Posted on 02/11/2006 6:52:52 PM PST by new yorker 77
WASHINGTON -- Claude A. Allen, President Bush's domestic policy adviser and previously a Cabinet secretary in Virginia, has resigned his White House post.
"Although this is a difficult decision, it is the best decision for my family," he wrote Bush on Wednesday in a letter released by the White House.
Allen, 45, was tapped in January 2005 for the adviser's post. A staunch social conservative, he previously had served since May 2001 as deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
On Monday, he briefed Washington news media on the president's fiscal 2007 budget.
"The message I want to leave with you today is that, as far as the administration's proposals are concerned, when we look at core safety-net programs that impact low-income individuals, the state of the union is not only strong, but in this area the programs are effective and are working," he said.
A former state secretary of health and human resources under Gov. Jim Gilmore, Allen became known as an advocate of federal spending to promote abstinence until marriage and as a foe of abortion rights.
Bush picked Allen for a seat on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2003, but that nomination stalled in the Senate. Among liberal groups lining up in opposition to the black Republican was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Bush said in a statement yesterday that during the past year, Allen "has helped develop policies that will strengthen our nation's families, schools and communities. Claude is a good and compassionate man, and he has my deep respect and my gratitude."
...
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
FYI
This is a shame.
He's terrible.
I wonder if he and his family were getting threats.
maybe i'm missing something here... but was his nomination withdrawn? doesn't say that in this article.
After it was filibustered, it was withdrawn.
It was not resubmitted.
Now he is leaving the White House entirely.
He should be sitting on the bench.
I've met Claude Allen. He's a good friend of a friend.
This is a shame.
"Allen, a father of four and former attorney, did not respond to inquiries asking about his departure or future job plans."
I certainly wish Mr. Allen well. I'll bet that for the time being, he'll stay out of the limelight. But hopefully, he'll be back in public life at a later time. We all need time to recoup.
You're right that the filibuster of Claude Allen was shameful.
They sure didn't support this "colored" person's "advancement".
Of course this had nothing to do with him being a black man and a conservative.
He was a former press secretary for Senator Jesse Helms. He was a young sharpie back in those days. He should get another Bush appointment...a more important one this time.
Is this what the "new tone" in Washington means?
Time is overdue to start playing hardball with these anti-American weak spine liberals.
Please supply a link to the filibuster info on Claude Allen.....
FYI
Try this site:
http://www.committeeforjustice.org/contents/nominees/
Thanks... As your link so aptly shows Claude Allen was never filibuster.
He had a hearing in Oct. 03 but Hatch never brought him forward for a committee vote. He wasn't reappointe in 05.
That link has not been updated.
It also does not show that Susan Neilson was confirmed last year.
I would not hold firm to this website.
It was the first one I linked to.
He was threatened with a filibuster.
Committee Vote or Floor Vote is irrelevant.
His nomination was stalled and threatened by liberals.
That's a filibuster.
Judge Susan B. Neilson
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Confirmed October 27, 2005
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/judicialnominees/neilson.html
It was the first one I linked to.
Nominated to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but was filibustered by Senate Democrats.
http://www.nndb.com/people/610/000101307/
That's the Chuck Schumer argument.
No floor vote is no filibuster.
Sorry, stalling a nomination with threat of filibuster is a filibuster.
Bush Names New White House Domestic Policy Advisor
January 6, 2005 - Thursday
"Mr. Allen had been nominated to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals where his nomination was filibustered by Senate Democrats."
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR05A02&f=PR04J07
You can't filibuster something that never got out of committe. Hatch never brought his name up for a committee vote.... Thus there was no floor debate to filibuster about.
He most likely would have been filibusted had he made it to the floor. But Hatch never gave him that opportunity.
What's the difference?
He's not on the bench because of Senate Democrats threat to filibuster.
Claude Allen was filibustered by Senate Democrats.
Take a look at the bench. He's not there. A Filibuster.
Clint - This is what I'm talking about.
That's right .. because THEY didn't have anything to do with his advancing.
Sick! These people are sick. Such a brilliant mind - what a shame.
