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White House: Census Director to ‘Work Closely’ with West Wing
CQ Politics ^ | 2-5-09 | Jonathan Allen

Posted on 02/05/2009 8:25:27 PM PST by STARWISE

The Obama administration acknowledged Thursday that the as-yet-unnamed Census Bureau director will have a direct line to the White House but sought to define the relationship as one in which the director would “work closely with” rather than report to President Obama’s senior staff.

***After black and Hispanic leaders raised concerns over Commerce Secretary-nominee Judd Gregg ’s commitment to core functions of the Census Bureau, a senior White House official told CQ on Wednesday that the director would report directly to the White House.***

That brought fire Thursday from Republicans, who accused the White House of attempting to gain advantage in the politically delicate process of counting Americans and of violating the law by circumventing the Commerce secretary.

The decennial census is used to determine the apportionment of congressional districts among the states and federal funding for numerous programs.

The White House took a small step back from what the senior official told CQ, releasing a statement late Thursday that couched the relationship between the Census Bureau director and the West Wing as one in which the director would work with the high-level officials rather than report directly to them.

“From the first days of the transition the census has been a priority for the president, and a process he wanted to reevaluate,” White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

“There is historic precedent for the director of the Census, who works for the Commerce secretary and the president, to work closely with White House senior management — given the number of decisions that will have to be put before the president. We plan to return to that model in this administration.”

House Republicans are incensed about the prospect of the Census Bureau director reporting directly to the White House staff, which is led by former Rep. Rahm Emanuel (2003-09), a longtime political operative and onetime chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

“Any attempt by the Obama administration to circumvent the census process for their political benefit will be met with fierce opposition as this ill-conceived proposal undermines a constitutionally obligated process that speaks to the very heart of our democracy,” said California Rep. Darrell Issa , the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Issa and North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry, the top Republican on the subcommittee that oversees census issues, sent a letter to Obama detailing their concern that such a move might circumvent existing law and be used for partisan gain.

“Requiring the census director to report directly to the White House and placing responsibility for administration of the Bureau outside the Department of Commerce may even violate federal law,” they wrote.

“According to Title 13 of the U.S. Code, the Bureau is to be administered ‘within, and under the jurisdiction of, the Department of Commerce.’ ”

The selection of a Republican Commerce secretary by a Democratic president was always certain to cause some discomfort on the political left and the political right.

Gregg’s record on Census Bureau funding, in particular, highlighted the high stakes political battle over how people are counted.

Gregg opposed “emergency” funding for the 2000 census and sought to fund Justice Department programs at the expense of Commerce programs when he ran the Commerce-Justice appropriations panel. He also voted for a Republican-written budget that called for abolishing the Commerce Department in 1995.

“The constitutionally mandated decennial census needs to be fair, accurate and trusted. By circumventing the secretary of Commerce’s oversight of the Census Bureau and handing it directly to a political operative such as Mr. Emanuel, you are severely jeopardizing the fairness and accuracy of the 2010 census,” Issa and McHenry wrote.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2010census; 2012redistricting; acorn; bho2009; blackmail; boycottthecensus; buyingvotes; census; censusbureau; democratcongress; democrats; firsthundreddays; fraud; latinos; neomarxism; obama; obamatruthfile; rahmemanuel; redistricting; voterfraud
Census stripped from Gregg?

As we've been reporting for the last couple of days, the Obama administration is considering placing a buffer between Commerce Secretary Judd Gregg and the Census Bureau to alleviate concerns among black and Latino leaders that he would try to downsize census outreach efforts.

CQ's Jonathan Allen moves the ball a bit the is morning, citing unnamed administration sources saying the bureau would likely report directly to the White House.

That's consistent with what we've been hearing from Hill staffers, though there may be a twist.

Sources on the Hill close to these negotiations say the Census would, more or less by default, would fall under the jurisdiction of Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

That would be fine for Dems; But how would it sit with Republicans to have the former head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee exert control over the bureau that provides data used in redistricting?

A White House spokesman hasn't responded to us. ~~~

Aaah yes .. change is here.

1 posted on 02/05/2009 8:25:27 PM PST by STARWISE
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To: penelopesire; BulletBobCo; seekthetruth; Kevmo; gunnyg; television is just wrong; jcsjcm; BP2; ...

~~DING!


