"...fraud is as much a part of the fabric of Louisiana as it is in Iraq..." LARRY CRAIG

[SoCalDem]

File his current troubles under...K...for Karma


Senator: LA is as Corrupt as Iraq

Oct 18, 2005 01:31 PM

WASHINGTON - A Republican senator from Idaho is the latest to invoke Louisiana's reputation for political corruption as Congress considers whether to spend billions of dollars on hurricane recovery.

Sen. Larry Craig told his home state constituents that fraud is as much a part of the fabric of Louisiana as it is in Iraq and that flooded sections of New Orleans should be abandoned.

"Fraud is in the culture of Iraqis. I believe that is true in the state of Louisiana as well," Craig was quoted as saying in the Lewiston (Idaho) Morning Tribune on Thursday. He was also quoted in the McCall (Idaho) Star News, saying "Louisiana and New Orleans are the most corrupt governments in our country, and they always have been... . A rookie cop in New Orleans, they pay him or her $17,000 starting pay and then wink and say you better make the rest of it on the street."

As a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Craig is in a position to back up his words with actions by withholding support for hurricane-related spending. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., blasted Craig's comments as "old stereotypes" and "ignorant remarks." But Louisiana's sleazy political past has clearly become part of the hurricane recovery debate in Congress.
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=3990310

[texastoast]

1. Fraud is in politics, period n/t

[youngdem]

2. As a Louisiana native and near life long resident, including a current resident of NOLA

He ain't wrong. Corruption I think was invented here. At least it was perfected.

[southern_belle]

3. kicking for karma!