HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, speaking before a group of minority executives in Dallas, had this to say about his interaction with an applicant for a government contract who voiced opposition to the president:
“[This contractor] made a heck of a proposal and was on the (General Services Administration) list, so we selected him. He came to see me and thank me for selecting him. Then he said something … he said, ‘I have a problem with your president.’
“I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘I don’t like President Bush.’ I thought to myself, ‘Brother, you have a disconnect — the president is elected, I was selected. You wouldn’t be getting the contract unless I was sitting here. If you have a problem with the president, don’t tell the secretary.’
“He didn’t get the contract,” Jackson continued. “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.”
Wow. We had a hard time believing Secretary Jackson actually said these things (although his honesty is refreshing). After talking to a HUD source, we find it less difficult to fathom. The results of our investigation appear after the jump.
Here’s what we learned from our operative:
* Before taking the helm at HUD, Jackson ran three different housing authorities, all of which had serious problems — some related to his (mis)management of them.
* He is “a sleazy character,” and a close friend of Marion Barry.
* When he arrived at HUD, he initiated a staff shake-up that resulted in the departure of several highly regarded career employees.
* As for why he said what he said in Dallas, “Jackson probably thought that it was safe for him to speak candidly to a group of minority executives — his fellow ‘brothers and sisters.’ But he shouldn’t have assumed that no press members were present. That was pretty dumb!”
HUD Secretary’s Blunt Warning [Dallas Business Journal]
Earlier: From the Admirable Candor Department
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