2 posted on 02/05/2009 8:26:32 PM PST by STARWISE ( They (LIBS-STILL) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war- Richard Miniter))
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To: STARWISE

Worse than a Banana Republic. Damn them to hell.


3 posted on 02/05/2009 8:26:49 PM PST by unkus
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To: STARWISE

downsize efforts??

Its the Democrats who want to make up the numbers!!


4 posted on 02/05/2009 8:32:15 PM PST by GeronL (Had the flu. Not well yet.)
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To: STARWISE
"census outreach efforts"

They manufacture votes, they manufacture US residents.

"Game every system". The hallmark of the Democrat party.

5 posted on 02/05/2009 8:34:09 PM PST by ChicagahAl
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To: STARWISE

Promises were made, that information collected for the 2000 census, would only be used for statistical analyses.

After 9/11, it was acknowledged that census data was accessed by Homeland Security.


6 posted on 02/05/2009 8:35:41 PM PST by research99
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To: STARWISE

Gregg should tell Obama to stick his job. Seriously, why would he want it anyway?


7 posted on 02/05/2009 8:43:01 PM PST by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: research99

They already know the results they want so why spend the money to go through all the motions?

I’m sure we will find there are many more blacks and gays than anyone ever imagined and we will also find that the population decline in heavily leftist cities and states has been grossly overestimated.


8 posted on 02/05/2009 8:45:50 PM PST by Iron Munro (Will Rogers: Every law Congress makes is a joke and every joke they tell becomes a law)
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To: Iron Munro

Am I the only one who sees the possibility of nefarious intentions in every thing this man does?


9 posted on 02/05/2009 9:02:09 PM PST by johnnycap
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To: johnnycap

Every single thing ........


10 posted on 02/05/2009 9:12:08 PM PST by STARWISE ( They (LIBS-STILL) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war- Richard Miniter))
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To: STARWISE

Add in ACORN, et al. and you’ve essentially got Venezuela’s model by Chavez.

It is who counts the votes.


11 posted on 02/05/2009 9:14:18 PM PST by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: STARWISE

They’re going to cook the numbers.


12 posted on 02/05/2009 9:15:45 PM PST by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: johnnycap

He is in a rush to pass as much of his socialist, far left agenda as he can in the opening weeks of his administration because he thought his “Golden Boy” status would protect him from criticism and prying questions from the media for a while.

During the campaign he told everyone that he planned to change America and he even gave broad hints about the kind of changes he would make. Freepers knew what he had in mind and knew all along it wasn’t free gas and mortgage payments - at least not for us.

I can understand why the grifters, crack Ho’s, pimps, brood sows and welfare queens voted for him. But anyone actually working for a living who voted for this radical ultra-lefty deserves what they get.

Those of us who saw this coming had the slight advantage of knowing rough times were on the way and being mentally prepared in advance to know it would be a fight for our survival. Sooner or later it will dawn on the Obama supporters that they have been played for suckers by their new Messiah but by then the shelves will be bare and I’m not sharing.


13 posted on 02/05/2009 9:22:43 PM PST by Iron Munro (Will Rogers: Every law Congress makes is a joke and every joke they tell becomes a law)
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To: STARWISE

Why did Gregg accept this appointment? Why?


14 posted on 02/05/2009 9:28:16 PM PST by Hostage
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To: Hostage

It is bizarre. He’s not exactly a RINO... more like the last of a dying breed - a New England style conservative Republican.


15 posted on 02/05/2009 9:36:27 PM PST by Chet 99
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To: ChicagahAl
I directly witnessed in California Hispanic persons ‘coach’ other Hispanics on what to say to census takers at the door. The large part was to inflate the numbers of Hispanics living at the address as much as possible, to make up names or refer to Hispanic persons that lived elsewhere as living at the address.

When I asked why this was being done I was told by a Hispanic PhD candidate at the research foundation where I was visiting that it was to gain more budget and representation for the Hispanic community.

That was 19 years ago.

Until then I never had a thought that people would ‘game the census’ for political power. It was a further shock when I learned later that the this game was occurring in all Hispanic communities throughout the West.

In the 2000 census in Seattle I was comforted when the census taker at my door wanted to physically count the heads in my household and would not take a verbal report. He even read a statement that willfully providing false information to a census taker was a violation of federal and state law.

