WH: Obama has 'confidence' in vetting process

The Hill ^ | 2/3/09 | Sam Youngman

[NormsRevenge]

The White House said Tuesday afternoon that President Obama has "confidence in the process" of vetting senior administration and Cabinet officials despite the withdrawal of two high-profile nominees earlier in the day.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs came under fire during his daily briefing for declining to answer questions about whether there was a breakdown in the vetting process after Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer, nominated to be Obama's first chief performance officer, withdrew amid troubles over taxes.

In response to questions about the two nominees' vetting, Gibbs would only say: "The president has confidence in the process."

"The president is quite confident in the people that serve in this White House and serve in this administration, that we've put a standard of ethics and accountability that's unseen and unmatched by any previous administration in our country's history," Gibbs said.

Gibbs said the White House did not send any signals to Daschle to withdraw, and Obama learned of his decision when the former Senate majority leader reached the president by phone in his private study off the Oval Office.

Gibbs said the president is not distracted by the two nominees' decisions, and the administration is "not losing sight of what's important on the president's agenda to get moving forward."

"I think they both recognized that you can't set an example of responsibility but accept a different standard in who serves," Gibbs said. "They both decided and recognized that their nominations would distract from the important goals and the critical agenda that the president put forward."

Despite that, Gibbs said Daschle's withdrawal — both from HHS and in the White House Office of Health Reform — will not retard Obama's efforts to reform the nation's healthcare system.

"I don't think the effort slows down for healthcare reform, and I think Sen. Daschle and others would admit that the effort is far bigger than any one individual," Gibbs said.

With what appears to complete confidence in a process that resulted in two nominees withdrawing over tax issues, and in Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's confirmation being delayed by the same issues, the White House is proceeding with its search to fill the spots abandoned Tuesday.

Gibbs said, "Obviously, the administration is looking for replacements as we speak."

[NormsRevenge]

'absolutely'.

[anniegetyourgun]

Then Obama has confidence in incompetents.

[wolfpat]

Once again, while the Republicans are jumping moral hurdles, the democrats are doing the limbo.

[rovenstinez]

Someone is whistling in the dark. I don’t have any confidence in the vetting system. THIS is not Presidential response, not Excellent, tis sloppy...3rd worldish.

[The_Victor]

"The president is quite confident in the people that serve in this White House and serve in this administration, that we've put a standard of ethics and accountability that's unseen and unmatched by any previous administration in our country's history," Gibbs said.

Did he keep a straight face while making that statement?

[Jeff Gordon]

Fine, Mr Obama. You just go ahead and have confidence with incompetents. Just know that I have absolutely no confidence in you.

[muawiyah]

Except Robert Gibbs ~ ain't no way that bad boy can do the limbo.

Give him two weeks and he's out for health reasons.

[icwhatudo]

Lets not forget Richardson’s withdraw as well.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

“It’s just that all Democrats are career criminals,” Obama whined.

“This is the best we can do,” he added.

[Tublecane]

I’m surprised they’re levelling the same accusation at Obama as they did McCain as regards Palin. I mean, there is nowhere near the same coverage across the MSM, and Palin’s scandals were nowhere near as real as those of Obama’s picks. Still, you’d think the MSM would steer clear of using the same buzz word, i.e. “vetting,” for both.

[cripplecreek]

Yeah I saw a democrat spokesman on the news a bit ago claiming it wasn’t up to the White house to vet these nominees, it’s up to the nominee.

Under the bus with ya Tommy.

[CaribouCrossing]

President Obama has confidence in the vetting process because that same process was used to enable him to become president without being properly vetted.

[LottieDah]

“Once again, while the Republicans are jumping moral hurdles, the democrats are doing the limbo.”

That’s because Republicans and dare I say it even RINOs have standards and Democrats have NONE.

[lilylangtree]

Of course obozo believes in the vetting process since no one vetted him about whether he was even constitutionally eligible to even run for POTUS. Supreme Court bowed out. Plus obozo in front of the nation and said that he basically vetted members of his staff and no one had any contact w/former Gov Blago, and we know that his big Chief of Staff, Rahm Immanuel, spoke w/Blago. obozo is a liar and fraud. Of course he believes in the vetting process since the process isn’t even performed where he’s concerned. And the lies from the RATS, White House & mainstream media just keep on rolling.

[MortMan]

Heck, it gave him a pass, didn’t it?!? ;-P

[<1/1,000,000th%]

In December 2004, George W. Bush nominated Kerik as Secretary of Homeland Security. A week later, Kerik withdrew his nomination, explaining that he had employed an illegal immigrant as a nanny; subsequently, numerous allegations surfaced which would likely have led to a confirmation battle. In 2006, Kerik pled guilty to two unrelated ethics violations after an investigation by the Bronx District Attorney's Office, and was ordered to pay $221,000.

He is currently under Federal investigation: A grand jury issued a multi-count indictment on November 8, 2007 alleging conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and lying to the Internal Revenue Service. Kerik surrendered to authorities on Friday, November 9, 2007, was arraigned before Magistrate Judge George Yanthis in White Plains, New York Federal Court, and pled not guilty to all 16 charges.

I can't believe no one's asked Bernie's opinion on this.

[bronxville]

Obama Picks Porn Lawyer for #2 at Justice
February 3, 2009

[...]

David Ogden has collected checks from Playboy and Penthouse to fight any attempts to establish filters on federally-funded public libraries. Ogden even sued the federal government in an attempt to publish Braille versions of Playboy magazine – at taxpayer expense, of course,” said Burch.

As a lawyer in private practice, Ogden has argued for an unlimited abortion license, gays in the military, and has urged courts to treat traditional definitions of marriage as a social prejudice.

“A vast majority of Americans support parental notification before a minor’s abortion and protecting kids from Internet pornography in our libraries,” continued Burch. “Yet David Ogden has fought tooth and nail against these common sense laws protecting our children from harm. At a time when America’s families are under increasing assault, Mr. Ogden is a dangerous choice for a position whose responsibilities include the enforcement of our nation’s laws. “
http://www.fidelis.org/press.aspx?pid=45

Here’s another winner. Obama’s judgement is based on his values which says a lot about the mans character.

[Right Cal Gal]

I was just thinking that. They ragged on McCain for apparently not vetting Palin to discover - WHAT? She has a pregnant unmarried daughter. Oh the HUMANITY!

Meanwhile, democrat nominees have scandals involving actual criminal activity and Zero has confidence in his vetting process?

I’m revising my estimate - Zero and Congress will have the same approval rating by June.

[torchthemummy]

"I think they both recognized that you can't set an example of responsibility but accept a different standard in who serves," Gibbs said. "They both decided and recognized that their nominations would distract from the important goals and the critical agenda that the president put forward."

So yesterday, Obama, by stating he "absolutely" supported Daschle's nomination, obviously did not believe that "you can't set an example of responsibility but accept a different standard in who serves." Does Gibbs now admit that the Geithner nomination should have not gone through? (crickets)

This won't careen Obama but it sure as heck is waking up some voters that supported him and those that didn't bother to vote this time around at all and has definitely cost Obama political capital-wise.

[TheCause]

You cannot polish a turd!