An exception, or the rule?
posted at 4:30 pm on January 28, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Do you recall that moment of Hope and ChangeTM when Barack Obama barred lobbyists from the federal government by executive order? By golly, Obama would clean up government and keep lobbyists out of policy-making positions, or else … he wouldn’t. For the second time in the eight days since signing the order, the Obama administration has plucked a lobbyist and put him in charge of the policy on which he’d lobbied:
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner picked a former Goldman Sachs lobbyist as a top aide Tuesday, the same day he announced rules aimed at reducing the role of lobbyists in agency decisions.
Mark Patterson will serve as Geithner’s chief of staff at Treasury, which oversees the government’s $700 billion financial bailout program. Goldman Sachs received $10 billion of that money.
Goldman Sachs, eh? Four months ago, I wrote about GS’s political connections and predicted that they would survive the crisis. Now they have one of their bailout lobbyists in charge of the bailout, a neat trick that even the Bush administration would have avoided.
And what exactly did Obama promise us as Hope and ChangeTM?
3. Revolving Door Ban Lobbyists Entering Government. If I was a registered lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of 2 years after the date of my appointment:
(a) participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment;
(b) participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter falls; or
(c) seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment.
So let’s see. Patterson will serve as chief of staff to Geithner, which means deep involvement in the bailout money — unless Geithner won’t be involved in it himself, in which case the entire raison d’être of confirming Geithner evaporates. Goldman Sachs will get a big chunk of that money, and might come back for more. It appears that Patterson will by definition unavoidably violate sections 3(a), (b), and (c) of the new code of ethics in the Obama White House.
Will there be more exceptions to this rule … or have the exceptions already become the rule, eight days after Obama signed it? Change, baby!
Blowback
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hopey changey
D2Boston on January 28, 2009 at 4:33 PM
small “e” ethics.
redshirt on January 28, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Well, if the Bush admin would’ve avoided it, then, technically, it is change.
misslizzi on January 28, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Well, you have to first make your rules so you can, later on, change them.
Pres. Obortion never said what would change. Just that there would be change. So by making rules he will change, he makes good on that promise.
BobMbx on January 28, 2009 at 4:36 PM
One rule for me and another for thee.
canditaylor68 on January 28, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Oh, well. Obama is just lying like all politicians.
chunderroad on January 28, 2009 at 4:39 PM
you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, and you can’t remove chicago corruption out of a chicago politician.
funsutton on January 28, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Well, Obama appointed a tax cheat as his Treasury Secretary, are we really surprised he’d break his lobbyist promise?
This certainly is change, but I don’t quite think what people had in mind.
BTW, as a tactical matter, I would suggest that we mention Secretary Tax Cheat constantly. It is simple, true, and the kind of thing that will really piss people off this tax season…
18-1 on January 28, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Good thing he’s Black, or this could have some meaning. We have four hundred years of slavery to pay for, so please pile this upon the altar, and go about your business.
Obama knows what he’s doing. How could all the terrorist leaders and Western Europe be wrong?
For an act of contrition; smile more, be a better friend to your family, believe in the good this nation is about to experience, and gently hug a puppy.
Hening on January 28, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Don’t you see, Mr. Obama hasn’t broken his promise, once the person gets hired by the WH, he/she no longer is a lobbyist no matter what he/she did the prior week, month or year. And it all depends on what the word registered means. Did the lobbyist REGISTER with Obama? No, so he/sh wasn’t really registered at all. They may have been registered with the perfidious BUSH Administration, but the Obamessiah revoked all those neocon registrations.
eaglewingz08 on January 28, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Unless I am mistaken, it is also the first two candidates he has selected. In other words, it is not only a time issue – it appears that he has not followed his own policy at all so far.
Vashta.Nerada on January 28, 2009 at 4:42 PM
And i will hear about this on the nightly news when?…………
MDWNJ on January 28, 2009 at 4:44 PM
the policy being in place is all that matters.
lorien1973 on January 28, 2009 at 4:44 PM
You sorely underestimate the man. Even Bill Clinton wouldn’t tell these sort of bald faced lies…
18-1 on January 28, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Heh. clinton, at least, was expected to explain why he couldn’t do that middle class tax break he promised.
Obama’s “tax cut for 95% of americans” doesn’t even require an explanation in 2009.
lorien1973 on January 28, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Eight days in…………
………. and there are rules for we, and rules for thee.
Seven Percent Solution on January 28, 2009 at 4:48 PM
But this is a crisis and this person is so smart and he is the only one who can do the job and if he doesn’t joing the administration the world as we know it will end.
Cindy Munford on January 28, 2009 at 4:48 PM
this is a crisis! rules be damned!
rob verdi on January 28, 2009 at 4:48 PM
We can now refer to Obama as “W”, as in Waiver!
PattyJ on January 28, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Didn’t we learn that Obama will toss any inconvenient policy under the bus? Of course, His Holiness, The One, gets a pass.
SeniorD on January 28, 2009 at 4:51 PM
You’ve been snookered Ed.
