He was given a "pass" by voters in 2006 after his scandal broke and re-elected - but not this time.
From Yahoo News --
In a speech that was gracious but stopped short of concession, Jefferson blamed low voter turnout for his showing and said supporters may have thought he was a shoo-in after he won a Nov. 4 primary in the predominantly black and heavily Democratic district.
"I think people just ran out of gas a bit," he said. "People today flat didn't come out in large numbers."
Greg Rigamer, a New Orleans political consultant, said his analysis showed turnout in predominantly white sections of the district was double that in black areas. He said that helped push Cao to victory over Jefferson, who became Louisiana's first black congressman since Reconstruction when he took office in 1991.
Amazing! I guess Jefferson lost because of race - right? Bull!
In light of Obama's election and the black voter turnout for him - I would say the black voters did not turn out for Jefferson because they realized he was a crook!
There was a low black voter turnout because Jefferson gave them no reason to come out and vote for him. Plus I would imagine the black voters lost faith in him. So he lost, not because of the white voters, but because he is most likely a crook and his supporters did not support him.
The black voters not coming out to vote for Jefferson is the same as a vote against him.
To be honest Ralph, Jefferson's assessment is probably closer to the truth than yours. Black voters have a long history of supporting Black candidates blindly against non-Blacks, even if they have been charged with or convicted of serious crimes. My guess is that the real story here is that the two floods in New Orleans have caused a sharp decline in the overall Black population in Jefferson's district, and that the District really isn't majority Black any longer. I don't think it has anything at all to do with Black voters being aghast at a Black politician for corruption. Believe me, that never happens when the alternative is not Black.
ReplyDeleteI could buy this to a certain extent.
ReplyDeleteBut I still like to try and keep what little faith in people I have left. I guess that is the ONE nice thing there is about me. LOL
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ReplyDeleteNo one starts out by stuffing tens of thousands of dollars in their freezer, being taped receiving $100, 000 on video tape, other related alleged felonies. This behavior has to start somewhere.
ReplyDeleteCase in point Councilman Robert White (D, Cleveland) has admitted through his lawyer of taking a $500 bribe. He is already discussing resigning, so he is basically admitting guilt. Giving Councilman White the benefit of the doubt let's say that was his first and only bribe (big a$$umption).
Now, do you honestly think it would stop with a measly $500? Probablly not. If he did not take other bribes I am willing to bet the farm containing the pigs being used to make the chittlins for REv. Otis Moss' tribute that White (the councilman) would take more bribes.
I am going to have to say that Rep. Dennis Kucinich hit-the-nail-on-the-head when he said that Councilman Joe Cimperman's (D, Cleveland) primary fund raising was a symptom of a "culture of corruption at Cleveland City Hall."
The TRUTH of the matter is that $1, 000's of dollars raised by Cimperman are merely bribes he can not be indicted for. No time to elaborate.
huh?
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