People know about affirmative action in universities, medicine, etc, but what about in government?
What does it mean when constituencies are more worried about their politicians looking like them than performance?
Here's the story of Eddie Jordan, New Orleans DA, 2003-2007 🧵
What does it mean when constituencies are more worried about their politicians looking like them than performance?
Here's the story of Eddie Jordan, New Orleans DA, 2003-2007 🧵
Jordan was at first a federal prosecutor. He oversaw the prosecution of Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards for corruption.
At the same time, he refused to prosecute politician Cleo Fields, even though the FBI had him on video stuffing $25K from Edwards into his pocket
At the same time, he refused to prosecute politician Cleo Fields, even though the FBI had him on video stuffing $25K from Edwards into his pocket
Why prosecute Edwards and not Fields? We may never know.
In 2002, Jordan was elected District Attorney of Orleans Parish.
Two weeks after taking office, his first priority was to fire 43 employees, of which 42 were white and 1 was Hispanic.
He went on to hire 68 people in their place, 92% of them black. nola.com
Two weeks after taking office, his first priority was to fire 43 employees, of which 42 were white and 1 was Hispanic.
He went on to hire 68 people in their place, 92% of them black. nola.com
Those who were fired included the majority of his investigative staff. The effects were described as "catastrophic." The blacks that replaced them had little or no experience.
Under Jordan, New Orleans would have the highest murder rate in the nation. nytimes.com
Under Jordan, New Orleans would have the highest murder rate in the nation. nytimes.com
Jordan was sued, and the fired employees were awarded $3.7 million.
Jordan couldn't pay the verdict, and the city wouldn't bail him out. It got to the point where the fired white employees were going to be able to start seizing the furniture of the DA office to get their money.
Jordan couldn't pay the verdict, and the city wouldn't bail him out. It got to the point where the fired white employees were going to be able to start seizing the furniture of the DA office to get their money.
Jordan therefore resigned in disgrace.
Employees of his office described a lack of office supplies like paper clips, phone lines that didn't work, and a DA who rarely showed up to work.
His only priority was apparently replacing white employees with black ones.
Employees of his office described a lack of office supplies like paper clips, phone lines that didn't work, and a DA who rarely showed up to work.
His only priority was apparently replacing white employees with black ones.
Under Jordan, in 2003 and 2004, the conviction rate for murder and attempted murder in New Orleans was 12%, compared to 80% nationwide. Again, this was in a city that was leading the country in murder. csmonitor.com
Days before his resignation, a New Orleans man robbed a liquor store. As it turned out, he had been "visiting" Jordan's girlfriend at the house that they shared, and then returned there after he was done.
As was usual in New Orleans, charges against the man were never pursued.
As was usual in New Orleans, charges against the man were never pursued.
After resigning in disgrace, Eddie Jordan returned to private practice.
Last time he was in the news, it was for allegedly slipping an envelope with drugs in it to his client while in court. nola.com
Last time he was in the news, it was for allegedly slipping an envelope with drugs in it to his client while in court. nola.com
It's important to note that Jordan maintained support throughout the black community while all this was going on. It's possible he would have been releected if he hadn't resigned after bankrupting his office with the civil rights lawsuit.
In July 2007, the community came out in support of Jordan, even after the civil rights lawsuit and years of neglecting to prosecute violent crime. What the NYT described as a "vociferous" black crowd denounced other politicians who tried to hold him accountable.
The story of Eddie Jordan is the story of the American inner city.
Racial voting leads to corrupt and incompetent politicians, who only feel pressure to give their constituents jobs.
Those they hire are incompetent, but that doesn't matter. As long as whites aren't in charge.
Racial voting leads to corrupt and incompetent politicians, who only feel pressure to give their constituents jobs.
Those they hire are incompetent, but that doesn't matter. As long as whites aren't in charge.
It's particularly tragic because the constituents are of course worse off. Eddie Jordan didn't hire that many people! There aren't enough city jobs to uplift black communities. And the whole city suffers from a high crime rate and government incompetence.
But that doesn't matter. Racial voting is psychological, not a matter of group self-interest. It's actually self-destructive.
This is the mistake white racialists make. "They look out for their own, we should do the same."
Yeah, look at how well that's worked out for them.
This is the mistake white racialists make. "They look out for their own, we should do the same."
Yeah, look at how well that's worked out for them.
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