Cajun Chutzpah & the O'Keefe Affair
The tempest surrounding James O'Keefe, who got arrested this week in New Orleans after bungling a plot to tamper with the phones in Senator Mary Landrieu's New Orleans offices, temporarily bumped President Obama from the top of the public statement defending his "credibility as a journalist." Say what you want about O'Keefe's bonafides as well as his tactics. But he was looking in the right place.
When they write the history of the backroom arrangements which accompanied the cobbling together of the health insurance reform proposal, no deal was more rank than the sweetener (see Page 432) that Landrieu demanded in return for her vote. The Democrats, who were desperate, held their nose and paid the bribe. When reporters later wrote that Louisiana would reap an extra $100 million as a result of Landrieu's labors, she made sure to correct them: the accurate number would be closer to $300 million. (After all, you gotta keep the folks in the home district happy.)
It's that sort of chutzpah which has led to revulsion at Washington's self-indulgence and corruption. But taking the money wasn't the end of it. Instead of blaming herself for demanding a $300 million favor paid for by taxpayers outside of Louisiana, which justly became the subject of late-night jokes, Landrieu is blaming Obama.
"He should have been more clear, and I am hoping that in the next week or two he will because that is what it is going to take if it is at all possible to get it done," Landrieu told reporters. "Mailing in general suggestions, sending them over the transom, is not necessarily going to work... moderate Senate Democrats, who give the Senate the 60 votes, come from states that have to appreciate a broad range of ideas."
`Wat dat?'
After reading that quote, it's tempting to give O'Keefe's explanation the benefit of the doubt.
"I learned from a number of sources that many of Senator Landrieu's constituents were having trouble getting through to her office to tell her that they didn't want her taking millions of federal dollars in exchange for her vote on the healthcare bill. When asked about this, Senator Landrieu's explanation was that, `Our lines have been jammed for weeks.' I decided to investigate why a representative of the people would be out of touch with her constituents for "weeks" because her phones were broken. In investigating this matter, we decided to visit Senator Landrieu's district office – the people's office – to ask the staff if their phones were working.'"
Well, almost. O'Keefe still has to learn what's in and out of bounds. Even in the pursuit of a juicy story. But give him this much: he was looking in the right place.
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. When they write the history of the backroom arrangements which accompanied the cobbling together of the health insurance reform proposal, no deal was more rank than the sweetener (see Page 432) that Landrieu demanded in return for her vote. The Democrats, who were desperate, held their nose and paid the bribe. When reporters later wrote that Louisiana would reap an extra $100 million as a result of Landrieu's labors, she made sure to correct them: the accurate number would be closer to $300 million. (After all, you gotta keep the folks in the home district happy.)
It's that sort of chutzpah which has led to revulsion at Washington's self-indulgence and corruption. But taking the money wasn't the end of it. Instead of blaming herself for demanding a $300 million favor paid for by taxpayers outside of Louisiana, which justly became the subject of late-night jokes, Landrieu is blaming Obama.
"He should have been more clear, and I am hoping that in the next week or two he will because that is what it is going to take if it is at all possible to get it done," Landrieu told reporters. "Mailing in general suggestions, sending them over the transom, is not necessarily going to work... moderate Senate Democrats, who give the Senate the 60 votes, come from states that have to appreciate a broad range of ideas."
`Wat dat?'
After reading that quote, it's tempting to give O'Keefe's explanation the benefit of the doubt.
"I learned from a number of sources that many of Senator Landrieu's constituents were having trouble getting through to her office to tell her that they didn't want her taking millions of federal dollars in exchange for her vote on the healthcare bill. When asked about this, Senator Landrieu's explanation was that, `Our lines have been jammed for weeks.' I decided to investigate why a representative of the people would be out of touch with her constituents for "weeks" because her phones were broken. In investigating this matter, we decided to visit Senator Landrieu's district office – the people's office – to ask the staff if their phones were working.'"
Well, almost. O'Keefe still has to learn what's in and out of bounds. Even in the pursuit of a juicy story. But give him this much: he was looking in the right place.
Popular in Politics
- Officials on Benghazi: "We made mistakes, but without malice" 280 Comments
- FBI seeks anonymous source behind Menendez allegations
- Where is the Benghazi cover-up Republicans promised? 349 Comments
- Ousted IRS chief: "I did not mislead" the American people 253 Comments
- Why Obama should worry that current scandals might impact 2016 217 Comments
- House GOP to vote on Obamacare repeal - Vol. 37 928 Comments
- Immigration deal reached in House
- Obama: I didn't know about IRS report 608 Comments
Well then if so, here are some missed opportunities on which CBS can play catch-up:
Van Jones, Sidley Austin Law Firm, Arab Action Network, Ali Abunimah, Zulfan Adi, Saul Alinsky, Aiham Alsammarae, Rony Amir, Nadhmi Auchi, Myril Axelrod, David Axelrod, William Ayers, Black Muslims, Black Panther Party, Sekolah Dasar Negeri Besuki, David Brint, Chicago Annenberg Challenge, Cottage View Terrace Development Project-Chicago, Coalition Provisional Authority - Iraq, the Stokely Carmichael agenda, Abdelhamid Al Chaib, Noam Chomsky, Joseph Cirincionne, Eldridge Cleaver, James H. Cone, Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland, Frank Marshall Davis, Bernardine Dohrn, Frantz Fanon, Louis Farrakhan, Sam Graham-Felsen, Dwight N. Hopkins, Illinois Senate Bill 2165, Valerie Jarrett, Joyce Foundation, Jerry Kellerman, Rashid Khalidi, Mutual Bank of Harvey, Amrish Mahajan, Daniel Mahru, Robert Malley, Merrill "Tony" McPeak, Otis Moss III, Raila Odinga, Father Michael Pfleger, Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, Rezmar Real Estate Company, Antonin "Tony" Rezko, Josh Sugarmann, Woods Fund, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Malcolm X, Ahmed Yousef
The State-run News is predictable, yet again. Watch the decline.
After she got the money, he was silent when other Republicans took it as an opportunity to attack her.
As for this little sleaze bag O'keafe and his attempt to bug a U.S. Senator's phone, I trust that he will spend a long time in prison with the very people he hates most: minorities and the poor
That is justice well served.
I think the kids should have looked for a more clever way to get Landriu. The ACORN affair was sensational because it was so cleverly done. This was NOT very original nor was it clever.
What is your point?
I can see California, and Western states secede as one option. But the case for outright bankruptcy seems to be more likely option.
And why should other states shoulder the expense of these sweetheart deals?