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

[08politicaljunkie]

I don't get it.

What difference does it make who the vetter is as long as the candidate chosen is vetted?

Anyone mind explaining?

[hbw3]

Well, it would probably be because....

...ohhhh, shiiiiiinnnnnnny flag pin, worn by Duff's heiress's husband.... Mmm, beer.

[08politicaljunkie]

You're too funny. I never pictured him on The Simpsons. He looks like a South Park character to me.

[damselfly1600]

This is ridiculous. For Obama to sucumb to the pressures of the Mccain/media campaign to paint him with the same brush as the McCain lobbyists is not good. Obama needs to defend his positions and show strength in the face of these idiots who will try anything to smear him and or his associates.

[bygollymissmolly]

And what makes you think that O'bama gave in to the pressure. How do you know that Johnson didn't just step down because he didn't want to become an issue for O'bama? I heard O'bama say on TV last night that he wasn't going to fire him and that he supported him. It sounds like Johnson did it on his own.

[NotMcCain]

So Johnson's Countrywide loans make a difference for an UNPAID position doing the grunt work of researching and vetting VP candidates? Why?

And yet the media is SILENT about Phil Gramm with his lobbyist ties being a top McCain advisor? And were SILENT about Hillary's husband being a paid lobbyist for a foreign government? And still say nothing about Charlie Black?

Really, the Obama campaign is getting "out-emailed" and "out-spun". Don't they understand that the broadcast media is lazy and gets a lot of stories straight off the campaign email spins? If you don't spin it for them, you don't get your message heard (no matter how stupid or inaccurate that message may be, as with Johnson).

I thought Obama's group were the masters of technology. Don't they ever send THEIR talking points to the media? They better start soon!

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I think Obama should be playing a little tougher. But with the gaffe machine that McBush is maybe he's just waiting for McBush to self destruct.

[Grannysue]

The guy isn't part of Obama's campaign team, he is or was simply an advisor on the V.P. choice, so what now Obama has to have someone vet the vetter? The Repukins are pathetic, they need to worry more about the old condger who can't speak or use a computer their running along with all his lobbyist pals!

[evgolightly]

Aaaahhhhh! There was no story here! Since when does a "vetter" have to be vetted? He was an unpaid volunteer! Unless he had human body parts in his freezer, I DON'T CARE!

But what was his major offense? Getting a couple of mortgages from Countrywide? At below market rates? A big YAWN is fitting here. Especially when you take a look at what's going on in McCainLand.

Obama's so sqeeky clean the Republicans have resorted to making an issue over any little crumb they can find. We are becomming more ridiculous with each passing day, month, year ... Imagine the laughs they're having at our expense in Europe.

[reelcobra]

Too bad Rezko didn't get a loan from the same guy when he bought the house with Obama. He could have sold that strip of land for less!

[SanityClaus]

Too bad Rezko was also a contributor to Bill Clinton.

[UKVisitor]

I'm a foreigner and I don't really understand the American political system. So apologies if this is a dumb question, but
Why can't Obama name his whole Cabinet before the election? That way you wuldn't be electing jsut one man, but a whole executive.
It seems as though there is a wealth of good candidates (including HRC, I guess)
And it isn't as though the VP is so much more important than the Secretary of State.
So couldn't Obama gain political advantage by agreeing roles for Richardson, Webb, Sibelius, HRC etc etc?
Wouldn't that go a long way to uniting the Democrats?
Cheers,

[flamflurm]

Good idea. He needs some real heft around. Maybe Ron Paul is free.

[DakotaMinnesota]

You make a good point.

I suppose that presidential candidates avoid "specifics" like naming a prospective cabinet posts so as to avoid all of the intense scrutiny and potential for scandal that each selection would invite. Our presidential candidates catch enough heat for their vaguely outlined policy initiatives. Basically, as usual in American politics, fear of reprisal is probably the main reason presidents don't advertise their cabinet choices before getting elected.

However, in the case of this election, who knows? Obama putting together some kind of dream cabinet might have a positive political effect.

There could also be the argument that spending all this time haggling over cabinet posts before the election is even won saps the strength and attention of the campaign. Basically "first thing's first."

[SuperPatriotGuy]

The cabinet has to be ratified by the senate, a CANDIDATE can't appoint a cabinet until he's PRESIDENT.

It goes without saying that Obama won't be appointing a cabinet anytime soon.

God Bless the Republican Party!

McCain '081

SPG

[PFHarlock]

UKVisitor said "name", not "appoint."

[TN60]

Welcome UK...love your country !!

You see, you probably know more about our country and the line of succession better than 50% of our population. After all 50% put W in the WH, twice (well we think he stole it twice) Now we have this insane old coot that I swear is dumber than W (and I never thought anyone could be that dumb) running and he doesn't have the foggiest about anything. See all he can talk about is a war that was fought 40 years ago and how he crashed his jet and 4 more.

I think we will have a pretty good idea of who Obama will have around him in his cabinet before the election. He might even use your approach

Good to hear from others outside our country.

Cheers back at you !!

[bdl0715]

I think that is an excellent idea and I think he should do it.

[gditty]

It's obvious that Obama is being held to a different standard, McCain is not asked by MSM about paid campaign staffers that structured his policies that their clients benefit from.

[califlefty]

Perhaps because Obama himself has set the higher standard of a campaign beyond reproach?Let's not ask the American people to judge the campaign by who it places in positions of power and how the campaign is run and then complain when it doesn't measure up to the very standards set in place.

[southafrica4obama]

If we continue this vetting thing, I think everybody's gonna resign, including Mccain.

[KOisGod]

One can only wish

Really really hard, LOL

[fflores]

when the McCain circus makes a big deal out of a non-story... just watch as those same questions are asked of them of the lobbyist in the circus

[Americanium]

Ask me next week who Johnson is and I'll ask if it is Magic Johnson.

[andre]

who's Magic Johnson?

just kidding.

[desertdweller]

If only Cheney had resigned from this position eight years ago....Think about it.

[Davwbaird]

the troops must all come home now, dammit janet.

[auntiecairo]

Was also wondering why isn't the media talking about Gramm being an advisor to McCain - since Gramm is actually responsible for much of the mortgage industry debaucle. . .

[hbw3]

To it's credit MSNBC did:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24844889/

[WLA]

The only place that I have seen that story is on Olberman. I too believe that it should be a front page story.

[Davwbaird]

Letus make that a front page story.

[Citizen54]

Hey, how about this? You pick a dozen ordinary but well-informed citizens and ask them to come up with some VP possibilities. I know some Obama supporters; they're all smart enough to pick a good VP. Then those citizens hire some private detectives to vet.
Oh, sorry.... that sounds like citizens being involved in government. Yeah, that wouldn't work. We need some of that Washington experience to solve our problems. We need people who have accomplished zilch to solve our problems.

Change? Hah.
Our national motto is really "Same as it ever was."

[closetodemfection]

But who will vet the media?

Drudge could post Olbermann's mug shots.

Olbermann could talk to Matthews' highschool girlfriends.

Matthews could dig up some of Drudge's questionable investments.

I'm sure Candy Crowley tried ludes back in the 70's...

[DakotaMinnesota]

Haha. Ludes.

[RonNYC]

Snore. Such boring crap. Who cares? We just know that Mrs. Clinton will not be choice. She is eating pizza and drinking whiskey. She is "one of us." Norma Rae Clinton.