For a Washington Job, Be Prepared to Tell All

The New York Times ^ | November 12, 2008 | Jackie Calmes

[Cboldt]

A seven-page questionnaire being sent by the office of President-elect Barack Obama to those seeking cabinet and other high-ranking posts may be the most extensive - some say invasive - application ever.

[Cboldt]

Link to the 7 page questionnaire

The questionnaire covers the usual grounds of embarrassing background. Unremarked in the NYT story is this gem, Question 59 on page 7:

Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage.

[FlingWingFlyer]

This is horsesh*t. Will Baracko Bama fill one out? We still haven’t got a clue who that jackass is.

[penelopesire]

Wonder how they are weeding out folks that have ever voted for a republican? (eye roll)

[Coldwater Creek]

I guess that it is a case of, Don't do as I do, but as I say”.

What hypocrites!

[cripplecreek]

Let me also say that I remain distressed that the White House during this confirmation process, which overall went smoothly, failed to provide critical documents as part of the record that could have provided us with a better basis to make our judgment with respect to the nomination. This White House continues to stymie efforts on the part of the Senate to do its job. I hope with the next nominee who comes up for the Supreme Court that the White House recognizes that in fact it is its duty not just to the Senate but to the American people to make sure we can thoroughly and adequately evaluate the record of every single nominee who comes before us.

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama on the Confirmation of Judge John Roberts

[penelopesire]

“They must include any e-mail that might embarrass the president-elect, along with any blog posts and links to their Facebook pages.

The application also asks applicants to “please list all aliases or ‘handles’ you have used to communicate on the Internet.”

LOL...I guess all those KOS kids, DUmmies and Huffington Post folks can forget their dreams of working for Obama!!

[Cboldt]

-- Wonder how they are weeding out folks that have ever voted for a republican? --

My take was completely different. The questions are aimed largely at detecting administration members that would be damaging as examples of hypocrites. The usual questions are "paid our taxes?, taken any gifts?, hired illegal immigrants?, belonged to the wrong groups?" In that context, the question "Own any guns?" stands out, to me. Why would gun ownership be taken as embarrassing or hypocritical?

I see the question as telegraphing a general policy position toward firearm ownership.

[Prov1322]

This from an incoming regime where the new leader could not achieve the highest levels of security clearance if not elected to the position.

[fso301]

I see the question as telegraphing a general policy position toward firearm ownership

Yep.

[Sacajaweau]

Oh, please...Dems will just LIE...until they get caught....people like Edwards, Spitzer...

And PLEASE don't tell me the big Dems didn't know about both of them before they "admitted" being CRUDS....

Like Spitzer would write "No. 9" as an alias...Yeh, right...

[bvw]

Where's his birth records, where's his college transcripts and dissertations? Where's all the money coming from Obama?

He's a man who is a total hypocrite.

[tomnbeverly]

All Americans will be required to take a similar quiz in the future. That way they know who must be placed under control.

“In Obama’s America, First they came for the Republicans, and I didn’t speak up because I didn’t consider myself a Republican.

Then they came for the Gun Owners and I didn’t speak up because I didn’t own a gun

Then they came for the Conservatives and I dind’t speak up because I wasn’t a Conservative.

And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.”

[FlingWingFlyer]

I hadn’t thought of that. Good point! LOL!

[penelopesire]

“I see the question as telegraphing a general policy position toward firearm ownership.”

I think we all realize now that Obama is going for our guns as soon as he takes office. The man is being proved to be a liar everyday. It’s just a shame that so many people in this country didn’t know it or didn’t care.

[FarRightFanatic]

Wow - after reading through this questionnaire, I have a hard time believing Hussein would be able to hire HIMSELF.

Also, did anyone notice the note made next to question 31? It looks like ‘Clinton’ to me. What do you all make of that?

[penelopesire]

You are probably right. Just look who he is putting in his cabinet....all the liars and crooks from FANNIE AND FREDDIE! This will just give them plausible deniability.

[tomnbeverly]

Foolish... neither Spitzer nor Edwards have been held accountable..... not to mention William Jefferson and Patrick Kennedy...

Liberals, Lie, play victim,

[autumnraine]

Does Barack Obama realize that most hunting areas don’t require registration for shotguns and rifles?

[penelopesire]

“I have a hard time believing Hussein would be able to hire HIMSELF.”

no joke....lol

this paragraph tells it all:

“Not surprisingly, then, Question 18 of the Obama application asks whether “you, your spouse or any member of your immediate family” have been affiliated with Fannie, Freddie, American International Group, Washington Mutual and any other institution getting a government bailout.”

Every one of those companies gave millions to Obama’s campaign!! PONZI PENNY is slated to be in his commerce department along with many others involved in the meltdown.

[Cboldt]

-- Also, did anyone notice the note made next to question 31? It looks like "Clinton" to me. --

I think it says "Children," and is meant to excuse a person from disclosing loans made to their children.

Without looking it up, my intuition is that this isn't any more intrusive that whatever GWB used on the subjects of taxes, income and memberships. Congress puts written questions to nominees as a matter of routine, so asking potential nominees to pony-up in advance isn't a bad idea.

Obviously, the gun question caught my eye. I believe it's appearance in this context is a first. I don't recall seeing a "do you own a gun" question in any questionnaire of any nominee, EVER.