I am surprised that the MSM is surprised at discovering that Obama is a hypocrite. If they had actually engaged in real journalism during the campaign, none of this would come as a shock to them, but they didn’t, and now they cry wolf… CNN
Unfortunately, we are again asking the president to explain why
exactly he announced, with great fanfare, new ethics rules if he had no
intention of abiding by them.
The Obama administration is yet again asking for a waiver to its very own rules about hiring lobbyists.
This time, it is the new treasury secretary, Tim Geithner. He wants a
former lobbyist for Goldman Sachs to be his top aide at the Treasury
Department.
My view is simple: Mr. President, if you want to
hire former lobbyists because you think they are the best people to do
the job, then hire former lobbyists. Just don’t hold a big news
conference first to tell us how your administration is going to be so
different from previous administrations in that you won’t be hiring
lobbyists.
Don’t make your disdain for lobbyists and your
pledges that they won’t wield influence in your administration a
centerpiece of your campaign.
Newly installed Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner issued new rules
Tuesday restricting contacts with lobbyists – and then hired one to be
his top aide.
Mark Patterson, a former advocate for Goldman Sachs, will serve as
chief of staff to Geithner as the Treasury Department revamps the Wall
Street bailout program that sent an infusion of cash to his former
employer.
Patterson’s appointment marks the second time in President Barack
Obama’s first week in office that the administration has had to explain
how it’s complying with its own ethics rules as it hires a bevy of
Washington insiders for administration jobs.
