I Don't Believe I Would Have Said That

HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson told a story recently as part of a speech to business leaders in Dallas. His tale was about a potential government contractor who he discovered was critical of President Bush. So, despite being clearly qualified, the contract was rescinded. And apparently Jackson feels this is right. He said, "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."

We kind of expected this to be the case but didn't really expect them to boast about it. It is illegal after all. Not that legality has been much of a roadblock for this Administration. He and the White House are now backtracking and say the story was made-up. As Bush's own hometown Waco Tribune-Herald news says, "Law-breaking or lying - either way, it's wrong."

Several Stories on the subject:
Kleptocracy
Bush's hometown paper
Washington Post