The difference is the truth.... A senate filibuster never occurred.
Yes they most likely would have filibustered him and may well have been successful had he be given a floor debate. But no floor debate occurred as Hatch never gave him a Committee vote thus his named was never sent to the full Senate...
THEY HAD A PICNIC FOR ALLEN
Claude Allen's nomination ran into the toughest opposition from Maryland's two Democratic senators, who maintained the Virginian was unfairly chosen for a seat previously occupied by a Marylander.
Other critics branded Claude Allen as a conservative extremist and questioned whether he had adequate experience for an appeals judgeship. But supporters contended Allen was getting unfair criticism from liberal interest groups and would adhere to the rule of law if confirmed.
Sen. Paul Sarbanes, a Democrat and Maryland's senior senator, has signaled no yielding in his all-out opposition to the Virginian's nomination.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031779147891&path=!news&s=1045855934842
You're essentially right. It was a de-facto filibuster, even if the 'Rats never had to talk.
Allen's departure from public life is the public's loss. Hopefully, he'll be back in a few years.
But it may not be the Merriam-Webster definition of a filibuster according to the Queen's English circa 1682.
Claude Allen was filibustered.
Yep.... A fight amongst the Senators over which state the nominee should be from....
Not a filibuster.... No cloture vote, no floor debate.
You must be the life of the party.
I know Claude Allen would not welcome your attitude after being filibustered by Senate Democrats as shown in numerous publications.
Show me the cloture vote. Better yet show me the Judicial Committee vote on Allen.
The truth ..... just the facts will do.
The profile page says there WAS a filibuster.
Words used to mean something. The Senate demanding 60 votes to okay a judicial appointment means that cloture is not possible, which is what ends a filibuster. What was missing was talking on the Senate floor without stop to avoid a vote to confirm. Republican leadership was missing when there was no demand to follow historical tradition. The fact he didn't make it out of committee means there was opposition from Republicans so a majority vote was not possible. All IMHO.
I don't think so. The guy sounds like he's tired of 14 hour days. No time with his kids. No time with his wife. This is also why a lot of elected people get divorced.
Never bringing Allen's name forward for a vote is a "de facto" filibuster, isn't it?
When these Democrats say they are getting even for what Pubbies did to Clinton's nominees, I wish someone had the stats at hand. I think over 90% of Billy-Bob-boy's nominees were voted into office.
Over 2/3rd of President Bush's nominees have either died in committee, like Allen, or been filibustered.
Something needs to happen. It's okay for Republicans to approve baby-killing Socialists, but not okay for Democrats to approve Republicans, because they are too far out of the mainstream? Since when is being a baby-killer the litmus test for being a Democrat? But that's okay.
It's preserving life that's too far out of the mainstream!
What are the stats on that? 60% of Americans are now against abortion, and wouldn't find it horrorfying if Roe v Wade were overturned? Then it could go back to being a state's right issue, where is should always have been.
Over 2/3rd of President Bush's nominees have either died in committee, like Allen, or been filibustered
The profile page says there WAS a filibuster.
see post #24
You maybe misinformed of this guy's character:
Bush Shocked by Arrest of Former Adviser
By DEB RIECHMANN
Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/RON EDMONDS
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush on Saturday said he was shocked and saddened to learn that former domestic policy adviser Claude Allen was charged with theft for allegedly receiving phony refunds at department stores.
"When I heard the story last night, I was shocked, and my first reaction was one of disappointment, deep disappointment - if it's true - that we were not fully informed," Bush said. "Shortly thereafter, I felt really sad for the Allen family."
Allen, 45, was arrested Thursday by police in Montgomery County, Md., for allegedly claiming refunds for more than $5,000 worth of merchandise he did not buy, according to county and federal authorities. He had been under investigation since at least January for alleged thefts on 25 occasions at Target and Hecht's stores.
"If the allegations are true, Claude Allen did not tell my chief of staff and legal counsel the truth, and that's deeply disappointing" the president said at the White House following an event on Iraq. "If the allegations are true, something went wrong in Claude Allen's life, and that is really sad."
The guy has problems.
It's a shame.
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