This Is Some Stand Up White House - Not

During the Primary and Election campaigns, many of us felt that the Obama Campaign was getting Google to do its bidding for specific searches. Evidently, it wasn't just a wild conspiracy theory, according to this article by Ken Boehm, White House Staffer Who Did Favors For Google Must Resign:

In a letter today to President Obama, I asked for the resignation of White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer Andrew McLaughlin.

Last week, McLaughlin was officially reprimanded for violating its ethics policies. A White House investigation found that McLaughlin, a former senior executive at Google, had repeatedly circumvented both the letter and spirit of White House ethics rules by communicating with former colleagues about Administration policies affecting the company.

The White House confirmed that Mr. McLaughlin used his personal Gmail account when discussing White House business, possibly violating federal archiving rules.

From web privacy to Net neutrality to China’s Internet policies, McLaughlin actively engaged Google’s lobbying team and at least one top company official, in at least one case contradicting the Administration’s public stance.

Well, that last sentence is no surprise to anyone who has really been paying attention. The one area in which Obama has been consistent is saying one thing, and doing another. Back to the article:

In that instance, the Administration was publicly stating that it was fairly and dispassionately evaluating a Court decision that had the potential to materially affect Google. Yet McLaughlin simultaneously leaked highly sensitive material and inside information to a senior Google official via a confidential email that the policy would not change.

President Obama has repeatedly claimed that his Administration would have no tolerance for unethical ‘revolving door’ behavior by officials who are supposed to be working for the taxpayers but instead are granting special access and favors to their former employers. The situation with McLaughlin is a test of President Obama’s ethics commitment.

If the Obama Administration is truly committed to the idea of strict ethical standards McLaughlin’s tenure as a senior official of the Obama White House must end.

So there is that piece - the Obama flunkies using a major search engine as their own personal ad campaign (a bit of hyperbolic license, I admit), but there is yet another, far more serious, infraction by the Obama White House that is clawing its way to the light.

And that would be this, Gibbs Mum On Sestak Job Offer. At first blush, that might not seem like a lot, but in actuality, it is a federal crime:

Don’t ask the White House if Obama aides tried to force Joe Sestak out of the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary by offering him a job. They are keeping mum on the controversy.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs deflected a barrage of questions about reports – stoked by Sestak himself – that he was offered a top position, perhaps Navy Secretary, in exchange for sitting out the Democratic Senate primary in Pennsylvania.

Sestak didn’t – and upended incumbent Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter on Tuesday night.

“I don’t have anything to add today,” said Gibbs, who was forced to repeat that line several more times under intense questioning during his daily briefing.

Gee, I wonder why Gibbs won't say anything. First of all, Obama was backing Specter. But it would seem Obama feared the potential loss by Specter to Sestak so much that he offered him a job in the White House if he would back out. The only problems is, though, that's a felony (actually, three counts for bribery and corruption). And of course, now, Obama has changed his tune:

Sestak, who now has Obama’s support, told a Philadelphia radio station on Wednesday, “Let me just say that both here in Pennsylvania, and down there (Washington), I was called quite a few times… And all I said is look, ‘I felt when a deal is made that it was hurting the Democratic process.’"

Gibbs did say Obama called Specter the night of his loss and left a message. The two finally connected today, but Gibbs didn’t provide details of the conversation.

He said that Obama will continue to back Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) in her upcoming Democratic primary runoff against Bill Halter, but declined to say what form that support would take.

Oh, boy - the possibilities for THAT one just boggles the mind, doesn't it? Feel free to list all of the ways you think Obama will "support" Sen. Lincoln. Does that mean he's going to stump for her? If so, she better start sending out resumes today, and hope her time as a US Senator will actually help her get a job outside of DC. Just saying.

Back to Sestak: just in case the White House tries to eradicate any trace of Sestak's claim of this job offer, there is this:



Just to be clear, this is what Rep. Sestak claimed:

The allegation is that the White House offered Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., a job to abandon his primary challenge against Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa. The allegation first surfaced in an interview in February with Philadelphia television anchor Larry Kane.

Sestak told Kane that he was offered a federal job to exit the race. When Kane asked if the White House offered the position, Sestak replied, "Yes."

Three felony counts - and that is just with Sestak. Now, is Mr. Transparency going to be held accountable to US Federal Law or not? Judging by his support of a foreign leader trashing our laws here, clearly he could care less about them. But WE should. And we should make damn sure the President of the United States does.

Enough equivocating, Mr. Gibbs. And enough dissembling. If Obama and his Cronies violated Federal law numerous times, they, he, MUST be held to account. This is no small thing. The Press must press on until we get to the bottom of this, and so must Congress. Rep. Issa called for a Special Probe back in March, thinking at the time there was a good chance a prosecutor assigned. Huh. Wonder if he still feels that way.

We need answers. The sooner the better. Answer the damn question already, Gibbs!