Posted on 06/14/2009 7:34:11 PM PDT by Big_Monkey
The White House's decision to fire AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin came amid politically-charged tensions inside the Corporation for National and Community Service, the organization that runs AmeriCorps. Top executives at the Corporation, Walpin explained in an hour-long interview Saturday, were unhappy with his investigation into the misuse of AmeriCorps funds by Kevin Johnson, the former NBA star who is now mayor of Sacramento, California and a prominent supporter of President Obama. Walpin's investigation also sparked conflict with the acting U.S. attorney in Sacramento amid fears that the probe -- which could have resulted in Johnson being barred from ever winning another federal grant -- might stand in the way of the city receiving its part of billions of dollars in federal stimulus money. After weeks of standoff, Walpin, whose position as inspector general is supposed to be protected from influence by political appointees and the White House, was fired.
Walpin learned his fate Wednesday night. He was driving to an event in upstate New York when he received a call from Norman Eisen, the Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform. "He said, 'Mr. Walpin, the president wants me to tell you that he really appreciates your service, but it's time to move on,'" Walpin recalls. "Eisen said, 'You can either resign, or I'll tell you that we'll have to terminate you.'"
At that moment, Walpin says, he had finished not only a report on the Sacramento probe but also an investigation into extensive misuse of AmeriCorps money by the City University of New York, which is AmeriCorps' biggest program. Walpin says he told Eisen that, given those two investigations, neither of which was well-received by top Corporation management, the timing of his firing seemed "very interesting." According to Walpin, Eisen said it was "pure coincidence."....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
This is an abuse of power not seen since the White House travel scam, yet not really a word about it in any of the broadcast news shows.
And of course, not a single line has been printed in the New York Times about the probably illegal firing of an independent Inspector General.
ping
Make Obama and his cronies pay!
Nothing strange about this it is typical of narcissistic totalitarian dictators like Obama.
Pravda won’t do a serious inquiry and the masses will just continue to ooh and ahhh and blame Conservatives... won’t be long before Obama has us all labled as a Right Wing Conspiracy to dethrone him.
Then the brown shirts will be at our doors to put us away for the good of the country, heck we may even be shipped off to Gitmo since the terrorists will be brought here that will free up all those cells down there for the American Conservative Dissidents.
Marion Berry and Alcee Hastings are saddened that the Messiah was not the Prez during their reigns of crime.
You are so right: the American people are too ignorant to pour flood waters out of their shoes.
I love it when they eat their own!
Of course, if Karl Rove had made that phone call....
York’s closing paragraph:
Walpin’s actions undoubtedly angered top officials at the Corporation, and most likely at the White House as well. It would not be long before he was summarily dismissed. But he has no regrets. Whatever happens, he wrote recently, he is proud that he “refused to go along with the U.S. attorney’s office and the Corporation in bowing to the media and political pressure that resulted in this hasty settlement, contrary to the interests of the United States government.”
These guys are dirty from bottom to the top. If they end up in court over Walpin’s dismissal, maybe he’ll have that vaunted status of ‘standing’ needed to open Pandora’s box.
Obama is out making speeches every day while his henchmen are covering up everything and anything.
Check out the Sunday Morning Talk Show Tread posted by Alas Babylon.
FReepers do not have to watch the talk shows they can get FReepers look on the issues. It has been a mainstay of FReeRepublic for year’s and well worth all of us to look at.
The MSM were screaming for Bush’s head when he fired the US Attorneys. Not a word from them when BO fires an IG that investigating one of his cronies.
If we had an independent Free Press, Obama would never get away with this.
Walpin ought to run for office.
Let me expand on your very true statement.
If we had an independent Free Press, Obama would never have gotten elected.
I can’t wait to hear Quinn and Rose on this.
I think Rose will be out for a few days, I could be wrong.
This IS illegal, isn’t it? Isn’t Walpin a career civil servant, not subject to firing by the Führer?
I think he has to give thirty days notice and a documented reason.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.