White House Plays Hardball; Says Fired IG Walpin Was "Confused, Disoriented" Engaged in "Inappropriate Conduct"

This is just one of many such situations orchestrated by an arrogant administration determined to control everything and everyone.

Sure ... the news headlines are disturbing enough...a trillion dollar Health Care proposal...another irresponsible stimulus package, etc. ... but it is what is happening behind the scenes to good, solid,independent thinking public servants that is most detrimental to this great country.

Wake up Americans! This has nothing to do with race! Obama is destroying our way of life!

My goodness the President fired a man for doing his job. Kevin Johnson misused stole etc $840,000.00. This story is becoming very interesting. Let the digging begin.

Unbelievable! The report mentions the belated and weak justification for the firing and the comments from the Democratic senator - but no comments from Mr. Walpin or any of his supporters. Shouldn't you maybe ask him his side of the story?

Talk about Pravda-like reporting. You're criminally complicit in this illegal action.

Actually Pres. Bush DID fire two IG without cause in Feb 2002 which is what makes the right wing outrage aver the Walpin firing so ironic. Bush fired Luise S. Jordan, the IG at the Corporation for National and Community Service & Roberta L. Gross, the IG at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . Both were IGs with good service records for over 5 years. Both were thanked for their service & simply told that the White House was in the process of selecting someone else. These were legal firings as the White House has the right to change appointments. This is in part what led to the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 which state that an IG must be given 30 days and the congress must be given notification of the reasons for dismissal. What everyone fails to understand is that the Congress doesn't have to agree with the reasons. They don't have the right to vote or veto the reasons. They don't get to grade how good the reasons are. They only have to be notified. This is why Walpin wasn't fired outright, but was suspended with pay. He won't be fired until the 30 days are passed. The reasoning behind the termination may or may not be political (as the Bush firings obviously were) but the White House hasn't broken any laws. They are within their rights to dismiss any IG so long as they give their reasons to congress and don't actually suspend pay until the 30 days are passed.

Can you imagine if Bush fired Walpin for the same thing? We'd have Woodward and Bernstein all over this making the elementary connections between Walpin and Obama's pal Johnson...but for some unknown reason, ABC cannot put together this easy Investigative Journalism 101 story...and they wonder why their ratings are dropping. Jake Tapper, how do you call yourself even a member of the media? How comfortable is that Obama-bed you're sleeping in? Rahm says "destroy Walpin" and you go along with it. Outrageous!

I totally agree with the thoughts of "anorm".
I no longer watch ABC and will be contacting their advertisers regarding the biased, so-called journalism. The elite media personnel need to look outside their pampered bubble. Middle America watches their news and entertainment programs. While middle America stands in line for health care under the proposed government program, the Manhattanites will be whisking by in limos to their private doctors with their expensive, health care programs.
Regarding Gerald Walprin.......independent inspector generals are to be given 30 days notice by law which was co-sponsored by Senator Obama. Jake Tapper.........where are you?

Have you ever known someone with a drinking problem? Or someone elderly who has side effects from medication? In either case, such people can often appear coherent and able, especially if they have time to pull themselves together, say for a TV or radio interview.

It seems most of the comments I have read are coming from haters of the Obama administration. Get a grip on yourselves. I'm convinced Mr. Walpin was let go because of his behavior. Did any of you pay any attention to the part about the board meeting? Republicans were on that board meeting as well; they witnessed Walpin's behavior as well.It seems like all you bitter Obama haters are grasping for straws.

I'm not sure which is more enchanting. Is it the links that don't link, or the lack of journalism? Charmant!

Dear Mr Tapper, You have been one of the few MSM reporters to start asking this administration tough questions but it is time to step up to the next level! This Republic deserves some real investigative reporting in the style of Woodward & Bernstein regarding the firing of Mr. Walpin. I hope that type of journalism is still alive and not just reserved for Republicans. I have not sensed anything this fishy since Watergate, where is Deep Throat when you need him?

I've seen a lot of mean comments about Jake Tapper here. He's the only member of the State-run media to ask tough questions of Obama. BUT ... what's up Jake? You left out some important information here. Pressure from above?

It looks to me like all this focus on Mr. Walpin's integrity is a well placed smoke screen to cover up the real issue that was uncovered. Kevin Johnson is a crook and a thief and wont even be made to repay the $400,000 settlement back (due to creative wording and the fact that he is a good friend of the president).
Ultimately, what I want to know is...will 'we the people' still be participating in elections in 2010 or will we be a dictatorship?
Heil Hi...oh yeah, I mean, Obama. Wait. Am I still in AMERICA?!
I agree that Mr. Johnson should be criminally charged, and an apology issued to Mr. Walpin.

Nothing about the Johnson/Obama link in this?
Really?

ABC, you're slowly squandering your reputation.

IT IS TIME TO STAND UP TO THIS PRESIDENT AND HIS STAFF! WE MUST ALL UNITE AND TAKE BACK OUR FREEDOMS AND BE ABLE TO PROUDLY SAY "WE PUT YOU INTO THE WHITE HOUSE AND WE WILL TAKE YOU OUT AND THE SAME WITH OUR SENATORS AND CONGRESS.
WHY DO WE ALLOW OUR CONSTITUTION TO BE CHANGED OR REWRITTEN AND EVEN ABUSED, WHEN DO WE SAY ENOUGH AND SHOW THESE POLITICIANS THEY WORK FOR US NOT THEIR PARTY OR SPECIAL INTERESTS GROUPS, WE HAVE THE POWER TO FIRE THEM ALL!!

Normally, you would see comments that support the articles they're reffering to. I see none here. Does that tell you something, Mr. Tapper?

It's almost like Obama is using his Chicago thuggary to threaten these news corporations to report what he wants - or else face being fired or forced to resign. What else what cause these supposed journalisists to dig such a deep hole to bury their integrity and honesty in.

I stopped watching ABC two years ago. Why? Because I realized that I was missing the REAL news.

Don't buy into the State-Run Media. It's a disgrace. Journalism is dead.

By the way, Mr. Tapper, all of your links in the article are dead, just like your integrity.

Mr. Tapper- Does it bother you to read so many comments that actually question whether you work for a news organization or a cheerleading company for Pres. Obama?

Why isn't the firing of a Inspector General who is investigating Friends-of-Obama a lead story? Why is ABC accepting the Obama excuses? The Obama excuses stink of corruption and coverup. What's up ABC? Are you just political hacks for the Obama administration? Is Michelle's "Victory Garden" kaput? Is the latests Capitol Hill adultery scandal just too important?

It's frightening that the Obama administration completely controls ABC, NBC, CBS and the mainstream network 'news' programs. And what is even scarier is that these 'journalists' know it and don't seem to care. Holding back truthful stories to prevent any kind of embarassment to Obama is dangerous for this country. It's propaganda at it's worst. The truth will come out and I hope it puts all the butt kissing celebrity journalists out of business.

Jake Tapper, YOU ROCK! for asking the question about Walpin. Keep it up; please don't stop now. Ask about Kevin Johnson's activities and his ties with Obama. It is possible for ABC to get back in the news business.

No mention of the other side anywhere in the article...time to write ABC, NBC...etc...any news media that does not do their job and tell the story in full so that the people of America are fully informed and they can make up their own minds!!