Nuclear Bomb In Louisiana AG Race

Photo source: The Dead Pelican

Tonight, Louisiana Record is reporting that Buddy Caldwell has approved millions in payments of taxpayer money to his supporters.

 BATON ROUGE — On television ads endorsing Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell for re-election, Paul Connick says a lot — but he never acknowledges that Caldwell approved $1.7 million in payments to his private practice. 

Connick is Jefferson Parish’s district attorney and his law firm has received 59 contracts from the Louisiana Office of Risk Management. By law, Caldwell’s office selects and appoints outside attorneys with the Office of Risk Management’s agreement. These contracts, and the potential conflict of interest they represent, have not been reported previously.

Another Caldwell ad features an endorsement from the powerful Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association without revealing that the association’s general counsel, T. Allen Usry, or his law firm Usry Weeks & Matthews, received more than $7 million worth of legal work at the direction of Caldwell’s staff and 11 other lucrative contracts. Usry, a prominent New Orleans trial lawyer, also is a former campaign manager for Caldwell. Usry has raised  $85,000 for Caldwell’s campaigns.

Landry has been running a campaign highlighting the unethical practices of Caldwell while holding the office.

Buddy Caldwell and Huey P. Long

A great video showing the similarities between two of the most corrupt politicians to ever "serve" in Louisiana.  

The Preacher and the Politicians

Photo source:  fbcpollock.org

I don’t endorse political candidates.  I do my best to hold them accountable.  I am not a politician.  I am a preacher.  Political spin and posturing make me nauseous.  The last thing most politicians want is to go on record and be held accountablefor their campaign promises, but that is exactly what I intend to extract from them.

My wife, Patricia Gunter, briefly served as the Justice of the Peace in District D of Grant Parish.  When she was elected to office, she swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States.  Four months later, the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage to be a constitutional right.  As a Christian who believes in the biblical definition of marriage, Trish was unable to uphold her oath of office which apparently required her to officiate same-sex marriages, so sheimmediately resigned  from office.  My wife didn’t make a very good politician.

A few days later, The Baton Rouge Advocate interviewed my wife and published an article about her resignation from office.  In that same article, the newspaper reported that the office of Attorney General Buddy Caldwell was advising Justices of the Peace that they were required to marry same-sex couples because “it’s their job. They are expected to do their job. It could be an ethics violation, if they don’t.”

A few months later, I was invited to a private “Meet and Greet” event with Mr. Caldwell.  I initially hesitated to attend, but I decided I had to go and ask him if the newspaper report was true.  After his speech, I was the first person to ask the Attorney General a question.  I read the reported quote and asked him: “Is it true that you said that public officials with the power to marry are required to officiate same-sex marriages even if doing so would violate their sincerely-held religious beliefs?”  In the typical style of a true politician, Mr. Caldwell spoke for several minutes in response to my question, but he failed to give me a direct answer.  So I asked a follow-up question: “In your legal opinion, do you believe that the First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty exempts a public official from officiating same-sex marriages if doing so would violate his or her sincerely-held religious beliefs?”  His answer was an astounding: “No.”  Mr. Caldwell explained that he does not personally believe in same-sex marriage, but the law now requires that a public official with the power to marry must officiate wedding ceremonies for both heterosexual and same-sex couples.

After the meeting was dismissed, Mr. Caldwell approached me to further discuss his stance.  I told him that I was very disappointed in his answer.  I referenced the arrest and incarceration of Kim Davis, a Clerk of Court in Kentucky, for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses as evidence that this newly declared “constitutional right” to same-sex marriage poses an imminent threat to the religious liberty of thousands of Americans.  I warned that his position effectively requires that all Bible-believing Christians can no longer hold a publicoffice which  grants them the power to marry.  I demonstrated this would establish a religious requirement that any public official with the power to marry must reject the teaching of the Bible and affirm same-sex marriage.  I told Mr. Caldwell that I expect my Attorney General to defend the religious liberties of the people he was elected to serve.  After many empty assurances, Mr. Caldwell refused to make any commitment to take that stand.

