Obama and the New Cronyism
posted at 9:28 am on June 29, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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When Rep. James Clyburn gave his superdelegate endorsement to Barack Obama at the beginning of June, it gave a mild shock, as Clyburn had been insisting on neutrality, despite his supposedly close friendship with Hillary and Bill Clinton. People assumed that Clyburn wanted to bring an end to a divisive primary, and especially to the ugly racial and gender tension stoked by both candidates. Clyburn only wanted to get the era of Hope and Change and the New Openness started in Washington, we were supposed to believe.
An influential endorsement from Clyburn, a civil rights hero and top member of the House Democratic leadership, would have been welcomed by former President Clinton, who worked closely with him in the 1990s and thought they were close friends.
But the down-South campaigning got a little rough and, as The Ticket noted here, Clyburn didn’t help his old ally. In fact, he started to quietly tilt toward Obama, whom he eventually endorsed after the primary. And Clyburn and the ex-president are not talking much anymore.
Last week, tucked inside a short announcement of White House nominations being sent to the Senate for confirmation was a little-noticed line: “Mignon L. Clyburn, of South Carolina, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years.”
Clyburn is the eldest daughter of James Clyburn and a member of South Carolina’s Public Service Commission.
Recall that Obama ran on the campaign pledge to clean up that one-horse town of Washington DC, including the nepotism and influence peddling that locks out talent and fresh ideas. As Andrew Malcolm notes, the reality is less Utopia and more Chicago Machine. Obama has made the federal government his personal patronage system, and not for the first time, either.
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The Chicago Way!!
rockbend on June 29, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Cleaning up Washington D.C. is SO much easier when you use the proven model of a clean government, CHICAGO.
Jeff from WI on June 29, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Mignon? WTF kind of stupid name is that? Is her brother’s name Ground-Chuck? I lost my job of 18 years to nepotism; that crap should be illegal.
Ris4victory on June 29, 2009 at 9:34 AM
This whole story is very mignon.
JiangxiDad on June 29, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Is this really that unusual? (Politicans giving donors/supporters cushy jobs in the government?) I believe both parties are guilty of doing it.
Skywise on June 29, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Hope and change, baby!
AZCoyote on June 29, 2009 at 9:34 AM
FCC, eh? Bet she’s be big Rush fan. As in Geddy, Alex and Neil that is.
Caper29 on June 29, 2009 at 9:35 AM
That became apparent in a big way, starting with Porkulus, reaching from ACORN to GE.
petefrt on June 29, 2009 at 9:35 AM
At my previous job, the VP was the trophy wife of the President, and he pretty much let her run the place. Her people skills were horrible…she thought she was such a good manager…but when you have turn over like they do, you have to start looking in the mirror.
I’m with you…I won’t ever work for family members again.
ladyingray on June 29, 2009 at 9:36 AM
I doubt Obama is the first to do such things, but him using that as an excuse doesn’t make it right.
Hundreds of thousands of gubmint jobs where you don’t have to do crap to get a paycheck. Some so good they need “appointment” – or it should read, some so good, we’ll pull those out and give them as payback for political contribution.
Thunderstorm129 on June 29, 2009 at 9:37 AM
the reality is less Utopia and more Chicago corruption Machine.
Speakup on June 29, 2009 at 9:37 AM
What kind of a dumb arsed name is, “Mignon”?
anniekc on June 29, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Hello Localism; we ain’t seen nothing yet!
The Lemmings that were duped into voting for this chameleon will wonder what hit them in the following years.
OneCleverCookie on June 29, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Hey he won.
Seriously, where is the outrage. Why aren’t Americans from coast-to-coast not protesting this Chicago street thug turned third-word dicator?
highhopes on June 29, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Named after steak. Beautiful.
And what exactly does a “member” of the FCC do? I thought there were only 5 members, from Congress, 3 majority party, 2 minority? I’m not sure I like cronies on the board that decides what free speech is and is not.
amkun on June 29, 2009 at 9:38 AM
The Libs do not care about such things because now they are in power… there is a word for this but it escapes me.
mjbrooks3 on June 29, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Glasnost, American style.
whitetop on June 29, 2009 at 9:39 AM
So that’s what Obama supporters are reduced to, “hey, the other side does it”? Didn’t he run on a platform of “change”? Seriously pathetic.
amkun on June 29, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Mignon means dainty…like dainty little steak. Thanks Mom and Dad.
moonsbreath on June 29, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Hey what could be more “affirmative action” than choosing your friends and cohorts?
texabama on June 29, 2009 at 9:41 AM
It means “cute” in French, mon ami.
