Let 'em Fight

As a Republican-leaning mini-pundit, it was embarrassing to see Majority Leader Hastert defend Rep. William Jefferson's right to be bribed. But, as expected, the Congressional Black Caucus has magically transformed embarassment to entertainment:

WASHINGTON -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi juggled competing political goals on Friday, seeking to drain racial tension from her attempt to strip embattled Rep. William Jefferson of his committee seat. Facing a showdown next week that he is likely to lose, Jefferson, D-La., signaled anew he will not step aside voluntarily, and some fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus spoke out on his behalf.

"The Black Caucus takes exception when we become the exception to the rule. We want the same standards," said Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J. He noted that the Louisianan has denied wrongdoing in a federal bribery probe and has not been indicted. At the same time, several officials said that Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, who is black, was the lawmaker who formally proposed at a closed-door meeting Thursday night that Jefferson be stripped of his committee assignment. Lewis, who first gained fame as a civil rights pioneer in the 1960s, declined to comment.

Culture of corruption???? Stop, that is racist. But please, Rep. Hastert, did the liberal Congresswoman from California steal your testicles?