Bushites

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary has made it known that anyone who doesn't like President Bush is not fit to receive federal funding.

On April 28 in Dallas, Texas, HUD's Secretary Alphonso Jackson was among the featured speakers at a forum sponsored by the Real Estate Executive Council.

He told of how after years of progress, HUD had improved its relationship with minority-owned businesses. Then he warned those in the majority that their kind was not so welcome at the government trough.

Jackson told of a man who after a decade of struggle had gotten his firm listed on the General Services Administration list, before finally being selected for a contract.

"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."