It says no lobbying for the past 2 years.
But it didn’t say Earth years.
Chuck Schick on January 28, 2009 at 4:52 PM
And his supporters will complain when?
Conservative_SAHM on January 28, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.- Abraham Lincoln
Obamacracy is the government of the kleptocrats, by the kleptocrats, for the kleptocrats.
- Baracito Obamolini
MB4 on January 28, 2009 at 4:54 PM
told you so.
joeindc44 on January 28, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Friedman supported war in Iraq when it was fashionable, everything he is written after that is part of his penance to his liberal friends.
rob verdi on January 28, 2009 at 4:54 PM
for the pres and co they are not exactly rules…
more like guidelines!
FLKraKa on January 28, 2009 at 4:56 PM
The reason gave by the new White House press guy was that this ex-GC exec was never REGISTERED as a lobbyist. So according to Obama, he was never a “lobbyist.” Ha.
icelandicfarmer on January 28, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Let them eat taxes.
Bishop on January 28, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Is this lobbyist “too big to fail,” too?
onlineanalyst on January 28, 2009 at 4:59 PM
When Obama makes a rule, it means just what He chooses it to mean – neither more nor less. Now you might ask how He can make rules mean so many different things, but the question is: who is to be master – that’s all.
Cheshire Cat on January 28, 2009 at 5:00 PM
I guess that Obama will be avoiding the press room in the WH so that he is not asked any more inconvenient questions.
onlineanalyst on January 28, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Present!
Obama CHANGES all the rules.
HOPE you like it.
profitsbeard on January 28, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Same old. Same old.
Neil “Cash Carry” was from Goldman too.
Geitner = Paulson
No Change here, and definitely no Hope.
mngirl on January 28, 2009 at 5:03 PM
I am really starting to wonder about Mr. Obama. Why have a big press conference and make all these stupid rules that nobody cares about only to break them eight days into the administration. Why has he put his name on this pork laden bill when it would be just as easy to put Ms. Pelosi’s name on it and “improve” on it? Didn’t he nominate Tom Dashell for a post in his administration that deals with stuff Mr. Dashell has been lobbying for since he left the senate? Is it a test to see how much b.s. he can spread before the press calls him on it?
Cindy Munford on January 28, 2009 at 5:06 PM
It’s all good, because they are Democrats, now if it was a Republican(even the Geitner pick), they would have been railroaded out of town and their careers would be over. Dem’s are such hypocrites.
reshas1 on January 28, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Hope
Your
Pleased
Our
Change’y
Rules
Include
Swindling
You
djtnt on January 28, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Cindy Munford on January 28, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Because Ogabe has sixty million morons who bought his bullsh!t and are willing to overlook the fact that he was lying through his tobacco-stained teeth for the entire campaign.
Besides, he’s got the race card to fall back on if things get rough, and his media whores will play it at his bidding.
Bishop on January 28, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Ed just doesn’t get it.
How many times does he have to be told that OBAMA IS THE HOPEY-CHANGEY.
Everything else is just stardust.
Obama is the star.
notagool on January 28, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Why have a big press conference and make all these stupid rules that nobody cares about only to break them eight days into the administration. Why has he put his name on this pork laden bill when it would be just as easy to put Ms. Pelosi’s name on it and “improve” on it? Didn’t he nominate Tom Dashell for a post in his administration that deals with stuff Mr. Dashell has been lobbying for since he left the senate? Is it a test to see how much b.s. he can spread before the press calls him on it?
Cindy Munford on January 28, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Because he is an idiot. This whole “Presidency thing” is so far above his actual ablilities, it is laughable.
anniekc on January 28, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Because Ogabe has sixty million morons who bought his bullsh!t and are willing to overlook the fact that he was lying through his tobacco-stained teeth for the entire campaign.
Besides, he’s got the race card to fall back on if things get rough, and his media whores will play it at his bidding.
Bishop on January 28, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Or all that, too.
anniekc on January 28, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Wasn’t Paulson, the guy who started the bailout crap, employed with GS? Oh yeah, here it is:
We are being set up, big time.
Weight of Glory on January 28, 2009 at 5:13 PM
If you like this crap Ogabe is pulling, you’ll love this:
In a closed-door appearance before the Senate intelligence committee, White House counsel Gregory Craig was asked whether the president was required by law to follow executive orders. According to people familiar with his remarks, who asked for anonymity when discussing a private meeting, Craig answered that the administration did not believe he was. The implication: in a national-security crisis, Obama could deviate from his own rules.
Bishop on January 28, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Cindy Munford on January 28, 2009 at 5:16 PM
When he signed that order it was opposite day. Did you all get the memo.
Brat4life on January 28, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Didn’t
Brat4life on January 28, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Could just one person have the guts to expose this stuff on the record?
Cindy Munford on January 28, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Ha, ha, ha, ha, wheez, ha, ha, ha cough, …….
Johan Klaus on January 28, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Obama’s oral promises come with expiration dates, and his written promises are penned in disappearing ink.
