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From the National Review:
Max Cleland, who made a staged appearance at the Bush ranch Wednesday, was appointed by President George W. Bush to the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank in 2003. The same Max Cleland who is spending nearly all of his time attacking President Bush is, amazingly enough, a Bush political appointee.
According to a bank spokesman, Cleland makes $136,000 a year off this very cushy job. A couple of questions come to mind here: If Cleland had any decency, wouldn't he resign? Why would he accept a political appointment from a man he so loathes and thinks represents the very worst in American politics? Max Cleland's extremely partisan activities are being subsidized by the American taxpayer.
But, wait, it gets more sinister. There is now a definitive link between President Bush and the attacks against him. This link is as direct as most of the links that have been highlighted between Bush and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth: Bush gave a $136,000 job to one of his attackers and a key member of Kerry's "band of brothers." By the logic of most of the press corps, this means George W. Bush must be responsible for the activities of Kerry campaign's band of brothers (see this chart). Who knows what deep game is being played here, but somebody should call the New York Times.
The bank's bipartisan board has five members, no more than three of whom can be from one political party. The board is responsible for the policymaking and decision-making of the bank. There are no time or attendance requirements that go with the job, and no attendance records are kept. A spokesman tells NRO that the board meets, on average, once a week, and that Cleland, nominated and confirmed in late 2003, has been voting at meetings. But he notes that board members can participate by phone. (I did say very cushy, didn't I?)
Board members are subject to the provisions of the Hatch Act that restricts the activities of federal employees. But since they are presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed, the restrictions on them are much lighter, and Cleland's political activities are presumably legal. That doesn't make it any more seemly. The bank spokesman says that there are no time requirements on board members. "Presidential appointees confirmed by the Senate are considered to be always on the job," he says. "They don't have 9-5 assignments. They don't have to work eight-hour days. While they are a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate, they are always a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate." Even when they are attacking the president?
The Export-Import Bank, which helps U.S. corporations in its overseas business, is often cited as an example of the kind of "corporate welfare" that John Kerry has occasionally railed against. That apparently doesn't matter to Max Cleland. He's happy to get on the gravy train, and trash the president who put him there.
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