The contest for the 2nd Congressional District is not over. Given that there are 5 candidate running, and that voting does not end until Dec. 6, there may still be time for a surprise. I don't know if Louisiana law would require a runoff, or allow someone to win the election with a very low plurality. Be that as it may, in this predominantly black district, the question posed by Bruce Dixon at the Black Agenda Report may be answered.
In an editorial this week, Bruce Dixon, Managing Editor of the Black Agenda Report poses a serious question for voters, black voters in particular. and for the Democratic Party. (bold emphasis by me)
The December 6 New Orleans congressional election isn't just a local choice between a privatizing "minority" Republican, a notoriously corrupt Democrat and a caring, competent community organizer running on the Green Party ticket. In these times when anyone, anywhere can contribute to the efforts of real progressives with the click of a mouse, or volunteer to reach undecided voters, the days leading to this election are a test of whether there exists even the shadow of a national movement mature enough to hold any black Democrats the least bit accountable to the needs of his constituents.
There are 5 candidates contesting this seat. The incumbent, Democrat William Jefferson, has major ethical problems and is facing multiple charges of being bribed and other matters of corruption. His opponents include a Republican Vietnamese Lawyer, a Libertarian Retired Civil Servant, an independent life insurance salesman and a Green black community organizer.
Dixon has big problems with the Republican Party, even though Ahn Cho, the Republican candidate rarely mentions his party affiliation when campaigning.
Richard Baker, a prominent Republican Congressman from this city, had told a group of lobbyists, "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. 'We couldn't do it, but God did.'
He has a similar problem with the political gamesmanship of Nancy Pelosi.
Nancy Pelosi, the leader of Dollar Bill Jefferson's Democratic party in Congress saw a trap. She wanted to blame Republicans, but she feared holding hearings to expose the homicidal incompetence and indifference of government would tie congressional Democrats to the cause of black New Orleans in the minds of voters nationwide. Better, from her point of view, to leave that alone.
In the end, he supports the black community organizer, Malik Rahim.
This is expected to be a low turnout election. It will depend on who can turn out their voters. Even with the lack of enthusiasm for Jefferson that has been evidenced in national Democratic circles, like this site, I would guess that he will be returned to Congress. Then, Pelosi has another problem. Does she mouth words about "innocent until proven guilty" and allow Jefferson to be seated until he is found guilty, or do they take a very public high road and expel him? I would guess the former. She will also seat Jefferson on some committees, but hopefully not the Committee on Homeland Security as she did last year.
Of course, the question posed by Dixon is just as applicable to DKOS as it is to any other group with national scope.