Being a realist is not the same as being a partisan. If you honestly think it’s a real good idea to criticize someone you’re asking for money from, you live in a nice idealistic world which bears no resemblence to how the real world operates. It operates that way regardless of who is in power. Please do not try and pretend the Dems would never do such a thing. I can recall incidents from Clinton’s years just for starters.

Jackson may have been – probably was – trying to get that across. But his delivery sucked. Frankly, I’m surprised he hasn’t already resigned. My point is he’s done a lot of good for a lot of people while in the position.

First off, whether the incident that Jackson recounted actually happened or not is somewhat besides the point. If it did happen, then maybe he is looking at jail time. But if it didnt happen, he still needs to be fired, because to leave him in place will leave the message that he delivered unrefuted – i.e. the message will stand that loyalty to Bush is a valid criterion for awarding federal contracts.

It is outrageous that his office has released a statement that basically claims that Jackson was not being serious about an actual incident, but was merely relating a parable about “how business is done in Washington DC”. Well, there you have it. A high ranking member of the administration sending out the message that partisan corruption is the modus operandi of the Bush administration. I might give him points for honesty there, but the Bush administration had damn well understand that the only way they can deny this characterization is demand his resignation immediatly. Even an abject apology, if he then remains in place, will be interpreted broadly as simply a punishment for a communications snafu, not a repudiation of the policy.

And what is this nonsense about his resignation hurting the minority community? Are you claiming that Jackson was an independent agent pushing greater black participation? Is this, or is this not a goal of the administration? Why do you assume that his successor will not continue to pursue this goal?