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

[JavaCityGal]

Oh for cryin' out loud -- you have to have a vetter to vette the vetter, yeesh.

[DietrichMoody]

Maybe this is good, after all , Johnson was responsible for choosing Geraldine Ferraro for Mondale...so they needed somebody with better judgment. Good bye...


ofcourse the neocon Republicans are going to scream "he threw him under the bus, wa wa wa..."

[carpediva]

actually, vetters don't "choose" anyone.
they interview the people the candidate tells them to, and then pass back what they learned. it's an information gathering position, nothing more.
but since it also requires asking public officials about their most private business, it's not just something anyone can do. Johnson has a great record of being discrete.

[DietrichMoody]

they, don't chose, but their feedback makes the difference. what they "chose" to learn about the vp candidate makes the difference. so they indirectly chose.

[rollingdivision]

The selection of a vice president running mate is the single most important decision Obama will make in the campaign and he screwed up picking his vp selection committee with Holder and Johnson. If he can't do this right......

[foreffectivegovernment]

carpediva: You said, "Johnson has a great record of being discrete."
He also had a great record of being WRONG. So far he has picked only losers. Why would Obama want any association with Johnson and why is John Kerry going on T.V. as an Obama spokesman.
Could it be because the Liberal Wing of the Democratic Party has disavowed the only winning Democrat in forty years and only has losers supporting their candidate.

[BigLib]

"I can no more turn my back on this latest guy that's causing a distraction than I could throw my old racist grandma under the bus for hope and change. Arugala."

[Marlyn]

BigLib is not a liberal.

[SanityClaus]

Or a sentient being.

[Knowbetter]

BigLie

[mahoner]

Grrrreeeat.... now critics will say "See? He's just throwing people under the bus."

I'm glad Mr.Johnson decided to take himself out the story in the search, but I hope this decision won't diminish the eventual choice for VP since his voice won't be heard on the matter.

[kay]

The whole "under the bus" thing is nonsense. The Bush Presidency would have gone a lot better had President Bush "thrown someone under the bus".

Like Rumsfeld. Or Libby. Or Gonzales. It isn't supposed to be about personal loyalty, or sticking with problematic situations. Competent managers cut losses.

Mr. Johnson is a big boy. He'd do the same.

[IkeChicago]

The Washington Post is questioning why the Obama campaign did not vet Johnson. In response to that, the Obama campaign has now formed several vetting committees:

Vetting the VP committee

Vetting the VP vetting committee

Vetting the vetting committee that is vetting the VP committee

Vetting the vetting committee that is vetting the vetting committee that is vetting VP committee

An urgent message went out from campaign HQ for more money for vetting committees. When asked how many vetting committee will satisfy the John McCain campaign, the Obama campaign said they are still working on it.

[Bluejay00234]

LMAO! love it.

[Asinistra]

Well done, sir (assuming Ike is an Ike and not a Tina here). This is why the only reasonable response to these nonstop teapot tempests is to say, "We'd like to fill these posts with saints, but Mother Theresa's time is stretched thin."

[azch]

sounds like this should be the next Monty Python skit. =)

[GLaB]

The next great cultural phenom (since the Macarena's dead):

The Circle Vet.

[DietrichMoody]

He should be replaced by Senator Hillary Clinton, she can at least help Vet the next VP.

[Strywever]

Wouldn't that be inappropriate, since her objectivity may be less than appropriate?

[Fabienne]

But she can't pick a campaign staff that can help her win. Or run a fiscally responsible campaign. Or figure out the actual rules of the Democratic primaries. Damn, but she could vet a VP if she could actually win a nomination.

[SanityClaus]

Sorry, but HC wouldn't pass the vetting now required to join the vetting committee.

[Zhonni]

I don't think he needed to resign. The real story here is Phil Gramm the lobbyist, who had everything to do with the morgage crisis, advising and lobbying McCain on behalf of foreign banks.

[BigLib]

"This is not the man I knew."

-Barry O' Gaffe-a-lot

[Marlyn]

BigLib is not a liberal.

[tsktsktsk]

You're not the BigLib you claim to be.

[SanityClaus]

I think you mistyped your username, did you mean to say you were BiGlib?

[Knowbetter]

BigLie

[wellinformed08]

Who? Bush? McCain? Cheney? Bin Laden? Saddam Hussein (too little too late)? These days, you NEOCONS have got to be more specific.

[Bluejay00234]

Not surprised -- figured it was coming.

[BethinIllinois]

Say hi to all the people under the bus with you, Jim!

[kay]

Yeah. What he should have done is hold onto the liability well into August.

Like Clinton and Marc Penn.

[mahoner]

I called it.

[Gma11]

Good move. I don't think there was anything "wrong" here, but I appreciate the consideration of the perception. Stay above the fray as far as possible.

Pick your battles. Save the energy for the important stuff.

[kisamija]

oh well, there are more fishes in the sea...

[Paulitik]

Damn, the guy wasn't even getting paid. I thought Obama handled the criticisms head on. McCain might have to run his campaign by himself if he applied the same standard.

[BigLib]

The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round, 'round and 'round...

[Marlyn]

BigLib is not a liberal.

[tsktsktsk]

the wheels on the bus go round and round all over your biglib face.

[SanityClaus]

Are you referring to the shortbus you ride to school?

[Charley2u]

This is the proof. It is not McCain or Obama. It is not Democrat or Republican.

It is Washington. The corruption is complete, thorough, and inescapable.

http://pogoprinciple.wordpress.com/