Congressman William Jefferson, he the man who had nearly $ 100,000 in his freezer, has been re-elected:
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 9 — Voters looked past a federal bribery investigation of Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) and reelected the eight-term congressman in a runoff election Saturday.
Jefferson grabbed a commanding lead over state Rep. Karen Carter, a fellow Democrat, almost as soon as the polls closed in the New Orleans district. With 44 percent of the precincts reporting, Jefferson, had 61 percent of the vote.
Louisiana’s 2nd District was one of the nation’s last unresolved midterm races, and the runoff election put Jefferson in danger of becoming the only Democratic incumbent to lose this election year.
In her concession speech, Carter embraced family members and pledged to work with Jefferson, particularly on the area’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
“I guess the people are happy with the status quo,” she said.
Jefferson, Louisiana’s first black congressman since Reconstruction, has been the target of a wide-ranging investigation into allegations that he took bribes — including $90,000 allegedly found in his freezer during an FBI raid — from a company seeking lucrative contracts in the Nigerian telecommunications market. He has not been charged with any crime and denies any wrongdoing.
He described his win as “a great moment and I thank almighty God for making it possible.”
Something tells me God had little to do with it.
All of this puts me in mind of a quote:
- Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard. H. L. Mencken
Yep, that about sums it up.
December 10th, 2006 at 10:02 am
I live in the 1st congressional district of La. (represented by Bobby Jindal) and monitored this election closely.
The voters had a choice: A bribe taking criminal (probably) or an abortion supporting, pro gay-marriage, etc. liberal. Not much of a choice. They were many (too many) fine candidates in the general election, but these two were on top.
Last week Jefferson Parish sheriff Harry Lee came out publicly denouncing Carter for criticizing him concerning the closure of the Crescent City Connection Bridge that connects New Orleans to the West Bank after Hurricane Katrina had passed and the East Bank continued to flood. Harry Lee is a very powerful politician and sheriff. He noted he was against Carter, but not for Jefferson. Hmmmm…
This reminds me of a gubernatorial election we had many years ago. The choices were Edwin Edwards (a known crook) or David Duke (a known Nazi and KKK leader). Edwards won 52% to 48%.
Ahhh, Louisiana politics?
December 10th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
Yup, you get the government you deserve, and apparently Louisiana deserves more crooks. Too bad, it’s a beautiful state full of great people, who just don’t know how to vote
December 10th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
I agree. I’m happy I live in the first district and not the secomd. However, it does not bode well for us that live here.