Breaking: Inspector General Opens Review of HUD Secretary

[kpete]

BREAKING: Jackson ‘Deeply Regrets’ His ‘Anecdotal Remarks’; Inspector General Opens Review
On April 28, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson told a real estate group that he had canceled a government contract because the contractor criticized President Bush. (If true, Jackson’s conduct appears to violate federal law.)

ThinkProgress has learned that HUD Inspector General Kenneth M. Donohue, Sr. has opened an investigation into Jackson’s conduct.

We have also obtained a statement issued by Jackson a short while ago:

I deeply regret the anecdotal remarks I made at a recent Texas small business forum and would like to reassure the public that all HUD contracts are awarded solely on a stringent merit-based process. During my tenure, no contract has ever been awarded, rejected, or rescinded due to the personal or political beliefs of the recipient.

Jackson now says his remarks were “anecdotal.” This seems to be in conflict with the latest statement from his spokeswoman, Dustee Taylor, who said Jackson told “a made up story.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/10/jackson-investigation/

[AndyA]

1. I hope his smug little ass gets fried good.

What a piece of crap. Following in the shadows of his hero, George Bush.

[gatorboy]

2. And Kerry is labeled the flip flop?

These people friggin' invented the term!

K&R!

[blm]

3. WOOHOO>

.

[TahitiNut]

4. Even saying it (if merely a bad joke) creates the coercion.

It makes little difference if they are "merit-based" when such a remark causes applicants to make contributions and cease criticizing this regime. In and of itself, such a remark is intimidation and an abuse of authority, stifling free speech and extorting support. The man should be fired, fined, and imprisoned. Junior people in the regime are influenced as well - knowing which side "butters their bread" will act as influence over their decisions.

It's like pointing a handgun - it makes little difference if it's not loaded. It's a threat.

[stillcool]

10. Great analogy....

Now...if I had a nickel for every lie....

[stop the bleeding]

5. Good

the more of these types that end up gone out of our Government, the better.B-)

[reality based]

6. Give me a break. When do they reach the tipping point with their

endless lying and evasion?

[Roland99]

7. Jackson is a moran. Probably meant rhetorical, not anecdotal.

[Lisa0825]

8. how does that ol'saying go?

sumthin'about "even the appearance of impropriety?

[sonias]

9. Alphonso Jackson should just step down now

He made up the story now, huh? Well let's hear what the Texas small business person has to say.

Sonia