, Faithful. But the rest of your facts appear to be correct.

Sorry for the double posting, but I only entered part of my name the first time.

[DeeDee]

Mayor Ray Nagin, who spends most of his time now in Dallas, who has now enrolled his children in school there, and who has now purchased a home there, and who only returns to N. O. for photo ops and for finger-pointing. .professor

Professor: You old Sherlock Holmes. Bravo!

That should go to O'Reily Factor.

[Ron]

I hope jesse dont see you bashing uncle jefferson,hehehehehaaaaaahaaaaaaaa

[moey]

What a disgrace. The fact that he took precious time from rescue efforts is bad enough, but the fact that he was basically in there to retrieve his computer and other records that probably had information relating to what he is under investigation for is most troubling. If his home, office and accountants' office was raided by the FBI, there was probably information on this computer and in the suitcases that he carried out that they would like to review.

As I've said in other posts, follow the money regarding the federal distributions over the past years for levee repair. There were 100's of millions of dollars earmarked for these levees and someone needs to answer where it went.

[jaybo]

Racial Discrimination?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this politician african-american?

I guess this is just one more example of the racial callouseness of those in power towards the african-american community!

[edward]

I am so happy we are seeing all sides of this story.
Good job exposing all parties who made selfish decisions in an emergency situation.

[*flo*]

Flo...
Did you like the new car?
Posted by: TheAlamo | Sep 14, 2005 12:59:09 AM

Alamo, I was the driver;)*flo*

Posted by: moey | Sep 14, 2005 12:31:09 PM

Its said Rep Jefferson had been the target of an undercover FBI sting involving public corruption for nearly a year. Its also noted it was extremely rare that the FBI targets a congressman in a sting, referring to the a last such case in 1978 Abscam case, an FBI undercover sting that resulted in the conviction of six representatives and a senator.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/12/AR2005081201678.htm

a trust fund for contributions on his defense, now this makes more sense

[MoscowGirl]

I have no problem if a politician CLEARLY STATES UPFRONT that he/she has to go to the private residence during a disaster to pick up administrative work related material (computer, papers, etc). And I guess it would be OK if he/she picked up few personal items along the way, and dog, and wife..... :=)

But this was not "up front", and does looks like a "misuse of power and government resources".

It would do America a good deal of good to stop the "christian guilt" syndrome towards minorities and let them walk all over you expecting special treatment. The best favor you can do to the whole country is keep everything BASED ON MERIT! It will show a lot more respect for abilities of all ethnic and economic groups.

I am tired of people complaining about "lack of opportunity and all sorts of hideous inventions called "unfairness". If America gives people "no opportunities".... I don't know what country does..

I see all sorts of subjects taught in US high-schools (unfortunately many good subjects are "electives"), but I don't see two very important ones at all: "economics of capitalism" and "personal responsibility/self-reliance"...

With all the liberal crap you letting float all over, you lettig your country go to the "birds", and letting "religious fantatics" offer the only alternative to the contrary.....

Many Rep. are full or "religious crap", and many Democrats are full of "socialism crap".... Disban the two blimey parties, and introduce one common goal for all Americans: education, economy, capitalism, self-sufficiency, and personal freedom behind your own closed doors... and respect for other's property and physical space...... And enough of this "bi partisan" rehtoric..... these two sides are not "fighting for what's right in the universal concept", they are fighting each other, and using all sorts of "righteous issues" in their private battles.

And quite "letting minorities walk all over you and guilt trip you"....... Enough is enough, go to school, go to college, get a job...... What else?

[TheAlamo]

And quite "letting minorities walk all over you and guilt trip you"....... Enough is enough, go to school, go to college, get a job...... What else?

Posted by: MoscowGirl | Sep 14, 2005 3:07:47 PM

Your WHOLE post is on the money. Are you really in Moscow?
I don't mean that as a slight as you sound more American than most of the people who live here.
If you are really not from here it shows the shame of our "public" ("public schools" sounds quite bolshevik wouldn't you say?) school system when someone from another country knows more about America than most Americans.

Your words here were never more true. Good post!

[New Creature]

I don't see the big deal....If he were loading up big screen t.v.'s and loads of his wife's clothing, I would understand the outrage---but c'mon!!! A laptop? Probably had loads of files pertinant to his position as a government official. A "box" of items....possibly files??? Hmmm. This sounds just like a liberal attack against a conservative. Let's not get on thier level.

[okoj]

If it were so wrong, why did the national guard do it? They would not evict people out their homes when Nagin told them to do it. Right???

Should the officers and commanders of that unit be "called in" for their conduct during a national emergency? Following the commands of a civilian in that situation might be grounds for a court martial.

[LALady]

Great post Moscow Girl...you hit the hammer on the nail...slap dab in the middle.

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