The news today continues to indicate that Obama's unjustified firing of Inspector General Walpin is a growing story that may cause serious problems for Obama. Just a sampling from The Bay City Times and National Review -
Firing of Americorps inspector stinks to high heaven
by Your Voices
Monday June 22, 2009, 7:58 AM
Voice: John L. Weber, Au Gres
President Obama recently fired the federal general inspector of Americorps, who was hired in 2007 to look into possible fraud and misappropriation of federal funds. Gerald Walpin had been doing an excellent job and was completely non-partisan, faulting Democrats and Republicans alike.
However, he picked the wrong crook when he discovered a friend and strong supporter of Barack Obama, Kevin Johnson, had stolen thousands of federal funds from a grant meant for St. Hope Academy in Sacramento. Johnson is an ex-NBA star and the current mayor of Sacramento. He took $850,000 of this money for his personal use. Walpin did the right thing and reported him to the administration....Continue Reading
What Is Obama Trying to Cover Up?
Obama flouts a transparency law that he himself sponsored.
By Hans A. von Spakovsky & Todd Gaziano
Saying one thing on the campaign trail and doing another after taking office is nothing new. President Obama has done it repeatedly. Some of these policy or legal reversals have been for the better; many decidedly have not. Whenever it happens, though, Obama should (though he rarely does) explain himself carefully and clearly — especially when the reversal looks like it was done for personal or partisan reasons. Moreover, any such reversal must be consistent with the law, especially laws that Obama had a hand in enacting as a senator....
...To review: Walpin discovered taxpayer funds being misused by a political supporter of the president, questioned the validity of another large program funded with AmeriCorps dollars, and criticized the oversight of the CNCS board, which is chaired by one of the president’s largest contributors. The president then, without a meaningful explanation or other justification, fired Walpin.
Under such circumstances, the summary termination of an IG appears to any reasonable observer to be political revenge at best — and possibly worse, if it’s intended to prevent further investigation, cover up wrongdoing, or signal other would-be investigators to watch their backs. As is true with the Justice Department’s unexplained dismissal of the suit it had won against the New Black Panther Party for voter intimidation in Philadelphia, the administration’s silence is telling.
If a conservative were in the White House, this story would receive front-page coverage, with commentators and congressmen alike arguing that the White House’s actions amount to an admission of highly unethical conduct. Somehow we don’t think this kind of behavior is the “change” in Washington that voters were expecting. But we remain hopeful that the mainstream media will finally wake up and start holding Obama accountable for some of his questionable actions. Read Complete Article
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