Obama VP Vetter Johnson Resigns

WASHINGTON — A leader of Democrat Barack Obama's vice presidential research team has resigned amid criticism over his personal loan deals.

Obama announced in a statement Wednesday that Jim Johnson was stepping aside to avoid distracting from the vetting process.

Johnson served on the vetting team with former first daughter Caroline Kennedy and former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder.

Comments

[unscum]

A really poor show by the Obama campaign. McCain has dozens of advisor's working for his campaign who have ties to lobbiest and Barack Obama, the DNC and Obama's surrogates are not able to lay a single punch on McCain. Very very poor show.

[KOisGod]

Troll ALERT

The RNC is now paying .10 a post for these droolers to hit the progressive sites and cast their spit balls around.

Note to you trolls. In 04 bush and the Repigs weren't full exposed. Since then, you fat, pimply, balding morons have been outed by a mountain of evidence of irrifutable facts. BushCON has been stripped naked, and what a putrid sight and stench.

Take a F'in hike -

[mike53]

Somebody needs to find thier "happy place".

[KOisGod]

We've got you're right here

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01Ny5qhcR36Aq/610x.jpg

[KOisGod]

Or even better....

http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_mens_room_070917_ms.jpg

[mcfried]

I just want to add a note to this I think some of them are posting as O.bama supporters. Picking fights and behaving like insulting, irrational loons. While some of us are unfortunately insulting, irrational loons, they seem to be to prevalent to all be real.

[reelcobra]

I liked it better when this was a pure echo chamber, and we all agreed on everything. Debate is unamerikan!

BHO '08!!

[mcfried]

Wow -funny see post below.

[califlefty]

You are confusing the Huffington Post that already has moderators, with your very own blog site, where you you can chase suspected trolls to your hearts content. Bet you were a crossing guard at school because it gave you a power rush. See that "flag as abusive" button - learn to use it an leave your censorship power trip at home.

[Oldbuck]

I really think this was the wrong ideal who the hell care about were Jim Johnson financed his housing if they are no being foreclosed what the devil difference does it make. I f you give into this bunch of idiots they smell blood in the water and just get crazier. This all started at Fox News tell them to go to and stay there.

[jfriday829]

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

[SayLessDoMore]

The people.

[Americanium]

Obama has not learn that he looks better when he is on the offense. Stop playing defense Dammit!! Go knock some skulls and stop the pussy footing.

[DietrichMoody]

The old style politicos would have kept Jim Johnson there or persuaded him to stay. And draaaaaaaaged this issue on for weeks.....­Johnson was big enough to leave. The ones getting hot are the MSM, and others with inherent old style politics thinking. That's all.

[PhDiva]

Smart move. One thing I like about Obama is that he acts quickly. He also makes good decisions about when to eliminate a problem and when to stand his ground. Now, the focus can go back on McCain where it belongs.

[Americanium]

He should not have compromised his values this badly. He won't take lobbyists cash but he'll take their service.

Shame on Obama for this hypocrisy.

[mcfried]

Get a grip.

[GeoLee]

Once caught, he acts quickly. For someone who has promised us a new kind of politics and separation from the politics of the past, why does he always get the quick pass of "he makes good decisions to eliminate a problem and stand his ground" and labeled as making a "smart move" for acting. His entire campaign is based on his ability to make good judgments. Well, selecting the guy in the first place, belies that claim! But then, those who fail to see his human qualities and frailties are doomed to be making your quick pass statements over and over in the next few months. Even though I am left to support him because he represents the party I want in office, he should be held accountable for his poor judgment. If he had good judgment, he would not have to be throwing so many of his long held friends over the side of the ship. The only thing we have really learned about him is that he will act quickly and to his political benefit when caught which makes him a step or two ahead of the man he is trying to replace.

[SpoxLogic]

The bad thing is he did not have to accept the guys resignation. Read this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-fiderer/how-the-wall-street-journ_b_106600.html

However, perception is what seems to hodl sway in this country, not truth. And once the garbage is out, it's very ahrd to clean up the stink it created even though it was a smear with based on stretching the truth or outright lying.

