Today’s Qs for O’s WH – 6/17/2009

Wow, Flash, that's a pretty sweeping indictment you made there: "He thought he could get away with it because that had been the pattern and practice of the IGs under Bush, but he got called out." So during the Bush years, the IGs were all corrupt and out of control? Care to back that ridiculous statement up? Or do you expect everyone to nod sagely and say, "Ah, yes, Bush is evil, that does not surprise me."

Of course Walperin isn't senile. But you can't deny that he was on a politically motivated vendetta against Johnson. It is undeniable that he overstepped his authority. He thought he could get away with it because that had been the pattern and practice of the IGs under Bush, but he got called out.

Wonder how long it will be before someone decides that Jake is confused and disoriented.

I just want to say that this firing of Walpin seems very fishy and needs to be further investigated! I hope to hear more on this very soon!! The man (Walpin) does not seem too old or disoriented, it just sounds like he found out somebody's dirty little secret.

I have seen IG Walpin interviewed a number of times and he hardly seems "confused" or "disoriented". This is a man who chose to serve his country after being a private citizen for well over 70 years. He did not have to serve, but he felt that he owed this to his country. Now he has been fired for doing his job. Since IG Walpin has copious evidence supporting his findings of the mayor, should we not request at least some substantial evidence of his "confusion"? A letter written days after the firing (when the administration was asked to explain) that simply states that the IG seemed confused and disoriented is not enough to justify his being fired. I would think that additional evidence is needed. It is occurrences like this that are disturbing to those of us who know history. It is frightening to think that a person can be fired because someone thinks that they are confused with no evidence. My disappointment with this administration grows daily and I am beginning to feel that I have been duped. Perhaps ABC should interview IG Walpin and perhaps spend a day with him to evaluate his position and his mental state.

"We need to know if Obama is guilty of cronyism and subverting the law."

Wouldn't it be more honest to say "We need to know [that] Obama is guilty..."
It's a quest for knowledge that never ends.

I don't think Gibbs gets it when it comes to that DOJ DOMA brief. He must not be aware of how very upset the LGBT is about its wording. He seems dismissive, in a hurry to skate right by giving any real answer. Instead of taking it as a chance to better it with rhetoric, he treats is as pesky as that fly that Obama is now so famous for swatting.

Thank you, Jake, for asking these questions.

Jake:"saying that it did not abide by the law that McCaskill wrote and President Obama as a senator co-sponsored in terms of giving Congress 30 days notice. "

Jake - This is not the reason you stated she gave in your own blog. You quoted her as saying, "The legislation which was passed last year requires that the president give a reason for the removal."

No wonder Gibbs had no idea what you were talking about - Senator McCaskill was complaining about the sparse reasoning provided, not the 30 days notice (which was met to the letter - he's still an employee for another 20 or so days). Obama responded completely and quickly to McCaskill's complaint in the manner she requested.

I'd stick to the good questions about Obama's contortions as he tries to unwind Bush era DOJ nonsense rather than look like you are trying to makeup news (or did McCaskill actually have a complaint about the timing that no one has reported?) rather than report it.

Unfortunately, there is no issue more important than the Waplin IG firing. We need to know if Obama is guilty of cronyism and subverting the law. Obama said he would honor the rule of law, and if he does not, his honor and character is in question. I cannot bear to think that he would make such a naive mistake, but if he did, it is unacceptable and unforgivable.

She said the letter puts the White House in "full compliance" with the law, which requires the president to provide an explanation before firing an inspector general."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

How can he be in "full compliance with the law which requires the president to provide an explanation before firing an inspector general", when he fired the guy last week and provided a letter last night?

It looks like they have cracked the whip and McCaskill has caved:

"Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who had raised questions about the firing Tuesday, released a statement Wednesday in light of the letter saying the president's reasons are "substantial" and the decision to remove Walpin "appears well-founded." She said the letter puts the White House in "full compliance" with the law, which requires the president to provide an explanation before firing an inspector general."

We may have to wait until after the 2010 elections and hope the Republicans gain the majority in one house or the other before the Obama admin is held responsible for this, but we will see.

It seems this administration has a problem with the elderly. Why smear them in the press? These people have spent many years serving their country and this is the thanks they get from this administration?

I didn't bother to read all the comments before I posted mine and I see that several others have ably made my points already. Great to see that I am not alone in being outraged at the blatant lies and smears that the admin has been putting out there. They are compounding their breaking the law that McCaskill wrote and Obama sponsored with defamation and libel of Walpin. This is disgusting and embarrassing.

"I guess when all else fails, hope the other guy is older, and then call him "confused."

Am I allowed to dismiss Biden's embellishments for the same reason? Give ol' Joe a break.

Be careful there, Jake! With specific and challenging questions like the ones you asked Gibbs, your days at ABC could be numbered.
Will any other journalists (perhaps out of sheer competition) be willing, or just curious enough, to look into this story to get to the truth?

Gibbs: I will point you to a letter that I haven't read and don't know what is in it

Maybe it's Gibbs who's "disoriented" and "confused."

BTW, Obama said the same thing about McCain during the campaign. I guess when all else fails, hope the other guy is older, and then call him "confused."

"on mtg May 20th" ~ so it has not even been 30 days since meeting in question; how was this man suppose to answer "critics" when he has been given the proper amount of time. Why is it that Tapper seems to be the only MSM guy following this?

OH please, the firing of inspector general Walpin was plainly a measure to help his supporter, the mayor of sacramento get away with stealing money from the Americorp program.
We also now find the FBI is conducting an obstruction of justice probe because this same supporter destroyed emails that were incriminating in this matter.
Obama protects his supporters period, end. He gave billions to the UAW that we will spend years paying for. He has repeatedly threatened those that tried to obstruct that payoff, you know the teacher who invested in GM and Chrysler who lost everything in their retirement account while the Unions recovered everything and more.

Of course this was a political firing to protect a donor. Remember travelgate, this will be bigger.

It's weird this "he was confused" accusation follows so closely on the heels of a source saying Gen Jones may have Alzheimer's Disease.
And, I might add, follow a campaign during which the Obama team regularly accused McCain of being "confused".

Is this their standard way of going after older people?
Or even if it's true- that Walpin was confused- is this how the government treats older employees who may have memory problems? Fire them? Smear them to the press?