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Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sully- who wrote (77166)	1/29/2010 2:43:51 AM
From: Sully-	Respond to of 90947

Obama's exports pick tied to arms makers Clients could spur recusals By Jim McElhatton The Washington Times President Obama's pick to help oversee U.S. export controls for the Commerce Department is a lawyer and political supporter who has been providing export advice to Fortune 500 companies such as arms manufacturer Raytheon and aerospace giant Boeing. But while White House officials and members of Congress have lauded Kevin J. Wolf's experience for the Commerce job, his recent legal work effectively appears to bar him from potential matters involving dozens of companies. Mr. Obama's ethics rules, described by the White House as "the toughest of any administration in history," prohibit political appointees such as Mr. Wolf from "particular matters" involving former employers or clients. "Depending on his former clients, Mr. Wolf might have to recuse himself from many job duties and responsibilities in which they are involved," said Scott Amey, general counsel for the nonpartisan Project On Government Oversight. "If that's the case, I would be concerned that any real or apparent conflicts of interest would hinder his ability to serve taxpayers effectively." A private practice lawyer who raised at least $50,000 for Mr. Obama's election, Mr. Wolf's nomination last month as assistant secretary of commerce for export administration is pending. The Washington Times obtained Mr. Wolf's client list through a recently filed financial-disclosure statement, which reveals the sources of his income and clients for 2008 and 2009. Mr. Wolf declined to comment, but a White House spokesman said Mr. Wolf can still serve effectively even if he has to recuse himself from issues pertaining to former clients. White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said Mr. Wolf will be required to recuse himself for two years from particular matters in which his former clients are parties or represent parties. "The administration's ethics rules … require a clear separation between his private-sector work on behalf of clients and his current position that will include enforcement responsibilities," Mr. LaBolt said. "Career ethics officials reviewed his client list in consultation with agency program officials and determined this recusal would not impair his ability to carry out his duties as assistant secretary of commerce for export administration, given that there are thousands of U.S. companies he did not work with in the private sector," Mr. LaBolt said. washingtontimes.com

To: Sully- who wrote (77166)	1/29/2010 3:03:23 AM
From: Sully-	Respond to of 90947

The Significance of Chris Matthews's Admission By: Jonah Goldberg The Corner Personally, I think Chris Matthews' momentary colorblindness offers a telling insight. As many of us have argued around here for a while, conservatives aren't obsessed with Obama's race, liberals are. That's why we've had so many asinine, nasty and ignorant charges of racism hurled at Obama's critics. There's a certain species of liberal that can't get over Obama's race. They assume that conservatives can't get over it either and so criticism of Obama from the right must -- according to Olbermannesque thinking -- stem from some evil desire to see a "black man fail" or some other idiocy. I think it's nice that we have a black president as do most conservatives I know. I just don't think it's the most important thing in the world. Nor do I think that his blackness makes bad liberal ideas suddenly good. Black men are wrong when they say 2+2 is 5 too. Unlike Chris Matthews, I go weeks, even months, without "remembering" that Obama is black. It's just not a big part of how I see the world or his day-to-day presidency. It is a big part of how Matthews sees things. I leave it to others to decide whose outlook is healthier. Update: From a reader: <<< “Unlike Chris Matthews, I go weeks, even months, without "remembering" that Obama is black. It's just not a big part of how I see the world or his day-to-day presidency. It is a big part of how Matthews sees things. I leave it to others to decide whose outlook is healthier.” Your remark immediately reminded me of a bit of dialog from the movie, Lawrence of Arabia: Bentley: I heard in Cairo that Major Lawrence has a horror of bloodshed. Feisal: That is exactly so. With Major Lawrence, mercy is a passion. With me, it is merely good manners. You may judge which motive is the more reliable. To paraphrase, then, with Chris Matthews, race is a passion. With Jonah Goldberg, equality is merely good manners. You may judge which motive is the more reliable. I think I am safe in judging that between the two of you, the Goldberg approach is more color blind. Your approach is certainly less partisan. ??? corner.nationalreview.com