Unfortunately, the answer is YES.
I asked this of OPM and FBI agents who do background investigations about this contradiction in the past.
If I had financial problems, past felonies/convictions, drug use, among other things; I would not be able to get a TOPSEC clearance.
However, if you are political appointee you are able to get cleared.
During the Clinton administration, many appointees who would never have been able to get security clearances if they applied as a contractor or government employee were give the okay.
Has any of this changed, tightened up, since we have been in a state of War, from September 2001?