Housing Secretary Denies Rejecting Contract of Opponent

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, May 10 — The administration's housing secretary sought to head off a furor today over his recent account of scuttling a government contract because the person who was about to get it was critical of President Bush.
....
But in a statement this afternoon, Mr. Jackson said, "I deeply regret the anecdotal remarks," and he said that during his tenure "no contract has ever been rewarded, rejected or rescinded due to the personal or political beliefs of the recipient." He said his agency is committed to awarding contracts "on a stringent merit-based process."A spokeswoman for Mr. Jackson told the business journal on Tuesday that his story was just meant to illustrate how some people in Washington "will unfairly characterize the president and then turn around the ask you for money." The spokeswoman, Dustee Tucker, said the secretary "did not actually meet with someone and turn down a contract."

She added that Mr. Jackson was not involved in awarding contracts, a process that is overseen by a senior procurement officer, and that "politics does not play a part in who we advertise with or who we award contracts to."

Ms. Tucker offered a somewhat different account of the Dallas incident last Wednesday, telling the business journal then that Mr. Jackson had been referring to "an advertising contract with a minority publication," although she said she could not give its value.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/10/washington/10cnd-hud.html?ex=1304913600&en=e0c08444b0ab0e74&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[Geoff R. Casavant]

1. Shouldn't be too hard to confirm or debunk

I figure if it happened, there is someone out there who bid on a project with HUD to advertise in a minority publication, make the remark, and was subsequently turned down. If this person exists, then it won't be too long before he/she contacts someone to say, "Jackson's lying."

[annabanana]

10. If we had a "media" that actually looked for facts? no problem...

With a bunch of cocktail party animals looking to not make their friends "look bad".. We may never know.

[rodeodance]

2. so Jackson just made this up? now saying he did not even meet with

this person?! what a jackass~

"did not actually meet with someone and turn down a contract."

[MsMagnificent]

3. Anecdotes, Historical Documents, Fraternity Pranks...

Gosh, darn Democrats take words so darn literally!
Oh, and Deeds too.
You see, it really wasn't meant the WAY it was said or the WAY it was actually done... :eyes:

Compassionate Conservatism!
Culture of Life!
Heckuva job!
9-11!
9-11!

(Someone please, make them stop before my head explodes!) :cry:

[MadMaddie]

4. Umm...his Republican (black) ass is outta there....I said it...

yea I did....(What did he expect serving his Klan masters)

Fucking up while black in this administration is an invitation to go home and spend more time with the family......bwah...haw...haw... :rofl:
:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[demdiva]

5. Hahahahaha ... so funny (sarcasm)

Even the housing secretary can't have this bad a sense of humor! But can he really be THIS STUPID???

[MadMaddie]

7. It looks like anyone appointed by this administration......must

have a lack of credibility....and a stupid gene...that's the only way I can explain it....Honestly how many minorities support * 3% and dropping this guy would have to search high and low for minority companies that support *....

We are living in the Twilight Zone...

[AlamoDemoc]

6. Here's what he said:

Jackson 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."

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/10/1345200

[tanyev]

8. Whether it happened or not, that anecdote was used as a threat

and a warning to the audience.

[crickets]

9. Exactly

Please let Rove be arrested and locked up soon. Though it's very doubtful he's directly involved, he's taught so well by example. His mean, sweaty fingerprints are all over the sentiment behind this.