Costly Words: 'I Don't Like President Bush'

[kurth]

Costly Words: 'I Don't Like President Bush'
By Al Kamen
Wednesday, May 10, 2006; Page A23

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson was back home in Dallas on April 28 giving a speech to minority real estate folks and offering a most interesting take on how business is done in Washington.

Jackson, former head of the Dallas Housing Authority, recounted a conversation he had in the nation's capital with a minority publisher.

"He had made every effort to get a contract with HUD for 10 years," Jackson said of the bidder, according to an account of the speech in the Dallas Business Journal. "He made a heck of a proposal and was on the GSA list, so we selected him. He came to see me and thank me for selecting him.

"Then he said something. . . . He said, 'I have a problem with your president.' I said, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'I don't like President Bush. ' I thought to myself, 'Brother, you have a disconnect -- the president is elected, I was selected. You wouldn't be getting the contract unless I was sitting here. If you have a problem with the president, don't tell the secretary.' "He didn't get the contract," Jackson continued. "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."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/09/AR2006050901593.html

[Lars39]

1. And that is why every one of bushco's appointees needs to be

ousted.

[ComerPerro]

2. And its why meerly impeachment won't be enough

[peacebird]

3. good grief....

[johnnie]

4. That shows you who is true to themselves

The guy probably knew by saying what he felt he might risk losing the bid, but did it anyway. Jackson is a paid whore and did what he did because he doesn't have the ability to separate politics and do what is right.

[Inland]

5. It's the K Street Project all the way. nt

[Richardo]

6. I'll give him this - he's a well-trained little monkey.

Karl's a goooood teacher.

[AndyA]

7. The majority of the people do not like President Bush.

And decisions should be made on what's best for the United States of America, not what's best politically. It's shit like this that opens the door to things like the Abramoff lobbying scandal. The temptation is so great, and no one knows where to draw the line once crossed.

Bush, all of his administration, and all of his appointees need to go. And this is yet another excellent example of why they all need to go.

[politicaholic]

8. Only a small % of minorities actually like the president...

Does that mean that a large % of minorities shouldn't get HUD benefits?

And the scholars thought machine politics was dead.

[upi402]

9. Huh? You mean a gov't organ penalizes political opponents?

Next someone will imply that the IRS targets people...

[depakid]

10. Something tells me that's illegal

just a thought for Mr. Jackson. Not that he cares- Republicans are mostly above the law these days. Mostly. But hopefully that will change and Jackon's Texas bragging will come back to bite him.

[Coyote_Bandit]

11. What was that contractor thinking?

Really. While the secretary's response was clearly inappropriate the contractor didn't exactly act in his own best interest. Sometimes it is wise not to share everything you think or know. At the very least it might have been prudent to withhold his thoughts until the contracts were actually signed and binding.