LIE OF THE WEEK: 06-08-2007
Louisiana Representative William Jefferson on his indictment for bribery and other crimes:
"My family and I have determined that I will not sacrifice my honor or cave to political pressure and that we will sell every stick of furniture in our home and anything else we may own to pursue justice and clear our name. Did I make mistakes in judgment along the way that I now deeply regret? Yes, but did I sell my office or trade official acts for money? Absolutely not. This case involved private business activities and not official acts by me."
THE TRUTH: Based on the evidence made public, the Congressman has clearly been walking around and stashing far too much cash for any kind of legitimate transactions and it has been his lack of honor that prevented him from resigning last year, let alone running for reelection and now fighting the charges. However, to discuss the issue of trading official acts for money, isn't that just par for the course in Washington today? In looking at the immigration bill, the fight isn't over the right thing to do for the American people. Instead, the fight is about the Democrats representing their financial backers (the unions) and the Republicans doing the same for their financial backers (the largest corporations employing the lowest paid workers in America). Could it be any clearer that the influence of campaign contributions overrules all other influence in Congress and that the American people aren't represented in the least? Just like Congressman Duke Cunningham last year, it's clear that Congressman Jefferson has taken the next logical step and started directly pocketing the money for which he should be severely punished, but it's also the best indicator that we should reform the whole system and finally remove all undue financial influence from the legislative process.
"My family and I have determined that I will not sacrifice my honor or cave to political pressure and that we will sell every stick of furniture in our home and anything else we may own to pursue justice and clear our name. Did I make mistakes in judgment along the way that I now deeply regret? Yes, but did I sell my office or trade official acts for money? Absolutely not. This case involved private business activities and not official acts by me."
THE TRUTH: Based on the evidence made public, the Congressman has clearly been walking around and stashing far too much cash for any kind of legitimate transactions and it has been his lack of honor that prevented him from resigning last year, let alone running for reelection and now fighting the charges. However, to discuss the issue of trading official acts for money, isn't that just par for the course in Washington today? In looking at the immigration bill, the fight isn't over the right thing to do for the American people. Instead, the fight is about the Democrats representing their financial backers (the unions) and the Republicans doing the same for their financial backers (the largest corporations employing the lowest paid workers in America). Could it be any clearer that the influence of campaign contributions overrules all other influence in Congress and that the American people aren't represented in the least? Just like Congressman Duke Cunningham last year, it's clear that Congressman Jefferson has taken the next logical step and started directly pocketing the money for which he should be severely punished, but it's also the best indicator that we should reform the whole system and finally remove all undue financial influence from the legislative process.
Labels: Lie of the Week
posted by The Debunker at 11:02 PM
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