Washington Post reporter Lyndsey Layton reported Thursday that House Republicans will move for an unusual vote protesting the new committee assignment of Democratic Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana, the congressman still under investigation for the $90,000 in bribe money found in his home freezer. After removing Jefferson from the powerful Ways and Means Committee last year as the Democrats ran against a "culture of corruption," Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi now wants to place him on the Homeland Security Committee.
Layton's story highlights Jefferson's role as a "vocal critic of FEMA's performance" in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans as a rationale for his Homeland Security appointment. But the Post left out Jake Tapper's September 2005 scoop on Jefferson using the government to check on his personal property in the hurricane aftermath: "Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a congressman used National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal belongings — even while New Orleans residents were trying to get rescued from rooftops, ABC News has learned."
Tapper added: "The water reached to the third step of Jefferson's house, a military source familiar with the incident told ABC News, and the vehicle pulled up onto Jefferson's front lawn so he wouldn't have to walk in the water. Jefferson went into the house alone, the source says, while the soldiers waited on the porch for about an hour." The original truck got stuck during the wait, and another truck had to be dispatched to pull it out. A helicopter was also dispatched to the scene, but Jefferson refused to board it.
Will the networks return to the William Jefferson story, or is the "culture of corruption" story only a good angle when it leads to liberal-pleasing election results?
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center















Editor at Large

Comments Policy
Democratic leader Nancy Pel
March 1, 2007 - 09:21 ET by Tom1969caSounds more like he should be assigned to the "home security committee"...
(Oh, and it's Democrat leader, not Democratic...)
~~~
Grammar Tip of the Day:
The phrase "I support the troops" should never be followed by the word "but".
CNN ten second quip on Jefferson's Aide headed to prison
March 1, 2007 - 09:54 ET by SportPoliticsCNN Lou Dobbs sit in did a whole spiel on Jefferson's innocence last night. It was five minutes of charading around the usual mulberry bush. The last few moments was the real news, as usual, when it comes to a democrat, veryquickly at the end of the segment, not to be commented upon at all.
The dishwater blonde correspondent was asked if anyone knew the status of the case. She reported back that the top producer of CNN had phoned the FBI and was told that the case was ongoing, and no comment was possible. Upon further probing the reluctant correspondent informed that Willaim Jefferson's two closest aides are under indictment, and in fact one was set to go to prison this morning. That same one testified that he personally bribed William Jefferson.
It was never made clear which bribe that was. It wasn'tsaid what the charges were, or if either aide had already been through the courts. They cut back to CNN Dobbs studio, and the sit in didn't comment and immediately went to a posted email that complained about building a border fence when 7 underground tunnels were still wide open for business.
Yep, that was it. If I hadn't watched a full 5minutes to the bitter last ten seconds, I'd have never known Jefferson's 2 closest personal Aides were indicted and one who said he bribed Jefferson was headed to prison this morning.
It's amazing to me, actually. It's so far opposite of what happens when a republican is caught in a scandal, I find it hard to believe it's occurring.
It would be really nice if Greta Van Sustern spent a whole week or month going over this William Jefferson scandal trying to pry out information, or at least reporting the basic facts.
So now CNN, who are the two aides, what were they charged with,and which bribe was the one aide talking about, why is he or she going to prison this morning, and why the **** won't you tell us even the bare minimum ?
I've always been confused about William Jefferson(D)
March 1, 2007 - 10:11 ET by acaiguanaI've always been confused about William Jefferson(D).
The Democrats kept saying with a straight face on every MSM channel they could get their hands on that they were against the 'Culture of Corruption'.
In the meantime, while the MSM was misreporting nearly every fact they could butcher or make up about Katrina and its aftermath, this Liberal Black Congressman was stealing, lying and abusing his office for his own personal gain and the most obnoxious use of FEMA resources during the so-called mayhem going on in the stadium in New Orleans was being touted as a Bush Failure.
So, what was that all about? Then our bug-eyed Speaker of the House tries to put this idiot in a serious government job that involves the opportunity for more bribes than Carter's Little Liver Pills.
The MSM is silent about this idiot.
What was that about?
So, now, the Republicans are finally beginning to figure out they need to highlight this guy and show the idiocy of keeping him active at all; even on the Homeland security Committee. Uh...
It's a circus in Washington, DC. I guess that isn't news, huh?
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
MSM keeps America from getting the joke
March 1, 2007 - 12:28 ET by nkviking75When the Democrats pledged the most ethical Congress ever, America should have fallen off its collective couch convulsed in laughter. Unfortunately, most of the country remains blissfully unaware of the sleazebags the donkey party puts forth every two years. That's because the MSM works hard to bury Democrat corruption in the far back pages, if they report on it at all. If someone ever succeeded in getting the masses to care about these things, the Democrats would be finished as a party.
Just like B.J. Clintoon pro
March 1, 2007 - 15:34 ET by Tim the EnchanterJust like B.J. Clintoon promised a Cabinet that would look like America.
So, where's the media bias? P
March 1, 2007 - 13:10 ET by Roger the ShrubberSo, where's the media bias? Plus, this is not an Al Gore story. What's up with that?
There. I've just eliminated the need for any Lib troll to post here now. Carry on.
The question is..
March 1, 2007 - 13:29 ET by Gary HallThe question, considering how the Washington Post has taken such a strong interest, of late, in reporting on corruption in Washington, is:
Why is the Washington Post not leading the investigative reporting on the Jefferson scandal? Where are the weekly front page stories from the Washington Post demanding that this man be exposed and removed from office? Where are the stories suggesting that he has no voice in representing his constituents back home - that he lost that right? Where are the "special reports" and interviews with the National Guard troops on the scene? Who ordered in that helicopter? Is Jefferson afraid of flying? Does he not trust our pilots? Oh, I'm sorry.. thought I read that he was a Republicanic.
All together now: if he ha
March 1, 2007 - 16:20 ET by dahliatraversAll together now: if he had been a Republican, it would have been in the first paragraph.
P.S. Senator Robert Byrd was once a member of the KKK. (Just trying to make up for all the times this isn't mentioned in the msm.)
Washington
March 1, 2007 - 20:51 ET by JoePThis crook shouldn't even be in the House, let alone on a committee where he can, once again, show that he's buy-able, like most of the other 534 members (minus about 20).
Frickin' shameful and it's almost like pelosi (harman, hoyer, Murtha, etc., from a few weeks ago) wants to look like a corrupt and weak leader, waiting for "someone else" to say "no frickin' way!"
Yep, Blinky put the vote off
March 1, 2007 - 20:59 ET by bigtimerYep, Blinky put the vote off because of the roll call vote the republicans are going to call for on this....she has put it off for a week or so, not sure, just bet he isn't going to get on that committee either...
Could be wrong...but looking pretty dim....heheheheee..
Now when the hell they gonna charge/indict the SOB?
Can you imagine if the situation were reversed? Hypocrites all.
Yeah right Blinky is going to make this new dem party the cleanest ever....
....uh-huh.
Wait a minute. Ninety grand
March 2, 2007 - 00:31 ET by dahliatraversWait a minute. Ninety grand cash in the freezer and this guy hasn't been indicted??