The Hypocritical Jindal

Last night my friend in New Orleans called me up saying that Bobby Jindal was on the local television station, WDSU, discussing the indicted William Jefferson and apparently being two-faced as usual (more here). Jindal stated that he voted for the investigations and would vote to remove Jefferson if the Ethics committee made that recommendation. That’s fine, I have no problem with that. I want the corrupt congressmen out of there as much as the next guy. The problem I have with this statement is that Jindal is a hypocrite who wants relaxed ethical standards for his own party.

When Jindal was elected into Congress, one of his first votes was to relax and weaken the House ethics standard. Why did he do this? The leader of his party, the crooked Tom Delay, was under investigation and Delay fell so far short of the ethical standard that it was laughable. You may remember that Delay was charged with criminally conspiring with two political associates to inject illegal corporate contributions into 2002 state elections, in order to gerrymander the state and give himself more power in Congress. So when Tom Delay asks Jindal to weaken ethics standards, Jindal said yes. This is exactly the wrong kind of man we need in the governor’s office.

If Jindal intends to improve ethics in Baton Rouge when he’s governor, he needs to hold everyone to a higher standard, including himself and people like Tom Delay, and not just the Democrats. Improving ethics begins at home, Mr. Jindal, and you need to hold yourself and your party to the same standard as you do Democrats.

Dollar Bill Jefferson Indicted!

Although my intent is to mainly cover politics that concern northwest Louisiana, I just have to comment on William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson’s indictment.

From an article on CNN:

“WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Nearly two years after federal agents reported finding $90,000 in a freezer in his Washington home, U.S. Rep. William Jefferson has been charged with a global campaign to solicit bribes, obstruct justice and engage in racketeering, Justice Department officials said Monday.

The veteran Louisiana Democrat faces 16 criminal counts, said Alice Fisher, assistant U.S. attorney general in the criminal division.

"This case is about greed, power and arrogance," said Joe Persichini, director of the FBI's Washington field office, which led the investigation.

In addition to the racketeering and solicitation charges, Jefferson has been charged with money laundering, wire fraud, conspiracy and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.”

All I have to say about this is: Finally! Jefferson was a blemish on the Democratic party and our government in general. At least Pelosi was able to take away his committee assignments since he won re-election in the 2006 elections. I will never understand how they could put him back into power.

But thank goodness he is finally indicted.