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

[rollingdivision]

Eric Holder will be the next to go, then Jason Furman. When a candidate has such a thin record it intensely magnifies the current decisions and policies. The narrative is being written that Obama has very poor judgment in the selection of his associates.

[mccabe49]

It is only being written by ignorant small minded right wingers

[JeffCummingsnoalias]

And what are we to expect of someone with a "thick" record? A history of bad decisions and inside deals. Gimme the new kid on the block any day over a bought and paid for veteran.

[WLA]

What about Phil Gramm?

[BamaForObama]

Smart move. He did the right thing by resigning, knowing that the McCain camp would use his troubles to attack Obama. That's called loyalty, and doing the right thing...something Republicans know nothing about.

[CrazyDemocrat]

Hmmmmm....Could Hill have anything to do with this ??

[terriergirl]

Hill is now out of the picture..Obama sinks or swims on his own...he's a big boy - he can make his own decisions for his own campaign.

[CrazyDemocrat]

Hill is NOT out of the picture..To think that is naive..Do not turn your back on Hill

[pmorlan]

I'll have to admit that the thought occured to me too. I don't think she would do it but some overzealous supporter who is still angry about the campaign.

[Lesjoan]

Please if you truly believe want Obama says about uniting quit blaming the Clintons and her supporters!

[jrterrier]

you people are nuts. you miss her already, huh? now that she's out of the race, the spotlight on obama isn't all you had hoped it would be? do you think she was the intermediary for johnson's special deals with CountryWide CEO? don't think so.

[thromulese]

Give me a break. Not everything has some nefarious connection to Hillary. Grow up. Get over it. Get a life. And for gods sake stop watching FIX’d news.

[DGregory]

im laughing since people act like obama got rid of him when it was the guy who voluntarily resigned. Obama aleady stuck up for him, so it was his decision to go if he wanted to..

To say obama threw him under the bus is just stupid and makes it evident that you dont even know what the saying means.

[TheMisanthrope]

This is why Obama is different; in every instance of impropriety, the offending person is (relatively) quickly removed. It just proves that he places the greater good above all else.

How often do we hear politicians hem and haw to defend someone in their inner circle? Even when the issue really shouldn't matter (the "monster" comment comes to mind), there is no justifying or refusing a resignation (anyone remember how often Rumsfield "tried" to resign?). Anyone who tries to decry the Obama camp for being disloyal should remember the past 7.5 years. Do we really need to continue having people in power who place loyalty above competence, ethics, or morals?

[zull2]

The guy hardly was an "offender" of anything. The guy resigned because he didn't want to draw any more of this "6 degrees of separation" style controversy that this election process has become ridiculous for. Every freaking blogger thinks they've stumbled onto something if someone's brother's best friend's former roommate did something slightly controversial 10 years ago. The problem is that there isn't hardly anything on Obama to dig up, so people really are scraping for something.

What's really hilarious about it is that you don't even have to try to find all sorts of goodies on McCain, but apparently that's not enough of a challenge to get you noticed and put on the CNN payroll.

[GLaB]

You miss the obvious point that Obama has made this an issue himself with his "Saint Obama the Deliverer" act.

[StephenDedalus82]

Obama is different because he quickly dispatches people who are political liabilities?

[Lesjoan]

Obama avoids he never apologises!

[torrrep]

You're missing the point. It was Obama that made the huge uproar about Countrywide financial. It was Obama that talked about what "crooks" Countrywide are. Although I agree that Countrywide lending practices were crooked, I find it hilarious that as he talking tough about them, his staff have to resign because he had no idea that were connected to the lender. This is the problem with Obama. He never seems to figure things out until after the fact. I don't want a president that figures things out when it's too late. We were attacked multiple times around the globe and here at home by Islamic terrorists during the Clinton years. Yet it took 9-11 for everyone to figure out that these guys are serious. Obama can't afford to continue this campaign with an "after the fact" attitude or he will be embarrassed in November.

[venicesurfer]

im guessing eric holder will be next to leave with his ties to marc rich

[DietrichMoody]

you mean, holder who was appointed by bill clinton. I'm sure some international people pressured holder and janet reno.....I think Hillary helped too. let's go down this road.

[1PALady]

Well, seems he needs to find someone else that knows about the vetting process. Mr. Johnson was the only one on the team that knew anything about vetting. The other 2 do not.

[DaOne]

Has Phil "UBS beeyotch" Gramm left the McSame campaign?

[Bronxcutie]

Where was the GOP outrage over Phil Gramm lobbying for the subprime lenders while Gramm was advising McCain on foreclosure relief??

[Independent007]

He didnt need to resign. But oh well.

[scouserinlondon]

No matter.I think the decision has already been made regarding VP.It's done and dusted, probably just tying up loose ends and double checking the vetting facts.I think Johnson's
task is over...job done

[mary82]

IThis is a little off subject, I find it curious that several people do not want to be VP to Obama. I live in Ohio and I'am glad that Gov. Strickland do not want to be VP. He wouldn't be right anyway.

[AntonBursch]

You have to say you don't want it publicly so when you aren't picked you don't lose face.

[candidpsychiatrist]

A longstanding tradition, that Hillary apparently only learned of AFTER committing the faux pas of expressing her desire for the job.

[CrazyDemocrat]

OOPS !!

[Bluejay00234]

Well everything happens for a reason, maybe it's all for the better.

[PoliticoJonze]

While advising the McCain campaign, Gramm was being paid by a UBS to lobby Congress about the U.S. mortgage crisis. During this time, "the mortgage industry pressed Congress to roll back strong state rules that sought to stem the rise of predatory tactics used by lenders and brokers to place homeowners in high-cost mortgages."[5] According to Politico.com, Gramm had input on McCain's March 26, 2008 policy speech on the mortgage crisis.[6] He was deregistered as a lobbyist for UBS on April 18th, 2008

[sowhatdemos]

That's why Dems are (generally) not as slimy as ReThugs. ReThugs have no morals, they just worship at the alter of the next fat cat scheme & almighty dollar - and the occasional young penis.

[HumeSkeptic]

Good move. Don't let stuff like this be a distraction.

[rollingdivision]

We need sub categories for the distraction folder.

[CaptainObvious]

The first subdivision should probably be "Clinton" and "Other".

[MsBrina]

Oh my goodness, what will the Republicans talk about now?

When will the silly season end and the issues season begin?

God help us, please!

[rollingdivision]

Eric Holder and Jason Furman.

[rollingdivision]

Judgment.

[southafrica4obama]

Mccain to do the same with his lobbyists

[Syco]

his wife duh

[hbw3]

Charlie Black?