I Really Don't Get It

Speaker-designate Pelosi has another caucus member for her "most ethical Congress in history." Rep. William "Cold Cash" Jefferson won a runoff election, so that his expected indictment for bribery can be delivered to his House office. John Fund wonders, in OpinionJournal's Political Diary:

How did Democratic Rep. William Jefferson win re-election in New Orleans on Saturday despite allegations by the FBI that he'd been caught with $90,000 in bribe money in his freezer? To make matters worse, two of his associates have already pleaded guilty to giving him $400,000 in bribes as part of a scheme to land lucrative contracts in Nigeria. The congressman himself dodged most questions, telling reporters: "I'll not talk about this issue in this campaign."

In the first round of voting last month in Louisiana's unique two-part election process, Mr. Jefferson won only 30%, normally a political death sentence for an incumbent. But his challenger, state Rep. Karen Carter, proved to have serious liabilities in a runoff where voter turnout was barely half that of the first round. Mr. Jefferson was able to portray her as a wild-eyed liberal on social issues, pointing out that she was endorsed by the left-wing Emily's List. He also ran a TV ad pointing out that Ms. Carter had voted in favor of gay marriage and late-term abortions as well as against making human cloning a crime.

These stances helped him battle Ms. Carter to a virtual tie in the portion of his district that includes the largely black city of New Orleans. In the adjacent suburban and largely white Jefferson Parish, Mr. Jefferson scored a coup when popular Sheriff Henry Lee, who is of Chinese descent, bitterly attacked Ms. Carter for comments accusing Jefferson Parish officials of racism for refusing to let New Orleans residents cross a bridge into the parish in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Sheriff Lee responded angrily that police had blocked the incoming crowds in order to protect empty homes and businesses in the evacuated parish. "She makes us look like a bunch of yahoos down here, a bunch of racists," fumed Mr. Lee.

Ms. Carter chose not to engage the sheriff, saying he was "entitled to his opinions." But Mr. Lee paid for a mailing urging voters to "Just Say No" to Ms. Carter, while making it clear he wasn't endorsing Mr. Jefferson. In the end, Mr. Jefferson won Jefferson Parish with more than two-thirds of the vote, ensuring his return to Congress.

But his triumph may yet prove the ultimate hollow victory. Mr. Jefferson has obliquely acknowledged that he expects to be indicted next year, and given the evidence against him, few would bet on his chances before a jury. Then again, almost no one predicted his amazing comeback in Saturday's election.

I love the great state of Louisiana, even though I was badly beaten outside of Shreveport when our band attracted too much attention at a truck stop. But these people returned Ray Nagin to the NO Mayor's office, now Jefferson. One hates to say that fellow Americans get the government they deserve, but I’m gonna.

110th Congress Posted by jk at December 11, 2006 12:59 PM