[StBernard] The Real James "Buddy" Caldwell TV Ad - Exposed: Unethical History

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Fri Sep 21 21:27:25 EDT 2007


Exposed: Unethical History - The Real James "Buddy" Caldwell





(Baton Rouge) - Today, the Republican Party of Louisiana released a
television commercial which will begin airing immediately in selected
markets. Targeted in the ad is James "Buddy" Caldwell who has a long
history of abusing public office.



The ad focuses on Caldwell as a prime example of the corruption and
unethical behavior that has soiled the reputation of our great state. The
television spot highlights Caldwell's threats, racists remarks, intimidation
tactics, and harassment of a legislative auditor who tried to point out how
he was using taxpayer funds for his personal benefit.



A copy of the spot can be seen at -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6WL3HQrr9Q
<BLOCKED::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6WL3HQrr9Q>






###



Sources for the Ad:



In 1997, Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle reported that Caldwell "spent $1,529
in District Attorney's Office funds to pay for personal expenses, including
clothing and golfing expenses." (Carl Redman, "DA criticizes auditor's
office," Baton Rouge Advocate, 10/6/00) The expenses included air fare to
Montana and golf fees in Alabama. ("Spending Problems Cited By State
Auditor," AP in Times-Picayune, 4/2/97)



According to the Advocate, "Kyle said Caldwell visited him at the time to
try to quash release of parts of the audit. Kyle said Caldwell used foul
language and threats in an unsuccessful attempt to block the audit."
Moreover, instead of taking responsibility for the spending, Caldwell blamed
his secretary: "Caldwell also said the spending problem in the 1997 audit
was a mistake by his secretary, adding that he personally brought it to the
auditor's attention." (Carl Redman, "DA criticizes auditor's office," Baton
Rouge Advocate, 10/6/00)



Three years later, Caldwell continued his vendetta, accusing Kyle's
investigators "of an array of questionable activities ranging from
improperly bugging conversations to having sex with witnesses in audit
investigations" in testimony before the Legislative Audit Advisory Council.
Caldwell "told the council.that state auditors working in north Louisiana
had suppressed evidence, secretly tape-recorded interviews with witnesses
and compromised the credibility of witnesses in possible criminal
investigations. Caldwell later told reporters he also knew of instances of
an auditor in Kyle's office having sexual relations with people being
audited." Of course, "Caldwell refused to give details." (Carl Redman, "DA
criticizes auditor's office," Baton Rouge Advocate, 10/6/00)



Caldwell even went so far as to subpoena two of Kyle's investigators before
a grand jury in Tallulah. Kyle later learned that Caldwell was trying to
indict him or his investigators. According to the Times-Picayune, "Caldwell
said after the [Legislative Audit Advisory Council] meeting that he might
reopen a grand jury investigation of Kyle's office." (Ed Anderson, "District
attorney blasts auditor," Times-Picayune, 10/6/00)



Also see the Legislative Auditor's Sworn Testimony -
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5131490030786514630






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