White House "Ethics Czar" Worries Watchdogs

The Politico ^ | 6/11/2010 | Chris Frates

[Qbert]

Washington watchdog groups are worried that the White House will de-emphasize President Barack Obama’s commitment to ethics reform if his “ethics czar” Norm Eisen leaves the job for a foreign posting.

Amid reports that Eisen is in line to be U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic, the White House has been surprisingly non-committal about any replacement should Eisen depart.

Ethics groups have viewed Eisen as a valuable ally inside the White House, both because of his work as a founder of a watchdog group and his close ties to Obama.

Obama officials have yet to officially confirm that the president plans to nominate Eisen to the Czech posting. Asked directly whether Obama would replace Eisen if he gets the job, a White House aide noted that Eisen is not the only person handling ethics issues now and that team will remain in place no matter what happens.

But that’s not enough for the leaders of top ethics groups — some of whom have heard that the Eisen post might be left vacant, even though the White House is exploring possible replacements.

"When I first heard this was happening, I was very worried the administration was stepping back from (its ethics) policy. I'm being assured that they're not stepping back," said Craig Holman of Public Citizen, who has heard it is likely that Eisen’s job would be absorbed by lawyers working in the White House counsel's office. "Either way, it doesn't look good."

[Qbert]

I read this Politico article because the title suggested that it would be a hard-hitting, serious analysis of all the corruption and lack of "transparency and accountability" in the White House and Dem. Congress.

I posted it for the sheer comedy value:

"Washington watchdog groups are worried that the White House will de-emphasize President Barack Obama’s commitment to ethics reform if his “ethics czar” Norm Eisen leaves the job for a foreign posting."

"Obama's commitment to ethics reform"! Ha ha ha ha haha- Still falling for HopeyChange, I see.

"...the White House has been surprisingly non-committal about any replacement should Eisen depart."

Yes, "surprisingly"- Heh heh heh- who woulda thunk it?

" "When I first heard this was happening, I was very worried the administration was stepping back from (its ethics) policy...", said Craig Holman of Public Citizen...

Gee Craig, you ever hear of Gerald Walpin, Joe Sestak, Romanoff, the Obama people violating the Presidential Records Act, etc., etc....?

[Tzimisce]

We have an “ethics czar”?

You’d never know it watching this government. It obviously depends on how you define “ethics”....

[jessduntno]

Let him watch this;

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20007604-503544.html

[wac3rd]

Does this include Rep. Fudge, Rangels, too?

[K-oneTexas]

News to me too.

Never heard of this position or the man in it.

Does Norm Eisen have ethics himself?

[CPT Clay]

Enough is enough,,,, get rid of these guys

[scotts8826]

This reminds me of the Catholic school that had a rule that socks had to worn to school. When the fad of wearing no show socks came in a few years ago the school banned no show socks because they couldn’t tell if a student was breaking the rules or not.

Overeaching rules or laws always means you have to pass more to enforce the previous ones when the population finds ways around them.