This Story Just Got Interesting

Have you been following the Alphonso Jackson story?

In a speech before a real estate group Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson boasted that he canceled a government contract with a business because the CEO was critical of President Bush. Jackson claimed the minority business was on the General Services list of approved vendors and "made a heck of a proposal." But upon meeting the contractor, Jackson learned that the contractor wasn't a Bush fan. "“Why should I reward someone who doesn't like the president, so they can use funds to try to campaign against the president?"

Well, turns out that Jackson broke the law by linking a love of Bush to government contracts. Think Progress has been all over this story.

His action also proved controversial with some members of Congress,

"“Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) called on President Bush to ask for the immediate resignation of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson if a report about government contracts being awarded based on the contractor's opinion of President Bush are accurate."

Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Barney Frank (D-MA) write Secretary Jackson: "“If this account is accurate, your comments were improper and most likely illegal. Federal contracts should be awarded based on merit, not on whether a contractor likes or dislikes President Bush."

I didn't post on this because, frankly, I didn't think it was surprising, and that it would blow over in a couple days. If Ds made a fuss, the right would mock them and dismiss the whole affair as commendable loyalty,.....Everyone does it, trying to manufacture a scandal, yada, yada, yada. I couldn't imagine the story would have traction with the public.

But now, Jackson claims he fabricated the entire story!

Before, loyal Bush secretary. Now, yet another liar and idiot in the Bush cabinet. The GOP will happily defend a loyalist, but an admitted liar? Known liars of course, but not admitted liars.

Now, the story has legs and just got interesting.

UPDATE: Josh's reader has yet another theory to explain Jackson's web of lies.