Political Wisdom: Obama’s Johnson: Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Jim Johnson, the just-departed adviser to Sen. Barack Obama who was leading the effort to screen vice presidential candidates, was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, argues Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic: “In many respects, the times and the man just didn’t jibe. Johnson is extremely well-liked and well-respected, and is a Washington insider, and a man very much identified with mortgages. And Obama is an outside-Washington change guy. The veep choice is extremely important.” 0612perceptions_ssv_20080612072350.jpg Jim Johnson, leaves a meeting on Capitol Hill, Monday, in Washington. (AP Photo)

Still, Ambinder wonders about the lingering questions: “Was he pushed? Did he resign voluntarily? Will the team of lawyers that Johnson uses to vet the candidates — the usual suspects who’ve done this for cycle after cycle — stay on board? If not, what’s the cost of finding a new team of trusted folks?” All told, the departure represents “payback time” for the lobbyists forced out of Sen. John McCain’s camp in a “war of attrition saddens folks in both camps.”

I believe everyone is missing the real scandal hidden in this story. Yes, Obama’s judgment is lacking.

But the real scandal is a “public servant” who scored $21 million in one year...not to mention the chauffeur and servants he was granted when he departed.

I recently did some research and found that public employees, on average, now are compensated considerably more than their private sector counterparts. And that’s just pay...it doesn’t include the benefits, early retirement with generous pensions unheard of in the private sector, health care for life, etc.

Washington has become a self-serving, insider’s game paid for out of our wallets. They grant themselves exemptions and benefits, all the while frittering away the puny social security they pretend is such a wonderful benefit for us peons. The situation reminds me of the “House banking” scandal. The time is ripe for the GOP to take on the bureaucrats.

And the Johnson headlines give the the perfect opportunity. He would make an ideal poster boy for the way average folks come to Washington and become multi-millionaires. After him you can tack on the Clintons, Obama, Reid...the list goes on and on.

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