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Hispanic News
Calls for Jefferson to Resign
PHOENIX (By
Jon
Garrido, The Jon Garrido News
Network)
(Original article written
June 12, 2006)
November 14, 2009
― With so much at stake in
winning the 2006 Elections, Jefferson
has the moral and ethical responsibility
to do the right thing. With dilution of
due process and fundamental fairness as
a result of Republican amendments to
Senate Bill 2611, the majority of
applicants will not qualify making the
proposed legislation destined to fail.
No bill then becomes better than a bad
bill.
The Hispanic News position is for the
proposed immigration legislation to fail
in House Senate reconciliation with a
new bill emerging after the November
elections. The highest priority for
Hispanics now becomes institutional
change in Washington congressional
leadership by working with Democrats to
replace Republicans in the 2006
elections with the House as priority.
Planning is now underway for involvement
of Hispanic News by establishing the
Hispanic News Political Action Committee
where the Hispanic News PAC will focus
on 2006 elections in the southwest as it
gears up for 2008.
The Democratic national strategy of
exposing the Culture of Corruption as
evidenced by Rep. Randy "Duke"
Cunningham (R-Calif.) pleading guilty to
receiving $2.4 million in bribes is
crucial to winning the 2006 elections.
Winning in November is an uphill battle
judging from the GOP win in California's
50th House District this past week
without being hindered by Congressional
Democrats fighting for "presumption of
innocence" as a red herring in
protecting one of their own from being
associated with the Culture of
Corruption.
While Rep. William Jefferson of
Louisiana has not been indicted, two men
tied to Jefferson have been found guilty
in the probe. Additionally, the FBI
claims that it videotaped the Louisianan
last summer taking $100,000 in bribe
money and that agents later found
$90,000 of the money stashed in a
freezer in his home. With 90,000 dollars
found in his freezer, it is difficult to
justify a presumption of innocence.
What then has greater value: The
"presumption of innocence" or winning in
November?
The Congressional Black Caucus stated
Jefferson deserves a "presumption of
innocence" as it played the race card.
Race was a further complication in the
episode. Jefferson is black, and some
Democrats say black voters could be
alienated if he is forced aside.
Jefferson and the Congressional Black
Caucus that support him are using the
Separation of Powers and the
"presumption of innocence" to evade
prosecution. No one is above the law.
For someone to know the truth and yet to
hide behind constitutional safeguards
does not only a disservice to himself
but jeopardizes the outcome of the 2006
elections.
Jefferson is already tagged as a member
of the Culture of Corruption and this in
itself should suffice to have him
resign. For the Congressional Black
Caucus to defend Jefferson for what ever
reason places Jefferson above the need
to win the 2006 elections. This in
itself derails the Democratic strategy
to use the elimination of the Culture of
Corruption to win votes in November.
This is the second time in recent memory
where the Congressional Black Caucus
finds itself on the wrong side of
justice. Most recently it was
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, (D-Ga.)
stating the Capitol Police had violated
her rights as a member of congress.
If the Congressional Black Caucus
prevails in safeguarding Jefferson's
right of the "presumption of innocence,"
the double edge sword could alienate
Hispanic voters.
What does Jefferson have to do with
Hispanics?
For Hispanics, the most important task
is to change Washington leadership.
Favorable comprehensive immigration
reform can only be achieved by changing
House leadership thereby removing
committee chairmen such as James
Sensenbrenner. The welfare of millions
of undocumented immigrants from
achieving citizenship and providing for
their own welfare and of their families
is at stake. To have this dream
disappear like a puff of smoke would be
unforgivable and places America in a
moral dilemma.
It is time for the Democrats to get
their House in order.
To continue to support Jefferson, at the
risk of loosing the vote of those that
want change to eliminate the culture of
corruption but more importantly, to
change House leadership, is a formula
for disaster.
Using quid pro quo for votes in order to
make change in Washington, if Hispanic
voters recruited to vote for Democrats
realize Democrats condone membership in
the Culture of Corruption, Hispanic
voters will have no reason to vote in
2006.
We all understand the GOP wants to make
us all felons and deport us. Our only
hope is with Democrats but not if they
cut their own throats.
When Jefferson is found guilty and there
is no "if" here, particularly if this
were to occurred in October, the 2006
election opportunity will go down in
flames and not even a freezer full of
money will be enough to extinguish the
flames.
We as American Hispanics want to do our
part. The Democratic Congressional
leadership must do it's part to achieve
victory.
What then has greater value: The
"presumption of innocence" or winning in
November?
There is no infringement on the
"presumption of innocence" for this
falls into the realm of the court. The
court will decide Mr. Jefferson's
innocence or guilt; however, there is
already membership in the Culture of
Corruption as attested to in court
proceedings for the Jefferson aide and
for the other Jefferson business
partner.
The handwriting is on the wall. Let's
hope Jefferson does not take down with
him the 2006 election and in doing so,
place Hispanics at peril.
The stakes are too high in November and
Jefferson's continued presence in
Washington presumably would allow
Republicans to blur the issue in the
midterm elections. The truth about
Jefferson will eventually be determined
in a courtroom and for the sake of
winning the 2006 elections, he should
now resign or be forced out of office.
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