16 posted on 02/05/2009 9:56:24 PM PST by Hostage
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To: STARWISE

Now this crossed my mind just recently ...Obama is going to manipulate the 2010 census to benefit the rats.


17 posted on 02/05/2009 10:14:03 PM PST by Red Steel
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To: STARWISE

Filling out census forms is voluntary. We could refuse to participate. ;)


18 posted on 02/05/2009 10:19:09 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade, There are only two sides. Pick one.)
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To: Red Steel

“Obama is going to manipulate the 2010 census to benefit the rats.”

And he’ll use ACORN to do it.


19 posted on 02/05/2009 10:23:10 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade, There are only two sides. Pick one.)
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To: sageb1
And he’ll use ACORN to do it.

That's a scary thought. You're probably completely on the mark, too. The census bureau always hires temps to do the counting, and with Rahm Emanuel in charge the list of ACORN employees is going to be their first resource they put in the census bureau's hands.

20 posted on 02/05/2009 10:46:12 PM PST by Tellurian (Sanctity of life and sanctity of property ... define our free country. (Star Parker))
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To: rbg81
Gregg should tell Obama to stick his job. Seriously, why would he want it anyway?

Agreed. And say the reason why. Inform the American public on what is happening here.

21 posted on 02/06/2009 3:36:34 AM PST by maxter (Give today a chance. Enjoy.)
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To: rbg81
Gregg should tell Obama to stick his job. Seriously, why would he want it anyway?

Because Gregg wants to aid and abet voter fraud...?

22 posted on 02/06/2009 4:32:55 AM PST by mewzilla (In politics the middle way is none at all. John Adams)
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To: STARWISE

Democrat Culture Of Corruption! Banana Republic..here we come!

I can tell you one thing, they better not send an ACORN thug to my house asking questions. Just sayin....


23 posted on 02/06/2009 5:05:49 AM PST by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: penelopesire
THE CENSUS......ACORN NOW IN TRAINING

You'll never know it's an Acorn Nut at your door asking census questions. He or she won't tell you. He'll look like the neighbor next door.

The Census Bureau advertises in your local paper. You apply. You get hired if you can read and write. I was a youthful volunteer census taker in my suburban neighborhood way back in the uncomplicated days. I was young, single and had strong legs for walking. You get a list of addresses in your assigned area. You get paid based on the number of households you call on.

I wouldn't do it today, not would I recommend anyone doing it, it would be too dangerous. You have no idea the crazies and weirdos who answer some doors. Doing apartments with doorways lining deserted hallways was tres scary.

At any rate, Acorn and other left-wing nuts in Obamulus's mind-boggling, highly-organized data base which blankets the country like tentacles will be asked (told) to volunteer as census takers. They will be trained in how to manipulate the census by their local "cell" leaders. You will not know about this part.

This is exactly how Acorn rigged the elections last fall in their maiden effort at controlling key functions of our government through sub rosa activities.

Underestimate the Obomination Machine at your peril.

The Messiah may fall on his face in the duties of his office, but his minions and operatives are skilled in manipulation, control and power-grabbing....and rescuing The One through propaganda image-enhancement from the mess he makes in governing .

Leni

24 posted on 02/06/2009 6:48:07 AM PST by MinuteGal
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To: MinuteGal

Scary times ahead! Perhaps we SHOULD volunteer in mass to ‘help’ with the Census?


25 posted on 02/06/2009 6:50:48 AM PST by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: penelopesire
Nice idea, but I wouldn't advise it at all.

Why do parents accompany kids during Trick or Treat in this day and age when they didn't decades ago?

Even lone census takers, especially women, can be dragged inside the door by some evildoer.

Leni

26 posted on 02/06/2009 6:59:18 AM PST by MinuteGal
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To: Tellurian

They will use the SEIU-Service Employees International Union. Lest we forget, the Service Employees International Union, along with ACORN (with whom they share a common address), were most instrumental in getting Mr. Obama elected. And Obama owes them big time, so do all the Dems.

Check out post #14 here.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2177491/posts?page=14#14

This is very scary..............Lou Dobbs is on it.


