Obama Administration Job Application Requests Info On Embarrassing Emails

New York Times:

Want a top job in the Obama administration? Only pack rats need apply, preferably those not packing controversy.

A seven-page questionnaire being sent by the office of President-elect Barack Obama to those seeking cabinet and other high-ranking posts may be the most extensive -- some say invasive -- application ever.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[wadda]

Curses!

There goes my chance to work in the Obama Administration.

[payos]

Hi, Eliot Sptizer. I voeted for you for governor.

[RAFord24]

I cannot wait until intelligence is back in the whitehouse. Prez-elect Obama is trying to stand by his promise to the American people and this is another step in the right direction. This process is to show honesty. No LOSERS or LIARS need to apply. LOL!

[mayrose]

Those who have to have security clearance will have even more of their background investigated. Since nothing we do is private anymore it only makes sense to vet candidates thoroughly beforehand. Then you can make an informed decision as to how toxic the situation might become and defuse it before it blows up.

[Takae]

Exactly! They won't care if you have a less-than-stellar past as long as it doesn't seriously affect their attempt to keep the house clean or that it isn't a conflict of interest, and so on. It's common sense, really.

[tbsykesopinion]

Yeah, but to many....co­mmon sense is not common. Just ask those running the current administration. Foresight and planning isn't a concept any of them understand.

[JodyMcg]

If only Palin had been vetted the same way! Pregnant daughter..­.hmmm source of embarassment, troopergat­e...hmmm source of embarassment. Any time she opens her mouth...hm­mmm source of embarassment. Govt. Jobs have always required extensive background checks, clearances and it's good and prudent that they are requiring Internet information as well.

[DaisyDooks]

What a wonderful way to diffuse the right-wing GOP and their sympathizers. ENOUGH with the nonsense. Time for everybody to roll up their sleeves and WORK! 8 year vacation is over.

[wantthetruth]

Vetting is one thing, but they are asking people to vet themselves. This will just be a convenient way to dismiss those who lie on their application and are found out. How many of the applicants will list a dissenting opinion? Most likely none. How many that do list a dissenting opinion will be hired? Most likely none.

[amistad]

Soo..appli­cants should LIE in order to get a job in the Obama administration?
Obama's appointments are bipartisan(made up of both Democrats and repubs). Obama says himself that he listens to all sides of an argument before making decisions.
You are using r*ght w*ng cr@zy logic.

[tbsykesopinion]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time I checked, when you lie on an application, and it's found out....YOU GET FIRED!!...­.Right?

So in order to become apart of the Obama administration, they are looking for truth tellers?
Crazy logic....b­ut it might just work!!

Obviously, telling lies didn't work. Let's see how the other side of this coin plays out.

[SurrealPumpkin]

I didn't see the bit about asking for opinions on the app. In fact, I remember hearing Obama say he wants to have dissenters on his staff and in his cabinet.

Note: There have been a bunch of good potential cabinet officers that went crashing in a very public way during confirmation hearings. The Republicans will be searching for every bit of dirt they can find. It's best to know what will be thrown at you.

[OregonMaggie]

PE Obama is a PLANNER, people. He plans wayyy ahead, figuring everything out before most folks could even begin to. He wants to make sure the people in his administration are CLEAN, and above reproach. That's why we elected him - for CHANGE, and making sure people don't have a history or background of problems and skeletons would sure be a CHANGE for Washington, D.C.

[tbsykesopinion]

This was a comment I made the other day. It's nice to have a president with fore-thought. One who plays offense and not just defense. One who can create solution and not just react to problems. React poorly mind you....giv­en the current state of our government and their decision making.

[osalover]

Actually, I signed on to www.change.gov and filled out the application that was emailed to me. There were absolutely NO questions of this type on there and non that were more invasive than asking me my age.

Perhaps this is an application that is mailed out to others?

I was very happy to fill mine out and am now waiting for them to get back to me AFTER Obama takes office, which is what I was told in a follow-up email after sending my info.

Very well-organized, if you ask me.

[EllaBee]

I applied also. Good Luck!

[wantthetruth]

The article says "to those seeking cabinet and other high-ranking posts."

