Obama's 'czars' raise concerns among House Republicans

Dallas Morning News ^ | 09/17/2009 | MARJORIE KORN

[Responsibility2nd]

WASHINGTON – House Republicans railed Wednesday against President Barack Obama's appointment of "czars," questioning their legality and calling on the administration to provide greater accountability and personal information on the appointees.

Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, along with Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., sent a letter to Obama requesting information on the background, authority and appointment process for the dozens of czars.

Czars, who represent a broad group of presidential advisers and appointees, have been around since President Richard Nixon and theoretically can transcend Washington bureaucracy, particularly across agencies. But recently, Republicans have painted czars as further evidence of executive power run amok.

"There is grave concern that, in the absence of the requirement for Senate confirmation, the administration may be appointing individuals who would not otherwise withstand congressional scrutiny," Smith and Issa wrote.

Issa said Obama has created a "shadow cabinet" that "is a danger to the very question of who is advising the president and on what basis."

[Responsibility2nd]

My hopes are that Obama's Shadow Government is overturned.

[SamiGirl]

What took ‘em so long?

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Czars?
Shadow-cabinet?
Politburo.

[Russ]

They emerge from the tall grass just long enough to "voice their concern" and quickly duck back under cover. After all, they don't want to be accused of being racist, do they?

[airborne]

What took ‘em so long?

REALLY!

[SamiGirl]

That’s about it. Such weak men. With very few exceptions, the rest are useless.

[HighlyOpinionated]

"There is grave concern that, in the absence of the requirement for Senate confirmation, the administration may be appointing individuals who would not otherwise withstand congressional scrutiny," Smith and Issa wrote.

Wasn't that 0bama's plan to start with?

[B.O. Plenty]

Elections have consequences.....

It's Time to Part Company

[Night Hides Not]

That’s about it. Such weak men. With very few exceptions, the rest are useless.

It starts with Boehner. He spends more time working on his tan than he does fighting the Democrats.

[BuffaloJack]

The Obama Czar Shadow Government is to circumvent Congress in all decisions.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Obama’s Czars equate to Chicago mob bosses....

[vpintheak]

Gee they finally grew some stones. Congrats. We will see what happens.

[Deb]

What a ridiculous statement. I suggest you spend some time watching the committee hearings when the healthcare bills are being put together. The Republicans on the committees fight tooth and nail to stop the Democrats from destroying the country. Tom Coburn alone does an incredible job slamming, cajoling and intellectually besting them at every turn. I have no idea why they bother, they get credit for nothing.

If the American voters are so stupid and ill-informed that they give the majority to the people who hate this country, that's hardly the fault of Republicans.

Do some homework before you expose yourself.