McCain Digs at Obama on Ethics Waiver

[Hope And Change]

McCain disappointed by ethics waiver

2 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain says he is disappointed in President Obama's decision to waive a new ethics requirement for the man picked to be the No. 2 at the Pentagon.

McCain, the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement late Friday that he won't endorse William J. Lynn III until he has more details. Specifically, McCain says he wants to know whether Lynn, a former Raytheon lobbyist, would disqualify himself from certain issues.

The administration delivered a waiver to Capitol Hill late Thursday exempting Lynn from the requirement that people must wait two years before working for an agency they once lobbied.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jKOUh4j8_KvI1WQeXsw-sRugUrcAD95T4CG81">Link

[TTUBatfan2008]

1. I'm disappointed in it too...

Couldn't they have gotten someone with similar qualifications but with clean ethics?

[Cha]

16. Yeah, whatever ..but mccain complaining about ETHICS?!

If you don't have any ETHICS..you don't get to complain about them.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Unless I'm missing something regarding the Lynn appointment...

I must side with McLame on this one...however much it pains me. It's critical that Obama be consistent on these matters if, for nothing else, it keeps folks like McLame from playing gotcha.

[polichick]

3. I feel the same about this guy as I do Geithner...

Are they really the ONLY ones who could do these jobs? Why choose lobbyists or tax evaders?

That said, McShame is full of shit ~ how many lobbyists were part of his campaign staff?

[Thrill]

5. I think Geithner is a good pick.

I think they probably should of picked someone other than Lynn. But I read somewhere they wanted Lynn there to get the Defense Budget under control.

[polichick]

7. Why pick anyone who is tainted when there are other possibilities??

[Thrill]

9. Because some times the pluses out weigh the minuses

I think thats the case with Geithner. But Lynn seems like an unnecessary distraction.

[polichick]

10. Hasn't Geitner been part of the culture that created this mess - what are the pluses?

[TTUBatfan2008]

11. Exactly what I'm wondering...

Wasn't he blamed for this, among others in New York such as Schumer?

[Thrill]

12. No. I don't believe so

Geitner has never worked in the private sector. Where he can become obsessed with greed. And everything I've read on him is that he's always been for more regulation. The pluses are he knows the financial markets, he's not going to freak out the markets, he's managed financial crisis before, and has a boatload of experience.

I've also yet to hear even the most liberal economists like Krugman object to him getting the job. All I've heard is he's very good or even great choice. So I just don't see why his tax issue should out weigh all that.

[polichick]

13. Well, you make a good case - I hope you're right. :)

[Pharaoh]

4. Like Cheney recused himself

from his conflict of interest with Halliburton?


Just wondering? and this guy is certainly not in cheneys league...........

[TTUBatfan2008]

8. It was Bush too, not just Cheney...

Carlyle Group. Weapons contracts out the ass. Both Bushes have significant stock in that company and both profited from the Iraq War.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. The irony meter of McCain discussing lobbyists is going off the charts! NT

[Cha]

17. You're the first one on this thread to

get that.

[Ian David]

14. Talk about the pot calling the kettle unethical, though. McLobbyist is one to talk. n/t

[Hope And Change]

15. Lynn uniquely qualified for new role

Lynn's nomination raised some eyebrows, but he could be the best suited for deputy defense secretary.
Photo: AP

Lynn uniquely qualified for new role

By JEN DIMASCIO | 1/25/09 3:22 PM EST

What makes William Lynn so special?

Just after announcing tough rules for lobbyists, President Barack Obama waived them to clear the way for Lynn, a former Raytheon lobbyist, to become deputy defense secretary.

His nomination had immediately prompted protests from government ethics groups and raised the eyebrows of influential senators who must confirm his appointment – including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Obama's vanquished campaign rival.

But McCain – the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is considering the nomination, said on Sunday he was now leaning toward moving forward with it.

“I don’t like it,” McCain said on “Fox News Sunday,” I think it’s a bit disingenuous to announce strict rules and then nominate someone with a waiver from the rules that you just announced, in one of the most important jobs in Washington, the No. 2 person at the Defense Department.”

“I’ve asked to see which areas that Mr. Lynn will be recused from,” McCain said, reiterating his past concerns, “but I think we need to probably move forward with his nomination.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17914.html">Full article here

[Cha]

18. I thought he might be since Obama & Crew are

going out of their way for him.