William Jefferson Jackass

On Sept. 2, Rep. William Jefferson (D-New Orelans) took a tour of the Katrina devastation accompanied by "a 5-ton military truck and a half dozen military police." According to this Jake Tapper story at ABC News, during the tour Jefferson asked for an unplanned visit of his house to gather his belongings. While waiting outside, the 5-ton truck got stuck in the mud. It gets worse.

The soldiers signaled to helicopters in the air for aid. Military sources say a Coast Guard helicopter pilot saw the signal and flew to Jefferson's home. The chopper was already carrying four rescued New Orleans residents at the time.

A rescue diver descended from the helicopter, but the congressman decided against going up in the helicopter, sources say. The pilot sent the diver down again, but Jefferson again declined to go up the helicopter.

After spending approximately 45 minutes with Jefferson, the helicopter went on to rescue three additional New Orleans residents before it ran low on fuel and was forced to end its mission.

You will be relieved to know that the copter-shy congressman was eventually retrieved by a second 5-ton truck. Whole thing here.