A Reluctant Post

I have been avoiding commenting on the ongoing Obama nominee fiasco. Trying to maintain a less partisan atmosphere on this blog is a constant goal. But, with the third shoe to drop it is too big not to comment on.

Nearly every new Obama appointment has been front page material. Three haven't paid their taxes. Beginning with Peter Geithner, his tax problems did stop him from receiving his nomination. This was followed by Tom Daschel's unpaid taxes, who would have faced additional scrutiny as a lobbyist (he has now withdrawn his nomination). Now a new tax problem is on the books of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis' husband. If the entire vetting team is not fired after this I don't know what more they can do to get fired. Hopefully Obama's team can get their act together; our country needs some effective leadership. I honestly hope this isn't indicative of their effectiveness in other areas of governance.

In other administration appointment news.

This is Painful:



He reminds me of Bush's Scott McClellan just before Tony Snow (may he rest in peace).

Horrifying, could you look anymore like you are spinning, and then that reporter from ABC (no not Fox) just owns him.

Anyway, more to the point. The reporter's question concerning waivers for lobbyist to serve in Obama's administration is very pertinent. One of the first things Obama did as president was issue an executive order barring lobbyist from serving in his administration.

Yet this seems to be a very loose ban. Apparantly the president can waive the ban if it is in the public interest. The following have been granted exceptions:

• Eric Holder, attorney general nominee, was registered to lobby until 2004 on behalf of clients including Global Crossing, a bankrupt telecommunications firm [now confirmed].
• Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year on behalf of the National Education Association.
• William Lynn, deputy defense secretary nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for defense contractor Raytheon, where he was a top executive.
• William Corr, deputy health and human services secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until last year for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a non-profit that pushes to limit tobacco use.
• David Hayes, deputy interior secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until 2006 for clients, including the regional utility San Diego Gas & Electric.
• Mark Patterson, chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for financial giant Goldman Sachs.
• Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, was registered to lobby until 2005 for clients, including the Coalition for Asbestos Resolution, U.S. Airways, Airborne Express and drug-maker ImClone.
• Mona Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff, was registered to lobby for clients, including Angliss International in 2003.
• Melody Barnes, domestic policy council director, lobbied in 2003 and 2004 for liberal advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
• Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was a lobbyist as recently as last year for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.
• Patrick Gaspard, White House political affairs director, was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union.
• Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to the president’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, lobbied for the American Association of Justice from 2001 until 2005.

I had hoped that his lobbyist ban would spur a cultural change in Washington, but it doesn't seem to be the case.