housing secretary denies contract to man who said: "I don't like Bush"

[dajoki]

NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/10/washington/10cnd-hud.html?ex=1304913600&en=414e0e400ab0dd08&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Housing Secretary Denies Rejecting Contract of Opponent

By DAVID STOUT
Published: May 10, 2006

WASHINGTON, May 10 — The administration's housing secretary sought to head off a furor today over his recent account of scuttling a government contract because the person who was about to get it was critical of President Bush.

Published reports quote Alphonso Jackson, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as telling a real estate forum in Dallas on April 28 about how he withdrew an advertising contract that was about to go to a deserving minority publisher.

Mr. Jackson and his aides have tried to portray his remarks as anecdotal, meant to illustrate how Washington works rather than a recounting of an actual incident. But a senator and two House members, all Democrats, have demanded a fuller accounting.

An account of Mr. Jackson's speech in the May 5-11 issue of the Dallas Business Journal has him describing someone who had been trying for a decade to land a contract with HUD.

"He made a heck of a proposal and was on the G.S.A. list, so we selected him," the secretary said, alluding to the Government Services Administration.

Mr. Jackson then recalled how the publisher came to see him in Washington to thank him and how the man then volunteered, "I don't like President Bush."

"He didn't get the contract," Mr. Jackson told the real estate forum, according to the Dallas publication. "Why should I reward someone who doesn't like the president, so they can use funds to try to campaign against the president? Logic says they don't get the contract. That's the way I believe."

[Erika]

1. So did W appoint a liar or an incompetent?

Or both? You want to do business with the Bush regime? Be prepared to say "Heil Bush" or you won't get the contract. These people, as shown, do not believe in freedom of speech without political ramifications.

Jackson should resign immediately. He again, is either a liar, an incompetent or both. Bush is not known for appointing qualified people.

[dajoki]

2. BOTH!!

[paulk]

3. this is the sort of thing DU should be talking about

not as much fun as trashing Democrats, I guess...

[TrogL]

4. AUDIT TIME!!!!

There are strict rules for the awarding of government contracts.

[dajoki]

5. Who will do it?