Culture of Hypocrisy

According to The Hill's Jonathan Allen, that's the title of a new NRCC article on Vernon Jackson's guilty plea on charges that he bribed Representative William Jefferson, (D-LA). This is what I wrote yesterday:

Vernon Jackson, 53, chief executive of Louisville-based iGate Inc., pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official and conspiracy to bribe a public official.

The congressman was not identified in court documents or during Wednesday's plea hearing, but documents make clear that the congressman whom Jackson admits bribing is Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat who represents New Orleans.

Prosecutor Mark Lytle said Jackson paid roughly $360,000 over a four-year period to a company controlled by the congressman's wife in exchange for Jefferson's help promoting iGate technology in Africa. Jackson also gave the company a 24 percent stake in iGate and paid for $80,000 in travel expenses on the congressman's trips to Africa to promote iGate.

Here's what Mr. Allen wrote today:

House Republicans portrayed congressional corruption as a bipartisan problem yesterday after a business executive pleaded guilty in federal district court to bribing a Democratic lawmaker. Vernon L. Jackson, chairman and CEO of the Louisville, Ky.-based telecommunications company iGate, pleaded guilty to giving more than $400,000 to Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) to secure Jefferson's help in promoting the company’s interests in Africa.

Of course, Jefferson denies any wrongdoing but the evidence and the guilty plea says the opposite.

Former Jefferson aide Brett Pfeffer pleaded guilty to bribery charges in January. In yesterday's plea, Jackson admitted to bribing [the Representative] with money and iGate stock in exchange for the lawmaker's assistance in advancing the company's business interests in several African countries and with the Export-Import Bank. Payments were made through a second company controlled by members of the congressman's family, according to the plea.

Try dodging that, Mr. Jefferson. Your wife's company got $360,000 from Jackson. Your aid pled guilty his part in the bribes. Your 'business partner' pleads guilty of bribery. And you say you're innocent?

Here's what the AP reported in January:

Brett Pfeffer, 37, a former legislative director to Rep. William Jefferson, (D-LA), pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting bribery of a public official and conspiracy. He could get 20 years in prison when sentenced March 31.

Either William Jefferson is a criminal or he's had the most horrific staff in the history of the world. I'm buying the part about him being a criminal.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) used the headline a "Culture of Hypocrisy" to link to a story about the plea deal from its website yesterday. The Jackson plea deal, coupled with ethical allegations about Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WVA), have given Republicans political ammunition to fire back at Democrats. Mollohan was recently asked by Democratic leaders to step aside as ranking member of the House ethics committee.

Allen is right in pointing out these indiscretions. Nancy Pelosi's daily rants about the Republican "Culture of Corruption" ring hollow, which you'd expect from someone of such meager substance.

Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) said he expects Republicans to point to the conviction of Jefferson's associate, which follows the January guilty plea of a former Jefferson aide, to rebut that argument.

“The other side is going to use anything they can, and they'll try to use this," Fattah said. But, he argued, ethics will not be the foremost issue at the polls in November. “The majority is going to face the decision of the voters on the condition of the country," he said.

The stock market is nearing record numbers. Peoples' retirement funds are looking stronger daily. The economy keeps humming along. Progress is being made in Iraq. Al Qaida terrorists are being captured and locked away forever. Democrats can't claim responsibility for any of those things. Let's have at it, Mr. Fattah.

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) said Democratic corruption arguments are aimed at the operations of the institution. “We are talking about how the place is being run," Meeks said. “To me, the issue that Hillary Clinton raised about whether this is a plantation is still an issue."  Ethics panel Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) declined to comment on the matter.

I take the playing the race card this early as a sign of desperation on Democrats' behalf. Frankly, Hillary's MLK Day comment is one of the most asinine I've ever heard from a public figure.

Cross-posted at California Conservative

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Posted Thursday, May 4, 2006 1:53 PM

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