[JackND]

As recently as when he secured the nomination in March, I rather liked McCain, and had enough respect for him to at least consider voting for him.

But since then, he's gotten sleazier by the day.

[StephenDedalus82]

This is bad. Obama got a lot of primary traction by bashing lobbyists and Washington insiders. Now that he has to win the general election, he won't be able to do it without Washington insiders with lobbyist ties. McCain's people will jump on every envelope-licker with a past and pull the hypocrisy card. This is bad, people. He didn't think this one through. He can't very well flip flop on the issue and say "Well-connected insiders aren't so bad after all." And he can't win the election with a staff of college students. It's not about who has the more corrupt people--it's about who brayed the loudest about corruption in the first place, setting himself up for hypocrisy. One of the reasons I thought Clinton was the better candidate was because everybody knows she comes with baggage and connections and nobody was gonna fault her for what's in her nature--and McCain is even more entrenched, so who would give a crap? Oh well, the inevitable pivoting from primary to general had to come some day. I just hope liberal Obama-worshipers can handle it.

[solarenergy]

Ha! You so funny!

Is Charlie "I work for dictators who rape children" Black still in charge of McKillever­yoneinsigh­t's campaign?

Ha! You so funny!

[StephenDedalus82]

Doesn't matter. Did you read what I said? It's not about whose advisers are more corrupt, it's about who can be painted a hypocrite about it. Perception, not reality, is what matters most in politics.

[punditpolice]

This guy wasn't ever a lobbyist. And all he did was get a couple of big house loans at great rates- well duh, he worked for Fannie Mae, and of course he likely has stellar credit, so of course he's going to get great loan rates. Sorry your candidate lost, and we who support Obama ask you to look at the bigger picture- like those who said there was no difference between Gore and Bush and now we see how absolutely wrong that judgment was. Similarly, the difference b/t Obama and McCain is huge and anyone who supported HRC and is a democrat should put the interests of the country first.
As to your other point that the only people in Washington who are capable are lobbyists or well-connected insiders, then you haven't been in Washington.

[GeoLee]

If that is all, then of course it went unnoticed by someone who also got a sweetheart house deal the rest of us could only dream of.

[JohnTalbutt]

:Oh, my God, as an Obama supporter I am just so discouraged. And up until I read your piece I thought he had acted appropriately. But thanks for your concern and when they make hang wringing is a sport, I am giving you 10 10 10!

[Mojane]

The number of active lobbyists working in the McCain camp doesn't bother anyone? Lil' Teflon man.

[SanityClaus]

You'll want to save some of your feigned outrage. It's a long time until November and you don't want to blow your wad too soon.

[vipersdad]

Is it just me or did a flock of trolls descend on Huffpo in the past few days?

[mcfried]

It's not just you.

[ObamaLover]

I guess this means Eric Holder will quit next since he was the crook that worked the Mark Rich pardon for the clintons.

[SamSedaei - Huffpost Blogger]

Good decision. Nothing else would have shut up these conservatives who were making an issue out of a non-issue.

[jpcline004]

oh, I thought it meant the Orioles set up man Jim Johnson. I was really worried.

[sanywhere]

nice to see a baseball reference.

[gnomic]

Only saints and liars can touch the hem of the anointed?

[Matt7]

If you had YOUR way.

[Msohio]

This is getting ridiculous. McCain isn't talking about Phil Gramm's deals. Gramm actually made the way for this mortgage mess. Where is your judgment McCain???

[solarenergy]

The old double standard rears it's head again.

Dems must never have a hint of an appearance of a conflict of interest.

Republicans can roll naked in gold dust sprinkled on them by prostitutes hired by oil company lobbyists, and the media thinks: "isn't that cute?"

[U4IA]

McCain's own deals with Bob Diamond and other real estate developers in Arizona dwarf this. Notice how the Senator from Illinois doesn't bring this up? Obama is merely saving Johnson the headache, and in the process given the Republicans one less, minor, issue to complain about. There is so little, that they are harping on a VP vetter. Or having their lackeys return to the Muslim meme. Sad. But they'll be pushed aside soon enough.