Brother, you have a disconnect -- the president is elected, I was selected.
May 11, 2006 3:40 PM   Subscribe

 
Ack. Not a loan. A contract. Weep. I'm an idiot. I'm going to go hide in the Idiot Shed.
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:41 PM on May 11, 2006


He later claimed to have been joking.

lol
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 3:42 PM on May 11, 2006


Wasn't this, like, Monday's news?
posted by rxrfrx at 3:43 PM on May 11, 2006


I like their final tagline, paraphrased as "so their defense is he's a liar?"
posted by nomisxid at 3:47 PM on May 11, 2006


Before I read the article, I was expecting this to be some clearly misunderstood joke; a carelessly thrown-off one-liner. But no; the guy told a detailed story about how he denied a contract because of the applicant's political affiliations and ended the story by saying "that's the way I believe".

Why in the world would he do that? Was he trying to impress the audience or something? I mean, maybe he had a big shiteating grin on his face the whole time he was telling the story, but reading the text, is sure doesn't seem like a joke. If it is untrue, it seems like he was trying to puff himself up, make himself out as a tough guy. Weird.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:07 PM on May 11, 2006


Read it again. The guy didn't say he didn't do it. He said he would LIKE to be able to ASSURE you that he didn't do it, and that all contracts are awarded fairly.

Well, yes, I'm sure he WOULD like to be able to assure us of that.

He almost appears to have done so, unless you believe what he said.

This is very typical of people trying to avoid perjury. They say exactly crafted words about what they wish they could in fact tell you, omitting the obvious fact that they can't tell you those things because they'd be lying.
posted by hank at 4:20 PM on May 11, 2006 [1 favorite]


All we really need here is for this snubbed contractor to come forward. Now if it turns out that Jackson has already been in contact with him regarding this matter within the last week or so we got a doosey of a story. Otherwise it'll be over in a couple of days.
posted by 2sheets at 4:26 PM on May 11, 2006


hank writes "Read it again. The guy didn't say he didn't do it. He said he would LIKE to be able to ASSURE you that he didn't do it, and that all contracts are awarded fairly."

I'm not seeing that. Maybe I'm reading a different article? Could you post that quote here?
posted by mr_roboto at 4:38 PM on May 11, 2006


To quote the article

"I deeply regret the anecdotal remarks I made ... and would like to reassure the public that all HUD contracts are awarded solely on a stringent merit-based process. During my tenure, no contract has ever been awarded, rejected or rescinded due to the personal or political beliefs of the recipient."

The first half of that meets the non-denial denial standard. The second half is a little closer to a denial. . . but it leaves wiggle room, like "it wasn't denied based on the political beliefs" it was denied due to the expression of those beliefs. In a previous job I was told that I was allowed to have beliefs, just not express them and the difference between the two.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:44 PM on May 11, 2006


Are you saying that because he uses the construction "would like" he's not really reassuring the public that all HUD contracts &c.? I've never heard that construction used as an legal loophole before.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:57 PM on May 11, 2006


From the article: Then he said something ... he said, 'I have a problem with your president,' " the secretary continued.

Businessmen don't just volunteer their political views in business settings -- it just isn't polite and rarely done. The more likely story is that the secretary hit him up for a kickback donation to Bush and the Republican Party and the man refused.
posted by JackFlash at 4:58 PM on May 11, 2006


Funny how he uses the word "anecdotal" as if he want to imply "apocryphal," but he can't say that since it really is an anecdote.
posted by found missing at 5:02 PM on May 11, 2006


"I did not have contractual relations with that businessman."
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:24 PM on May 11, 2006


...due to the personal or political beliefs of the recipient Secretary"?
posted by five fresh fish at 5:48 PM on May 11, 2006


His spokeswoman is a hottie...
posted by SweetJesus at 6:14 PM on May 11, 2006


So from this quote it sounds like it really happened:

Early yesterday: Tucker tells the Dallas Morning News that Alphonso Jackson was referring to a real contract that was canceled. She even provided additional details of Jackson’s encounter with the contractor that Jackson did not mention during his April 28 speech: “When first asked about the episode Tuesday, Ms. Tucker spoke as if the contractor existed, saying he had approached Mr. Jackson ‘trashing, in a very aggressive way’ him and the president.”
posted by doctor_negative at 6:36 PM on May 11, 2006


His spokeswoman is a hottie...

And her friend is absolutely scary...
posted by doctor_negative at 6:37 PM on May 11, 2006


And the backwash continues to shrink.
posted by EarBucket at 8:20 PM on May 11, 2006


"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," he concluded.

This reasoning can be equally applied to any form of financial reward whatsoever, including employment, renting, buying from their store, etc. This is why the concept of ethical use of power exists. An unethical person cannot be trusted with power: they will use it to advantage their own kind and disadvantage others, rather than using it for the purpose for which the power is granted.

The Bush administration's disregard for ethics is the reason why they and their lickspittles, like the specimen in the link, need to be removed from power.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 8:56 PM on May 11, 2006


From gawker:

Man: Yeah, Doug. Doug, the one whose contract you denied because I said I didn't like your President when you were hitting me up for a contribution. Doug, the guy whose small business went tits up because I missed out on that RFP. Doug, the guy who will bet you two column inches in the New York Times that I can prove your little anecdote was not exactly, you know, an anecdote.

Alfie: (Panicked) Doug, my man! Good to hear from you! Uh, hold on one second. (Putting hand over phone, hollering to his secretary) Barbara, get Dustee in here, now! I got a PR night mare!

Barbara: Sorry, Mr. Secretary, she's off at The Limited looking for more geometric back and white tops.

Alfie: (shaking fist) I'll get you Dusteeeee!



hehehe
posted by delmoi at 9:13 PM on May 11, 2006


Gee, I don't remember Fark having a royal blue background.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 11:53 PM on May 11, 2006


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