OH REALLY…..EXPLAIN THAT TO ME!!


By Randy HallCNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor(CNSNews.com)
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Wednesday that there is no comparison between the ethical problems faced by U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D- La.) and what he termed the Republican “culture of corruption” in the nation’s capital. A GOP spokesman dismissed Dean’s criticism as “trying to sell a fundamentally flawed campaign slogan.”"There’s a difference between the involvement of Congressman Jefferson in activities for which there’s been no indictment and the culture of corruption that extends throughout the White House, the vice president’s office and both houses of Congress,” Dean said during a press conference at the DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Dean also referred to Jefferson — whose congressional office was raided Saturday by the FBI, which claimed it had found $90,000 in cash in his freezer months earlier — as “one errant congressperson who may have done something wrong.”The DNC chairman’s remarks came the same day that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) sent Jefferson a letter “to request your immediate resignation” from the influential Ways and Means Committee “in the interest of upholding the high ethical standard of the House Democratic Caucus.”In his response, Jefferson wrote to Pelosi that his work on the committee would not be impaired by the Justice Department investigation into whether he took more than $400,000 in bribes to promote Internet technology in western Africa.”I will not give up a committee assignment that is so vital to New Orleans at this crucial time for any uncertain political strategy,” Jefferson wrote. He added that his committee post has enabled him to secure funds for his district after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina last year.

During his press conference, Dean expressed continued support for Jefferson. “I certainly support Nancy Pelosi’s leadership vigorously in general, and I’m not going to comment specifically on any sanctions that she desires for any member of the Democratic Party who transgresses.”If the Louisiana Democrat is indeed indicted, “we would condemn it,” the DNC chairman added. “But let’s look at the record,” he stated.President Bush’s deputy chief of staff, Karl Rove, “still has his security clearance after leaking intelligence information in a time of war,” Dean said. “The chief of staff of the vice president [Lewis “Scooter” Libby] has been indicted.Referring to Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), the DNC chairman said that “the Republican Senate majority leader is under investigation for insider trading.” He then turned his attention to Reps. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and John Boehner (R-Ohio). “The House majority leader had to resign, and the next House majority leader took all the ethics legislation off the table.”Dean noted that Democrats are “not perfect, but we will make sure that any member of the House — Democrat or Republican — one, does not get any more free meals; two, does not get any more free jet plane rides; three, is not allowed to sneak riders in the middle of bills that have already been passed and voted on before they’re given to the president that give away $20 billion to HMOs and $16 billion to oil companies.”That is the cause of the culture of corruption,” he said.

“We’re going to make sure that within 100 days of the Democrats taking over the majority in the House and the Senate, real ethics legislation passes that gets rid of these abuses.”But Dean’s DNC was directly involved in a Jefferson-related controversy in March, when a fund-raiser for the congressman was held at the party headquarters at the same time the FBI was conducting its investigation of the lawmaker.As Cybercast News Service previously reported, Jefferson has also faced conflict of interest allegations regarding the disbursement of Hurricane Katrina relief funds to a group with which he has close ties. Other Democrats in the U.S. House face ethics charges
, including Reps. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) — who is accused of committing 250 violations — and John Conyers (D-Mich.).Republican National Committee spokesman Josh Holmes told Cybercast News Service that he was not impressed with Dean’s continued attempts to promote the concept of a “Republican culture of corruption.”"It’s fascinating that instead of commenting on a Democrat who may have violated the public trust, Howard Dean continues to assert that ethics is a partisan issue,” Holmes said.”If he spent less time trying to sell a fundamentally flawed campaign slogan and more time trying to improve the integrity of his own party, Chairman Dean would have a much more credible voice on the issue,” he added.

At the same time the FBI was conducting its investigation of the lawmaker.As Cybercast News Service , Jefferson has also faced conflict of interest allegations regarding the disbursement of Hurricane Katrina relief funds to a group with which he has close ties.Other Democrats in the U.S. House , including Reps. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) — who is accused of committing — and John Conyers (D-Mich.).Republican National Committee spokesman Josh Holmes told Cybercast News Service that he was not impressed with Dean’s continued attempts to promote the concept of a “Republican culture of corruption.”"It’s fascinating that instead of commenting on a Democrat who may have violated the public trust, Howard Dean continues to assert that ethics is a partisan issue,” Holmes said.”If he spent less time trying to sell a fundamentally flawed campaign slogan and more time trying to improve the integrity of his own party, Chairman Dean would have a much more credible voice on the issue,” he added.at the same time the FBI was conducting its investigation of the lawmaker.As Cybercast News Service , Jefferson has also faced conflict of interest allegations regarding the disbursement of Hurricane Katrina relief funds to a group with which he has close ties.Other Democrats in the U.S. House , including Reps. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) — who is accused of committing — and John Conyers (D-Mich.).Republican National Committee spokesman Josh Holmes told Cybercast News Service that he was not impressed with Dean’s continued attempts to promote the concept of a “Republican culture of corruption.”"It’s fascinating that instead of commenting on a Democrat who may have violated the public trust, Howard Dean continues to assert that ethics is a partisan issue,” Holmes said.”If he spent less time trying to sell a fundamentally flawed campaign slogan and more time trying to improve the integrity of his own party, Chairman Dean would have a much more credible voice on the issue,” he added.at the same time the FBI was conducting its investigation of the lawmaker.As Cybercast News Service , Jefferson has also faced conflict of interest allegations regarding the disbursement of Hurricane Katrina relief funds to a group with which he has close ties.Other Democrats in the U.S. House , including Reps. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) — who is accused of committing — and John Conyers (D-Mich.).Republican National Committee spokesman Josh Holmes told Cybercast News Service that he was not impressed with Dean’s continued attempts to promote the concept of a “Republican culture of corruption.”"It’s fascinating that instead of commenting on a Democrat who may have violated the public trust, Howard Dean continues to assert that ethics is a partisan issue,” Holmes said.”If he spent less time trying to sell a fundamentally flawed campaign slogan and more time trying to improve the integrity of his own party, Chairman Dean would have a much more credible voice on the issue,” he added.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 25th, 2006 at 7:30 am and is filed under Liberal Fun, Genius Democrats.
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