27 posted on 02/06/2009 7:22:39 AM PST by sweetiepiezer (I have a Pal in Sarah)
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To: STARWISE

ping


28 posted on 02/06/2009 7:29:39 AM PST by sweetiepiezer (I have a Pal in Sarah)
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To: Hostage; ChicagahAl; Tennessee Nana; raybbr; AuntB; TADSLOS
I directly witnessed Hispanics ‘coach’ other Hispanics on what to say to California census takers ..... to inflate Hispanic numbers at the address, to make up names or refer to Hispanics living elsewhere as living at that address. An Hispanic PhD candidate at a research foundation said that it was to gain more budget and representation for Hispanics. That was 19 years ago. I learned later that the this game was occurring in all Hispanic communities throughout the West.........providing false information to a census taker is a violation of federal and state law. Read on..........

CONG TOM TANCREDO: “I’ll never forget a conversation I had two years ago in Mexico with Juan Hernandez, who headed up the newly created Ministry of Mexicans Living in the United States.

Hernandez is a very interesting fellow, a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico, and a good friend of presidents Bush and [Vicente] Fox [of Mexico].*

I asked Hernandez about the purpose of the government agency he heads, since I had never heard of such a thing. He said its purpose is to increase the flow of Mexican nationals to the United States. I asked, “Why?”

"It serves Mexico’s needs," he said, and ticked off a list of such things as remittances to Mexico of $10 billion a year, which is 30 percent of the Mexican GDP. It provides employment for an exploding population, it alleviates social instability due to rising unemployment and it provides training for Mexicans, ultimately repatriating those skills back to Mexico.

I responded to his final aim – repatriation of trained and skilled Mexicans back into Mexico – and asked, ‘’Then your government would oppose amnesty for the illegal Mexicans in the United States?’’

He cried, ‘’Oh no! We support amnesty totally.’’ I replied, ‘’I don’t understand.’’ I assured him that if amnesty were in effect in the United States, then Mexicans would never return.

He then said something riveting: "By populating the United States with millions of Hispanics who are tied economically, politically and linguistically to Mexico, we are able to exert enormous influence and pressure on U.S. policy and its dealings with Mexico.’’

SOURCE http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=33894

===============================

* Hisanics keep a foot in both camps so that whoever wins, they get theirs---Hernandez was McC's Hispanic outreach man.

29 posted on 02/06/2009 10:12:51 AM PST by Liz (The right to be left alone is the beginning of freedom. USSC Justice William O. Douglas)
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To: All
Shucks, Gregg taking orders from Rahm Emanuel sounds great.

Here's "American patriot" Rahm saluting the flag on inauguration day.

30 posted on 02/06/2009 10:18:06 AM PST by Liz (The right to be left alone is the beginning of freedom. USSC Justice William O. Douglas)
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To: STARWISE

Just saying, PEOPLE IN HARD RED AREAS, SHOULD OVER-REPORT WHO LIVES THERE.

Make sure college kids going to liberal areas, report wisely.

Freepers in CA, NY, MA, other hopelessly liberal areas -— 1 person lives there -——

/Just saying/

ACORN DOES IT, WE NEED TO, to.


31 posted on 02/06/2009 11:43:27 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Beware Obama's Reichstag fire.)
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To: MinuteGal

“At any rate, Acorn and other left-wing nuts in Obamulus’s mind-boggling, highly-organized data base which blankets the country like tentacles will be asked (told) to volunteer as census takers. They will be trained in how to manipulate the census by their local “cell” leaders. You will not know about this part.”

Correct. And a responsive grass-roots effort should be made to correct for this fraud.

RedStaters might theoretically over-report.
BlueStaters — no one lives here.


32 posted on 02/06/2009 11:45:19 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Beware Obama's Reichstag fire.)
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To: Iron Munro

Ahh now thats change we can belive in.


33 posted on 02/06/2009 1:06:21 PM PST by CPT Clay (Drill ANWR, Personal Accounts NOW ,)
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To: sweetiepiezer

What would happen if EVERYONE listed their race as “other?”


34 posted on 02/06/2009 5:08:10 PM PST by Josa
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To: research99; All

Ask the Japanese in the 40’s...


35 posted on 02/07/2009 1:15:25 PM PST by KevinDavis (No one should question our "Dear Leader"!)
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To: STARWISE
In other words, Hussein is going to make sure illegals and others get counted in the census to be sure and increase DEMOCRAT PARTY MAJORITIES when re-districting is done.

How nice. Good bye, America.

36 posted on 02/07/2009 8:08:10 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat
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