BuckeyeSam on January 28, 2009 at 5:21 PM
He had crossies.
(That’s what my sister & I would say if we said something, but had our fingers crossed, which of course makes it OK to lie. “It doesn’t count! I had crossies!”)
Boudica on January 28, 2009 at 5:23 PM
“flinty Chicago toughness”
Brat on January 28, 2009 at 5:24 PM
What comes out of Hussein’s mouth is the same as what can be found in a sick baby’s diaper.
madmonkphotog on January 28, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Could just one person have the guts to expose this stuff on the record?
Cindy Munford on January 28, 2009 at 5:18 PM
People who challenge Obi Waaa need to have their lives completely in order before doing so, JTP can attest to that.
Ogabe’s own people control the IRS now. Chew on that.
Bishop on January 28, 2009 at 5:29 PM
How do you score politically with this? It’s like his failed promise on taking campaign funds; it doesn’t seem to matter.
RedSoxNation on January 28, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Its all FALSE
our entire country has been taken over and is being run
By THEIVES..
This is insanity period..
their will be a reconing and i think its comming
real soon..
jcila on January 28, 2009 at 5:38 PM
wait i have an idea
just like the UN
lets place
hitler in charge of jewish relations
Mohammed in charge of christian relations
bonnie and clyde in charge of the bank security
al capone in charge of tax evasion investigations
barny franks in charge of aids reasearch (penetrating no doubt)
pelozi in charge of nitwits (no wait thats biden)..
heck it makes the same amount of sense..
jcila on January 28, 2009 at 5:40 PM
meh, anything BO and his administration does is just so tingly and exciting…can’t you FEEL it?
kirkill on January 28, 2009 at 5:40 PM
ALL of congress
ALL of the house of representatives
ALL of the federal judges
ALL of the white house
ALL of the executive branch
Are Theiving lying cheating WHORES..
its about time to have a rekoning with them all.
and i do mean with torches and pitchforks..
For our country means nothing to these cockroaches..
jcila on January 28, 2009 at 5:42 PM
+1, Pirate!
kirkill on January 28, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Now you’re going to tell me that only people in the administration can ignore the IRS. Come on now!
Cindy Munford on January 28, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Ya don’t understand Democratic “nuance” Ed. This is called “being flexible”. Also known as ‘wishy-washy’, aka hypocrites.
GarandFan on January 28, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Because he won’t get up and give a nationally televised speech about it.
I know at least 3 people I could email this to and they would right away scream ‘That’s a LIE!! Obama said he wasn’t going to do this!!!’
BigWyo on January 28, 2009 at 6:21 PM
He knows a whole cruise boat full of liberals will fawningly stop what they are doing to stare at him laying out these ethics rules and then tell all their friends how wonderful their new messiah is.
He also knows only a Haitian raft (relatively) of conservatives will be noticing that he doesn’t actually follow through.
Think you’re going to see Chris Cuomo pointing this out on GMA this morning? Al Gore will admit he’s a fraud before that happens!
PastorJon on January 28, 2009 at 6:35 PM
The Most Corrupt Presidential Administration Since Clinton
Bwaaaaaaaaaahahahahhahahahahaha!!!
Jaibones on January 28, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Maybe he meant Hope for Change?
Kjeil on January 28, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Given the nature of his personal and political philosophy, it is inevitable that this will be the most corrupt presidential administration in American history. How could it be otherwise? Socialism can only survive by lies, hypocrisy, and every other form of immorality.
JDPerren on January 28, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Is exactly how I feel. I will have to duct tape my pitch fork though.:)
sheebe on January 28, 2009 at 11:48 PM
Lobbyists, lobbyists, we don’t need no stinkin’ lobbyists.
Johan Klaus on January 28, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Sounds like the world that we live in.
Johan Klaus on January 28, 2009 at 11:54 PM
The Goebbels principle.
Johan Klaus on January 29, 2009 at 12:05 AM
I knew that ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ quote would be useful. :-)
Dasher on January 29, 2009 at 7:56 AM
Obama rescinded that executive order. Had Bush’s incompetent White House IT staff not screwed up the Exchange Server, you would have received an email.
Sheesh!
pain train on January 29, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Most techno-savvy White House evah can’t figure out e-mail
posted at 11:30 am on January 27, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
As usual,liberals have to blame their incompetence on the people around them.
Maybe you could try addressing the issue of Obama lying his a$$ off when he said “no lobbyist”.
“lobbyist will not be a part of this administration”
or you could continue to make a fool out of yourself by claiming that not being able to use widely used software is somehow a show of intelligence.
On the Money Trail: Lobbyists Are People Too, Reid Says
Obama Pledged to Ban Lobbyists, but Senate Leader Says They’re “Part of Washington”
By BRIAN ROSS. JUSTIN ROOD, and AVNI PATEL
Jan. 20, 2009—
Now thats change that only the sheep that are on their knees at the People’s Temple of Obama can believe in.
Baxter Greene on January 29, 2009 at 9:34 AM