HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson’s defense of his April 28 remarks, in which he implied that a government contractor was denied a job after voicing opposition to the Bush administration, has been a communications disaster. Some of you may be wondering: Who’s in charge of the Secretary’s p.r. effort?

Someone who is now on “scheduled leave,” that’s who. Think Progress has the full details here, a post cataloging HUD’s inconsistent explanations over the past few days.

Our favorite detail: the HUD spokeswoman in question is named “Dustee Tucker.” We haven’t encountered a name this sexy since Stormie Janzen. And Dustee, just like Stormie, is quite attractive. Check out the drooling comments to this post, or just take a look at this picture:

We don’t make these names up, people. Sometimes truth is stranger — and better — than fiction.

After the jump, more Dustee Tucker photos — including one in which she bears a striking resemblance to Tiffani Thiessen, of “Beverly Hills, 90210″ fame.

Update: ThinkProgress now reports that (1) Secretary Jackson “deeply regrets” his “anecdotal remarks”; and (2) HUD Inspector General Kenneth Donohue will be investigating Secretary Jackson’s conduct.

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On April 28, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson made some unfortunate remarks before a group of minority businesspeople. The Dallas Business Journal reported on the talk last week, but the story didn’t attract much attention.

Then we blogged about it, yesterday. And now, Senator Frank Lautenberg, Representatives Henry Waxman and Barney Frank, and independent watchdog groups are calling for investigations into the matter — and even Secretary Jackson’s resignation.

Coincidence? We don’t think so.

On a lighter note, an amusing story about a 2004 visit by Secretary Jackson to the Kennedy Center appears after the jump.

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HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, speaking before a group of minority executives in Dallas, had this to say about his interaction with an applicant for a government contract who voiced opposition to the president:

“[This contractor] 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 president.’

“I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘I don’t like President Bush.’ I thought to myself, ‘Brother, you have a disconnect — the president is elected, I was selected. You wouldn’t be getting the contract unless I was sitting here. If you have a problem with the president, don’t tell the secretary.’

“He didn’t get the contract,” Jackson continued. “Why should I reward someone who doesn’t like the president, so they can use funds to try to campaign against the president? Logic says they don’t get the contract. That’s the way I believe.”

Wow. We had a hard time believing Secretary Jackson actually said these things (although his honesty is refreshing). After talking to a HUD source, we find it less difficult to fathom. The results of our investigation appear after the jump.

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