Video: Kundra talking about “transparency in government”
posted at 2:20 pm on March 13, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Call it yet another example of “do as I say, not as I do” leadership that appears so intoxicating to Team Obama. Verum Serum finds this nugget in a 2007 meeting, where Vivek Kundra — now on leave as Obama’s Chief Information Officer — also discusses how difficult it is to find good help. His aide, Yusuf Acar, solved that problem by simply making them up and keeping the salaries:
John also notes this rather remarkable statement from Kundra (emphases John’s):
When it comes to HR, I believe strongly that there’s no substitute for strong management to produce success and to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. I have used hiring and a few terminations to populate OCTO’s top layers with individuals who have the ability to be very strong managers. And I demand that managers manage both their programs and their employees. Their program funding and their personal salaries and promotions depend on it.
I hear Kundra is available to give this speech at executive seminars, as he has some time on his hands. Any takers?
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I’m sure some stand-up comedy joint will hire him.
jgapinoy on March 13, 2009 at 2:25 PM
This is lending credence to my hypothesis that God is targeting Obama for believing that he is The One.
obladioblada on March 13, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Yes ,I believe in a transparency in the OBAMA IMPEACHMENT
steviedfromnc on March 13, 2009 at 2:28 PM
It also reinforces the belief that God has a sense of humor and even a touch of appreciation for satire.
a capella on March 13, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Meanwhile, The White House suggests that everyone needs to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh. Oh, and this entire debacle was “inherited”.
Or something like that.
Conservative_SAHM on March 13, 2009 at 2:30 PM
yet another self-important hypocrit. Looks like Obama will have to find someone else who allows him to check-off the ‘indian-american’ box
why should we expect anything more out of this rediculous administration.
gatorboy on March 13, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Do Democrats use a different dictionary than I do? Because I’m having a hard time translating their words…
I think they said one thing then they do another. There must be something wrong with my understanding of English.
petunia on March 13, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Epic incompetence, Epic dishonesty, or both.
BuckeyeSam on March 13, 2009 at 2:32 PM
I may be missing something, but will someone please explain all of the terrorist-sounding names in this department, obama excluded.
pcpower1 on March 13, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Does your personal salary depend on managing your corrupt employees, Mr. Kundra? In the immortal words of the One, it may be above your pay grade.
Steve Z on March 13, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Was Yusuf Acar sending any of the money from his phantom employees’s checks to any, oh, I dunno, ME “charities”?
Akzed on March 13, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Oh, yes. See the Al Gore effect!
(As an aside Watts Up With That? has wryly said, “The combination of the Gore Effect, the Hansen Effect, and the Chu Effect may just save us from climate Armageddon.”).
INC on March 13, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Just for a laugh you can go back and look at the Obama/Biden “ethics” page from the campaign. (I have no idea why it’s still up and they haven’t obliterated it from sight).
INC on March 13, 2009 at 2:37 PM
The Gore Effect is another marvelous example.
obladioblada on March 13, 2009 at 2:45 PM
INC on March 13, 2009 at 2:36 PM
I should have read further to see you’d already made the point.
(Now I have to look up the Hansen and Chu Effects.)
obladioblada on March 13, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Psalms 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Christian Conservative on March 13, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Chu Effect from WUWT? link:
INC on March 13, 2009 at 2:53 PM
The link to the Hansen Effect indicates he brought snow.
INC on March 13, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Great quote. It should be used frequently!
INC on March 13, 2009 at 2:56 PM
“Do as I say, not as I do.”
Nothing to see here. Move along.
ladyingray on March 13, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Gee, this is a right wing conspiracy to fool the Obama vetters into picking choices that make him look badly. And the media, per Andrea Mitchell is APOLOGIZING, for having to report on stories that make the President look badly. I guess her husband, Alan Greenspan concurred with that sentiment too. Anyway, I’m waiting for the youtubbies to have photos of all the Obama people kicked under the bus to the song, Another One bites the dust.
It’s been fifty days, but Republicans are heartened at the high ethical standards that are part and parcel of this Administration. It seems that Hillary and Bill were just pikers compared to the Chicago crowd.
eaglewingz08 on March 13, 2009 at 3:24 PM
I hear Kundra is available to give this speech at executive seminars, as he has some time on his hands. Any takers?
——————————————–
Well, er, no. But I could pack the house if one of those ghost workers would not mind giving a presentation!
Dr. Dog on March 13, 2009 at 3:36 PM
The greatest transition evah!
ObamatheMessiah on March 13, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Dictionary? They don’t need no stinking dictionary.
After all, their 1990s hero re-defined two of the most universal words there are: “is” and “sex”.
And their new hero has re-defined three other words.
“qualified”
and
“executive experience”
Del Dolemonte on March 13, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Yeah but bush__________. Please fill in with favorite troll quote.
Greed on March 13, 2009 at 4:39 PM
That last quote should play well at his trial. Right after he pleads “I didn’t know, no one told me, I wasn’t aware.”
GarandFan on March 13, 2009 at 4:41 PM
In this video, he is talking about actual employees.
So clearly, nothing he said was meant to cover “ghost” employees which are far more difficult to manage.
They engage in fraud at an alarming rate and you would need a whole other dimension of transparency for them.
myrenovations on March 13, 2009 at 5:02 PM
I started watching the video and at 1:17 I have already heard too many ‘ahhs’ and ‘umms’ from Vivek. All the degreed people in the world should listen to Rush (a high school dropout) and take lessons in speaking.
OneConservative on March 13, 2009 at 6:18 PM