Crook, or liar - you decide

So Bush's HUD secretary brags that he denied a contract to someone who told him that he didn't like the chimp.

"He had made every effort to get a contract with HUD for 10 years," Jackson said of the prospective contractor. "He 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 [chimp].'

"I said, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'I don't like [the chimp].' I thought to myself, 'Brother, you have a disconnect - the [chimp] is elected, I was selected. You wouldn't be getting the contract unless I was sitting here. If you have a problem with the [chimp], don't tell the secretary.'

"He didn't get the contract," Jackson continued. "Why should I reward someone who doesn't like the [chimp], so they can use funds to try to campaign against the [chimp]? Logic says they don't get the contract. That's the way I believe."

Problem is, that's illegal. Federal contracts are awarded based on merit, not regime loyalty (insert Halliburton joke here). After all, at least in theory, the regime is only the steward of the Federal government.

Needless to say, the Congressional Democrats are howling mad, while Rs are shrugging their shoulders and wondering what the big deal is; after all, if you don't think the sun and moon shine out of the chimperial asscrack, you hate America. Besides, they're probably jealous of every dollar they don't get to stuff in their own pockets.

But the law is the law, and HUD Boy is getting anxious, it seems. Which is why he now claims to have fabricated the entire story about denying the contract to the uppity contractor. His mouthpiece had the following to say:

"He was merely trying to explain to the audience how people in D.C., will say critical things about the secretary, will unfairly characterize the [chimp] and then turn around and ask you for money," [HUD mouthpiece] Tucker said. "He did not actually meet with someone and turn down a contract. He's not part of the contracting process."

So basically, it's presently unclear whether this particular cabinet secretary is a crook or just a liar. Then again, considering that chimperial staff normally match both descriptions, perhaps we should consider this a step in the right direction.