Subscribe to DiversityInc today!
This Web Accessibility icon serves as a link to download
eSSENTIAL Accessibility assistive technology software for individuals with physical disabilities


Corporate Options
Newsletter Sign Up
Log In
DiversityInc Magazine | Special Sections | Vendor Directory | Webinars | Benchmarking | Find a Job | Post a Job
DiversityInc Top 50 | Diversity Management | Affirmative Action | Career Advice | Legal | Diversity Resources | Regional Top Companies for Diversity
Site Sponsors
Deloitte
Marriott
Home Depot
Bank of America
Cox Communications
Well Point
KPMG
Verizon
Aetna
PWC




You are here: DiversityInc | Diversity News Free | Do They All Look Ali . . .

Do They All Look Alike? FOX News Shows Wrong Black Congressman Indicted

By Aysha Hussain

 e-mail article | print print | post comments | NEWSLETTER

June 05, 2007

Last night, FOX News reported on one of the biggest corruption cases in U.S. history, but the news channel apparently thinks all black Congressmen look alike. While telling the story of Democratic Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson's indictment of 16 counts of bribery, the channel showed the picture of long-time Michigan Congressman John Conyers, also a Democrat but certainly not in any trouble.

 

Jefferson has temporarily stepped down from his post on the House Small Business Committee.

 

TPM Media, the Talking Points Memo, was one of the first to expose the FOX News broadcast, as reported on AlterNet.com. Watch the video. In the video, TMP's Joshua Micah Marshall contended that only a few weeks ago, FOX portrayed black people as fraudulent voters. FOX told USA Today that it was an "inadvertent error" and said it plans to apologize to Conyers during this afternoon's news broadcast.

 

Conyers is a very well-respected longtime leader, who has served in the House since 1965 and in January became chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He is considered one of the most liberal members of Congress.

 

Jefferson, Louisiana's first black congressman since the end of Reconstruction, reportedly used his office to broker business deals in Africa, allegedly receiving more than $500,000 and millions more in bribes. He is the first U.S. official to face charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corporate bribery overseas.

 

Jefferson is being indicted for bribery, including racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money laudering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi already has decided that if he is found guility, he will be stripped from his seat.

 

"If these charges are proven true, they constitute an egregious and unacceptable abuse of public trust and power," said Pelosi. "Democrats are committed to upholding a high ethical standard and eliminating corruption and unethical behavior from the Congress."

 

But Democrats fear Pelosi's fierce ousting may result in a rift between House relations and black lawmakers such as the Congressional Black Caucus, who have sided with Jefferson throughout his two-year controvery, which began after $90,000 in cash was found in his Washington, D.C., home.

No decision has been made on what will happen to Jefferson. However, Democratic committee members will gather later this week to consider whether to remove Jefferson from his last committee post: a seat on the Small Business Committee.

While some senior House Democratic leadership aides say Jefferson will almost certainly be dropped, other leaders including Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., House Democratic Caucus chairman, said Jefferson may be requested to resign from the House, reports The Washington Post.

"I can't imagine that based on what's happened and what we've done [on ethics-rule changes and lobbying legislation] that at the very least, he'll be asked to step down from committee," said Emanuel. "We've set down a pretty clear marker about what's going to be expected."

 

 

More Free Diversity News >>




 e-mail article | print print | post comments | NEWSLETTER

Send Your Comments About This Article Now

First Name:

Last Name:
Your E-Mail Address
Message Subject
Message:

Clicking "Send Message" registers your e-mail address to
receive DiversityInc's Free Daily Newsletter.


©DiversityInc. Reproduction in any format is absolutely prohibited.


click here to ask a question | click here to read recent Q&A
Click here to follow Luke Visconti on

Click here to view the video below


Click here to view the video below



Click here to view the video below



Click here to view the video below
Most Popular Articles on DiversityInc
Things 'to' Say to LGBT Coworkers

The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity®: Where Are They Headquartered?

2009 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity®

How Do You Make the Most of an Informational Interview?

Is a White Immigrant From Africa Really an African American?

Press Releases
Wal-Mart Teams with the NALEO Educational Fund to Help Build Healthier America
Procter & Gamble and World Vision Team-Up To Respond To Pakistan Humanitarian Crisis With Clean Drinking Water
Reps. Velázquez, Israel & Serrano Introduce National Hate Crimes Hotline Legislation
600K Summer Jobs: Obama and Biden Announce Roadmap to Recovery

More Popular Articles on DiversityInc
Alpha Kappa Alpha: From Sorority Sisters to Career Coaches

Coming Out … Again

Job Hunting? Ways to Leverage Diversity

LGBT Pride Month: Get the Facts

Obama Won't Be First Black President

10 Things NEVER to Say to a Black Coworker

7 Things NEVER to Say to LGBT Coworkers

Things Never to Say to ANY Coworkers

Internship Do's & Don'ts

Same-Sex Marriage: It's Not About Religion, It's About the Law

The High-School Dropout Crisis: What Are the Solutions?

The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees List

The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities List

4 Things NEVER to Say to Someone Who Just Lost a Job

Business From a People Perspective
Join Now! | Log In | Contact Us | Post Jobs | Magazine | Advertise/Media Kit | Writer's Guidelines | About Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map
Legal | Research & Reference | Financial Literacy | Foundation | Webinars
Thanks for visiting
DiversityInc.com!
To continue viewing free articles on our site and in our newsletter, please enter your e-mail address in the box.
E-mail

Welcome to DiversityInc Careers
Join Now to Avoid Pop-Ups. Save 50%!
Choose a Premium Subscription Here.

FREE Memberships
We never reveal, share or sell member information. For complete details, see our Privacy Statement.