I am pretty sure that Obama isn't interviewing applicants for SecDef using change.gov

[Rebecca]

I agree wholeheartedly. We don't need any trainwrecks working for this administration. Remember Dick Morris?

[SeattleCharles]

Work hard; play hard.

[classc 1]

People...h­e MUST do this. You and I know that his administration will be the most scrutinized ever. A black man is the President elect and future POTUS. Do you THINK for a minute that he could do any less?

[SunshineDaydream]

hire an intelligent, capable man and this is what you get. i, for one, are thankful.

[SunshineDaydream]

am. ugh.

[Letters from a Tory]

Can you blame the guy? The last thing Obama wants when he walks into the Oval office next year is to listen to the howls of laughter from Republicans as some junior staff members get caught sending obscene emails to his co-workers!

Politics is all about control - and that doesn't just mean the media.

[Eidolas]

I don't disagree with what you've said, yet when you state that "Politics is all about control - and that doesn't just mean the media.", it reminds me of what so many Democrats spent the last several years lambasting the Bush administration over.

Personally, I doubt that any level of scrutiny will weed out all potential political hazards, especially those that haven't happened yet - There always seem to be government officials who let things go to their heads.

[debrouillard]

Change Has Come to America.

Now I can understand why To Clintons backers,find it hard to support him even after he had secured the nomination and passed the convention speech.

This is a very polite way to dismiss the Vultures,because this way,they eliminate themselves. It looks like Obama administration is going to be the youngest ever in America's history,because why that amount of scrutiny,anyone who have spent 10 or more years in Washington will fail the litmus test.

Perhaps,they sent one of this to Hillary for the VP selection and that was the reason she backed off.

[Pdubya]

what kind of person hasn't written or said or text some form of disagreement or question or dissent regarding the potential administration? only someone that is lockstep with the policies or authority they are trying to suck up to...so tell me, just how will this administration be "inclusive" without disagreement or dissent? and just what in the constitution gives the President authority to do this?....w­e certainly saw the abuses of the McCain campaign thwarting vetting questions and investigat­ions....we­ll?

[debrouillard]

Did he say your text or email disqualify for any position?

They simply want to see how honest one is with themself and the entire public.

Remember his VP pick Joe Biden was one of his fiercest critics and rival during the primary. It didnt disqualify him for the VP position ,did it?

He has even said he has no problem with Liebermann should the Dem caucus decide to keep him.Now you know how much Liebermann lied and distort about him.

Here is the simple truth,if some one has said something they should be proud to own up to it and defend their position.i­ts as simply as that,Its called intergrity and principle.

[debrouillard]

Every employer has the right to Vetting his prospective employee.
I dont know the constitution of the USA that well to say whether it refuses employers from vetting their prospective employees.

[OhMyGoodness]

I don't believe they are necessarily going to exclude individuals for having a different opinion and voicing it. As a side note, if you do not agree with the policies of the President Elect why would you want to work for him anyway?

[payos]

Read the text again. It says anything that might be construed as "conflict of interest" or "embarassing," not dissent or disagreement or questioning policies. They are NOT looking to suppress dissent or disagreemtent with their policies, but conflict of interests, which most of the time boils down to untoward financial, or se*ual interests.

BIG diofference from what you're going on about in your post

[AngieMom57]

I'm very impressed that the transition team wants only 'Lilly White' applicants; yet get real.

[DaisyDooks]

Huh?

[Fenianheart]

2 words can explain why this is such a good idea: Mark Foley.

[wantthetruth]

2 more words: Tim Mahoney

[SunshineDaydream]

wow - so this is where the trolls are hangin' this morning, eh?

[Invox]

For those who thought "Change" was a buzz word for Mr. Obama, are you convinced yet? Sounds like he meant what he said. It doesn't sound to me like he's looking for people with no skeletons at all. It looks like if there are, he wants to know about them so no one gets blindsided. These might be some ideas McCain and Palin could have used when they said they were going to clean up Washington. But, alas, they didn't really have any ideas, did they?

[meleon]

He's going about it just as I hoped and prayed he would. I had a strong feeling he was someone who would want to head off any potential scandalous this or that before taking office, and he's not disappointed me yet with any decision. He doesn't want any unecessary distractions.