Funny how when a Democrat is accused of corruption he is "embattled". When it's a Republican he is "disgraced"….
A drive by the Democratic leadership to strip embattled Rep. William Jefferson of his committee post triggered a backlash Thursday as the Congressional Black Caucus opposed the move and said the Louisiana lawmaker deserves a "presumption of innocence."
The caucus chairman, Rep. Melvin Watt of North Carolina, told reporters that some black voters might ask why action was sought against "a black member of Congress" when there was neither precedent nor rule for it.
Jefferson has not been indicted and has denied all wrongdoing in connection with a federal bribery investigation that has netted two convictions. He has rebuffed repeated calls from Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and others to step aside until any involvement is clarified.
Watt spoke after a Democratic leadership group voted to strip Jefferson of his committee post, at least temporarily. The entire rank and file was then summoned to debate the issue but postponed a vote until next week."I can guarantee" he will not voluntarily step aside, said Melanie Roussell, Jefferson's spokeswoman.
[…]Emerging from the session, he distributed a statement that said the Congressional Black Caucus perhaps has a "unique appreciation of our nation's constitutional guarantee of the presumption of innocence."
Really now? Where has this group of Democrats been during the Delay and Libby news? The Duke students? The Haditha Marines? Call any press conferences then?
Didn't think so.
To add fuel to the fire another Democrat politician was arrested: (via Gateway Pundit )
A longtime suburban mayor was arrested Thursday on federal charges of steering business to a friend's insurance agency in return for bribes ($280,000) for almost two decades.
Nicholas Blase, Niles' mayor for 45 years, was arrested on his 78th birthday as he left his house.
According to court documents, Blase threatened to withhold liquor licenses and business licenses from restaurant owners unless they bought insurance from an agency once owned by his late friend Ralph Weiner and now run by Weiner's sons.
Prosecutors said the payoffs went on for 17 years.
The Culture of Corruption continues.
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