Last week, I received a phone call from Jeff Landry.  He told me that he heard about my conversation with Buddy Caldwell, and Mr. Landry assured me that if he is elected Attorney General he will lead the fight to defend the religious liberties of everyone in Louisiana.  He told me that no one should be forced to quit their job or face fines and possible incarceration because they refuse to violate their religious convictions.  Mr. Landry told me that if he had been in office, he would have defended my wife’s religious liberty and assured her that she did not have to quit her job simply because she is a Christian who cannot in good conscience marry same-sex couples.

I know politicians will often say whatever is needed to win an election, and then not keep their promises once in office.  However, I personally spoke to two of the candidates running for Attorney General.  Buddy Caldwell essentially told me that Christian public officials with the power to marry must forfeit their religious liberty or resign from office.  Jeff Landry told me that no person should ever be required to violate their religious convictions.  I know there aren’t any guarantees when we elect a politician, but this preacher has decided to vote for the one candidate who promised to defend my religious liberty.

Brian Gunter

Pastor 

First Baptist Church of Pollock

Woody Jenkins, Paid Political Hack, Former Democrat and Caldwell Shill

Photo source: CSPAN

Woody Jenkins is a paid political operative, former Democratic Party official, failed candidate, and shill for Buddy Caldwell’s distortion campaign.

Jenkins was a decade-long Democrat legislator, who ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate in 1978 and 1980. He conveniently switched parties to run and lose again for U.S. Senate in 1996.  Jenkins was also fined thousands by the Federal Election Commission for concealing $82,500 for a David Duke phone bank. He later lost again at a run for U.S. House of Representatives.

But Woody's epic failures have not deterred him from staying involved in politics. Nope, he is a paid political operative who will run negative campaigns against opponents of his paying clients.

The latest case shows how Jenkins, just like Caldwell, can't leave his Democrat roots.

Woody has launched political propaganda filled with lies and distortions against proven conservative Jeff Landry on behalf on lifelong Democrat Buddy Caldwell.

Jenkins operates what he calls a news service and newspaper, so he can profit from his political attacks.  His "reports" are nothing more than an old-school, good-old-boy, Democrat hit jobs against someone we all know and trust.

Lies like these clearly didn't work for Jenkins in the past and they won't this time either. We've learned about Caldwell's corrupt Buddy System and know it must end. This latest Jenkins smear campaign has us even more energized to back the honest, ethical, and conservative Jeff Landry.

Jeff Landry is a successful attorney who has handled millions of dollars in legal cases.  He has worked in multiple Louisiana court jurisdictions.  And even Mr. Jenkins has been forced to admit, Jeff Landry worked for one of Louisiana’s top law firms.

After Jeff Landry was successfully elected as a Republican to Congress with more than 60% of the vote, taking a seat held by the Democrats, Landry was no longer connected to Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith.

Working for Buddy Caldwell, Mr. Jenkins claims that Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith worked for the Attorney General’s office starting in March 2011.

In March 2011, Jeff Landry was already making national and state news for his efforts in Congress where he fought Obama’s federal overreach.

Failed Democratic politician Woody Jenkins, like Caldwell, can now claim he is a Republican.

The facts are Mr. Jenkins is a failed Democratic politician just like corrupt Buddy Caldwell.

Landry Campaign Unleashes New Video Highlighting Caldwell's Liberal Tendencies

In what's the latest jab at Buddy Caldwell's history of support of liberal politicians, Jeff Landry issued this video highlighting Caldwell's "love" of Mary Landrieu, the recently vanquished Senator from Louisiana,

The Public Integrity Alliance and Solution Fund Release "The Buddy System"

Photo source: YouTube

The "BuddySystem" in the Louisiana Attorney General's Office has drawn the attention of the  Public Integrity Alliance. Louisiana deserves better than another corrupt state politician.

Solutions Fund PAC Supporting Jeff Landry in AG Race

A newly formed PAC is coming out in support of Jeff Landry in his bid to defeat Buddy Caldwell in the Louisiana Attorney General's race.  This group touts Caldwell's liberal past and Landry's conservative credentials. 

Information can be found here on this group.

LSU College Republicans Endorse Jeff Landry for LA Attorney General

Photo source: Facebook

In a Facebook release, the group had the following to say regarding their endorsement of Landry over incumbent Buddy Caldwell. 

