Posted on 06/15/2009 7:14:44 PM PDT by FromLori
A Senate Republican is asking for information on any role first lady Michelle Obama's office may have played in her husband's decision to fire the watchdog for the federal AmeriCorps program over his investigation of Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa requested that Alan Solomont, chairman of the government-run Corporation for National and Community Service, which runs the AmeriCorps program, provide "any and all records, e-mail, memoranda, documents, communications or other information" related to contacts with officials in the first lady's office.
Michelle Obama's former chief of staff, Jackie Norris, is expected to join the national service corporation as a senior adviser on June 22. Norris was a senior adviser in Obama's campaign for Iowa's precinct caucuses, and she was state director for his general election campaign in Iowa.
The president on Thursday told Congress he had lost confidence in Gerald Walpin, the national service agency's inspector general. White House counsel Gregory Craig, in a letter to Grassley, cited criticism of Walpin's investigation of Johnson, a former all-star point guard for the Phoenix Suns and a supporter of Obama's presidential campaign.
Walpin said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press that he reported facts and conclusions "in an honest and full way" while at the corporation. "I know that I and my office acted with the highest integrity as an independent inspector general should act," he said.
In September 2008, Walpin's office found misuse of federal grants by Johnson and the St. HOPE Academy, a nonprofit education program he founded. Johnson and St. HOPE ultimately agreed to repay half of $847,000 in grants they had received from AmeriCorps between 2004 and 2007.
Walpin was appointed by President George W. Bush and sworn into office in January 2007.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
I hope Grassley will stand up to the assault he will take with this challenge. The American people won’t be pleased. They will see this as a challenge to their intelligence in choosing the president.
They’ll get nowhere. Chairman Obama answers to no one.
Yet!
If the GOP allows this to happen without raising hell, the intimidation factor these marxist thugs throw around will be unmitigated.
Ping.
Is this “THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION” of which they speak?
Ah. Here’s a thought. When Clinton was prez and he began having some difficulties, I remember the pundits predicting that Hillary would be the fall guy because HE was too likeable. Could it be that the first crack in the facade will involve Michelle? This would also give cover to BO voters who are too proud to admit they made a mistake.
A bunch of crook and thugs...he is over playing his hand and it will eventually catch up to him..wait and see...he does walk on water and his poop still stinks...
Looking forward to Independence Day!
sorry i left out the most critical word...”he does NOT walk on water”
Glenn Beck interviewed Mr. Walpin tonight. I only had the audio, but I sure could tell he was angry...and rightfully so. He’s being singled out for doing what is right. Fascism ala Obama.
To make it more outrageous, Obama sponsored and voted for the very law enacted to protect the inspector generals in 2008...the very law he is now ignoring. But don’t look for a story on this reported by Katie Couric, Jim Lehrer or any of those other leftist shills masquerading as ‘journalists’.
Finally! I hope he stays the course and exposes the hypocrisy of 0 and company.
If you read David Horowitz' Radical Son, you will find what happened to his friend Betty when she pointed out that Huey Newton had misspent some money.
She was found floating in Oakland Bay.
This guy had better be careful.
Obama will never have to worry about impeachment--as long as the Democrats have a majority, the idea that they would even consider impeachment is ludicrous, and even if the Republicans regained control in 2010 they would be too timid to try anything.
I hope they investigate and leave no stone unturned. Making Obama accountable early sends him a message - he may not heed it, but it makes him know that everyone won’t just be taking his nonsense and rolling over.
Indeed. He is very weak; the international community knows this and our own politiicans should figure it out. Obama is all speeches and bluster.
The real story: Walpin discovered millions of dollars of federal money missing at City University of New York. CUNY received the millions for students in the Americorp program, many of whom were already receiving full scholarships. Isn’t that called double dipping?
The chief of staff that Michelle fired last week is supposed to be moving to CUNY to coverup, or should I say oversee, that mess.
Way to go Chuck !!! Tell them to Stand and Deliver !!!
Shrug... I still wonder why W and the GOP didn’t get rid of AmeriCorps when they had the chance.
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