Republicans wooed Bill Jefferson to switch parties in 2004

[kpete]

Republicans wooed Bill Jefferson to switch parties in 2004
by RBH
Wed May 24, 2006 at 10:15:04 AM PDT
The following has been retrieved from the August 7th, 2004 New Orleans Times-Picayune, with the help of our friend LexisNexis:

U.S. Rep. William Jefferson of New Orleans must be a hot commodity these days.

After turning heads at the Democratic National Convention in Boston last week by serving up a blistering call to party leaders not to ignore black voters in their rush for "the elusive white male vote," the state's highest-ranking African-American politician said he was asked by Republican officials to switch parties.

If Jefferson ever were to cross the aisle to become a Republican, he would immediately be a star on the national scene as the only black Republican in Congress. But Jefferson said he decided to leave the Grand Old Party out in the cold. There is "not a chance" that he would even "entertain" a switch in parties, he said.

I forget the timeline here, so I don't know if Jefferson was stuffing cash in the freezer in the summer of 2004.

I'm sure the offer is off the table now a days. Even if Jefferson's most dedicated backers in DC have been Republicans.

more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/5/24/13154/5693

[MADem]

1. Wish he had n/t

[MrModerate]

2. Too bad he didn't take 'em up on it . . . n/t

[William769]

3. Well he sounds like a great candidate to be a repuke.

[The Deacon]

6. One way the Party can distance itself

Reply everytime a Repuke or MSM Whore brings up Jefferson, "Well you know the Republican Party was actively recruiting him."

[William769]

7. Very good idea.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[madinmaryland]

4. Heh heh heh. . . He would have been a perfect fit for them!!!

:rofl:

[chimpymustgo]

5. Hmmm...hellhath no fury like the RNC scorned?

I know Jefferson looks guilty as hell, but this whole episode isn't sitting right with me. Too pat. And I put nothing beyond the Rethugs. If Jefferson is guilty, he should pay...but I'm leary of the rush to judgement.

Thanks for this post.

[Doctor_J]

10. Bingo

it was either a raid or anthrax. Jefferson probably feels like he dodged a bullet.

[Old and In the Way]

8. Well, I can understand why he'd be a good candidate for the Republican

Syndicate. He has key attributes that would make him a Republican in good standing: Bribable and corrupt.

[zbdent]

9. dust the money for prints . . . you're likely to get a match from

some GOPers who are under investigation . . . or will be . . .

[texasleo]

11. lol

[spuddonna]

12. Wonder if Denny 'wooed' him with a frozen dinner box full of $20 bills...

lol Maybe THAT's why Hastert was so fired up about Jefferson's office being raided. Maybe Denny had sent some, "We'll make you an offer you can't refuse..." love notes with some $$$ attached?

Am I just wildly speculating? Sure! Is this a known unknown? You bet! :evilgrin:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

13. and James Trafficant was Rush's "favorite Democrat," too

they know which ones are likeminded

[leesa]

14. A little pay-back from the Morality Party?