UPDATED..Obama cronyism: Going after AmeriCorps IG on behalf of contributor; Update: A Michelle Obama connection?
Hot Air » Blog Archive » Obama cronyism: Going after AmeriCorps IG on behalf of contributor.
David Freddoso tried to explain that the only change Barack Obama would bring to the Beltway would be an introduction of the Chicago Machine politics that made him successful to the Beltway. The Inspector General of AmeriCorps, one of Obama’s pet projects, has discovered this the hard way. The independent investigator got fired for peeking too closely at an Obama contributor
Initially, the White House called Walpin and told him he had an hour to resign or get fired, as Byron York reported. Senator Charles Grassley shot back a warning to the White House last night
UPDATE: Michelle Malkin has much more on this, including a connection to MObama
First Lady Michelle Obama’s chief of staff, Jackie Norris, is being sent to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in what is both a White House shake-up and an indication of the first lady’s sway over the corporation that oversees AmeriCorps, Serve and Learn and the Senior Corps.
Observers believe Norris, whom Obama came to know early in the Iowa caucus campaign, was forced out of the White House so that long-time Obama friend Susan Sher could take over. But those same observers see her appointment as senior adviser to the corporation as an overall win for CNCS, believing that Norris still will have a straight line to the White House.
CNCS remains without a CEO after the withdrawal last month of Nike vice president Maria Eitel, even before her nomination went to the Senate. Although the corporation’s CEO must be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, Michelle Obama reportedly has taken the lead in selecting the nominee.
And in Youth Today, a hint of what may really have triggered the IG’s termination:
The inspector general (IG) of the Corporation for National and Community Service is being removed by President Barack Obama, a week after the IG questioned the eligibility of the largest and most expensive AmeriCorps program, and while the IG was contesting the “propriety” of a settlement made with a mayor for alleged misuse of AmeriCorps funds.
…Funding for the largest AmeriCorps program – the Teaching Fellows Program, run by the Research Foundation of the City University of New York – is in abeyance pending resolution of widespread problems identified in a recent audit. Although Walpin recommended that funding be curtailed and that previous funds (perhaps as much as $75 million) be repaid to the corporation, the corporation has said it will take no action on that matter.
Walpin concluded that nothing was being gained by the grants to CUNY and that the money was simply being used to subsidize an existing and funded program.
June 12, 2009 - 11:32 AM on June 12th, 2009
This is so deeply troubling. America at present is on it’s way to beocming a 3rd World country, strating from the top down.
Change…is this the kind of change you fools who voted for this corrupt and incompetent Community Organizer can believe in?
June 12, 2009 - 10:22 PM on June 12th, 2009
WOW, Going truly African already?
Did not take long, did it.
This is how Politics in Africa is conducted, I am an African and I have witnessed this type of thing all my life.
I am in no way racist, having a wife of a totally different ethnic background, I merely belive in what is right and what is wrong.
Corruption is WRONG!!!