 "The LSU College Republicans are pleased to announce that our board voted unanimously to endorse Jeff Landry in his bid to become Louisiana's next Republican Attorney General. We hope you'll join us in supporting Jeff Landry and see as we do that Jeff is THE Republican in this race and is eminently qualified to serve as our Attorney General. "

LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL BUDDY CALDWELL'S NAME COMES UP YET AGAIN IN AN INVESTIGATION

In what seems to be a trend as of late, Louisiana Attorney General, Buddy Caldwell, is again named in another legal proceeding. This time, Caldwell is being accused of using his office for political gain for a friend in a political campaign against Saint Bernard Parish President Earl Peralta.

Read more:  Lawyer: Peralta target of new grand jury in East Baton Rouge

Courtesy of the New Orleans Advocate

GOP PRIMARY WINNER SANTORUM ENDORSES LANDRY

Jeff Landry, conservative candidate for Louisiana Attorney General and former Congressman from LA-3, has received the endorsement of Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate.  Landry’s campaign sent out the below email regarding the announcement today:

The campaign is heating up, and our momentum continues to build.

Rick Santorum – the winner of the 2012 Louisiana Republican Presidential Primary, former U.S. Senator, and Chairman of Patriot Voices – today announced his endorsement of our campaign for Attorney General.

I am thrilled to have Senator Santorum’s endorsement as we work to bring honesty, integrity and conservative principles to the Attorney General’s Office.

Senator Santorum said in his endorsement that he has always been impressed by my principled, conservative leadership.  
"Jeff is not just a lifelong Republican, but a lifelong conservative who is committed to bettering his community and the State of Louisiana. Jeff has shown his commitment to public service as a decorated veteran, as a sheriff, and a Member of Congress; and I am proud to support his candidacy to be Louisiana’s next Attorney General."  
Senator Santorum recognizes the critical need for a proven conservative as Louisiana’s next Attorney General to fight the regulatory overreach of President Obama and his Administration.

With your help, I can provide our state that leadership. Please visit my website and join our team. And if you are able to contribute financially to our efforts of protecting our families, freedoms and the rule of law – please do so right now online here.

Thanks in advance for your support,  
Jeff Landry  
Your Candidate for Attorney General

This endorsement comes on the heel of another recent endorsement by Congressman John Fleming of Louisiana.

ALFORD: ATTORNEY GENERAL’S RACE MAY GET POLITICALLY CROWDED

Buddy Caldwell can call himself a Republican as much as he would like, but nothing can hide his liberal history and the Elvis-singing love affair he’s had with the recently deposed, Mary Landrieu.

Today, as a former Democrat trying to make his way in a fire engine red state, Caldwell is learning what many other GOP officials may have to come to terms with if voters maintain their single party focus in Louisiana: it doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican; it matters only how Republican you can be.

via ALFORD: Attorney General’s Race May Get Politically Crowded.

BUDDY CALDWELL AND THE LEVEE BOARD LAWSUIT

On Feb. 13, U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown ruled in favor of dismissing a lawsuit filed over a year and a half ago on behalf of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority–East (SLFPA–E), a regional levee authority, by New Orleans-based law firm Jones, Swanson, Huddell & Garrison, that accused nearly 100 oil, pipeline and energy companies of contributing to coastal land loss.

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell was vehemently in favor of this lawsuit and, in turn, hired outside counsel in an attempt to fan the flames of those in his political circle.  This has shown itself to be nothing more than another attempt by a liberal Democrat shrouded in Republican clothing of trying to use his political influences and gaining favors at the expense of the taxpayers in Louisiana.

A recent post in the Washington Examiner stated “the litigation contract brokered between SLFPA–E and Jones has been controversial from the beginning with many questioning the SLFPA–E’s legal standing to bring such a lawsuit and Louisiana Attorney General James “Buddy” Caldwell absorbing some of the criticism for signing off on SLFPA–E’s ability to hire outside counsel.”  The same piece states that Jones has a reputation going after “legacy lawsuits” against oil and gas interests and making million on such lawsuits.

It is apparent that Caldwell has nothing but personal interests involved in his decisions regarding these legacy lawsuits and has chosen to utilize his office in a manner inconsistent of that of a public servant and more of one that has committed malfeasance in office.

Tagged Buddy Caldwell, Jeff Landry, Louisiana, Louisiana Attorney General