JiangxiDad on June 29, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Obama was elected, in part, based on a promise to end such practices. Now he is engaging in such practices at a level never contemplated by any of his predecessors.
And you have no problem with this broken promise?
MarkTheGreat on June 29, 2009 at 9:41 AM
another day, another promise bites the dust….
cmsinaz on June 29, 2009 at 9:43 AM
George W. Obama
Hope and Same
Spread the word… it will drive the left NUTS.
BPD on June 29, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Socialism, the New Racism, Corruption 360 degrees and things have changed. Dirty deals done in the open without shame. Elections do have consequences. So will the backlash after America wakes up.
The title of Obama’s next book, “How I Destroyed America in Six Months”.
We have enough tall trees and plenty of rope here yet. All it takes is the sleeping giant of the real America to wake up. It is coming soon.
old trooper2 on June 29, 2009 at 9:44 AM
She is beautiful. I would hit that. Sorry, that was the little head’s take on the picture on the main page.
Americannodash on June 29, 2009 at 9:45 AM
United States of Obamaland….
cmsinaz on June 29, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Related story…
Obama stands with Castro, Chavez and Ortega
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/06/023923.php
Keemo on June 29, 2009 at 9:45 AM
im not trying to get off topic
but i really feel bad for Billy Mays
he seemed like he was a genuinely good man
anyway
Obarfing and his pals are crooks
blatantblue on June 29, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Teh One is not a chameleon – he is a skunk! Easily identifiable to all that have ever seen one.
All the O-bots were in massive denial that this skunk was NOT a skunk. Wrong-0, so sooree…
rockbend on June 29, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Mignon? WTF kind of stupid name is that? Is her brother’s name Ground-Chuck?
Ris4victory on June 29, 2009
That’s his given name, but when he became a rapper he changed it to Rib-I.
SKYFOX on June 29, 2009 at 9:48 AM
I say keep the appointments coming; all those unpaid back-taxes finally being collected might actually pay-off the national debt.
Bishop on June 29, 2009 at 9:49 AM
I wanted to work for my fathers’ company after a few years in the real world. He said no and I was naturally upset. These many years later I have my own and he is my most trusted advisor. The point is I have seen many family members ruin good companies.
It should never happen.
HoustonRight on June 29, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Name change only!
larvcom on June 29, 2009 at 9:50 AM
I’d quite like to see Clyburn in Penthouse. There, I’ve said it.
Sharke on June 29, 2009 at 9:51 AM
LMAO. Clyburn is an effing jerkoff and always was, and the news that he named his nitwit daughter “Mignon” is too funny. But remember, folks: there is no one so underqualified or so stupid that they don’t qualify for an Obama administration job, as long as they are politically or financially connected.
Jaibones on June 29, 2009 at 9:53 AM
“Dreams of my father” , no kidding.
the_nile on June 29, 2009 at 9:54 AM
don’t forget ‘paying taxes optional’
cmsinaz on June 29, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Command unethicals and unequivocal command unethicals unequivocally.
Americannodash on June 29, 2009 at 9:55 AM
are too stupid to wonder what hit them in the following years and will be happy to have Rush, Hannity, Beck, Levin silenced so they can listen to more of hope n change!
Fixed?
Read Becks book “Common Sense” and be prepared to take your country back by whatever means necesary.
It won’t be easy The Corruptocrats have consolidated their power such that we have become IRAN!
Ruled by asshat clowns, crooks, pimps, panderers and whores. They must be driven from the halls of power in scorn and ridicule!
dhunter on June 29, 2009 at 9:56 AM
This was to be expected. Nobody gets put in the national spotlight after two years in the Senate without all sorts of back room deals. There never was going to be any change or hope or an end to business as usual.
myrenovations on June 29, 2009 at 9:56 AM
when is this crook going to be thrown out of office
rone5847 on June 29, 2009 at 9:58 AM
What did you expect would happen once Obama took office?
An extraordinary amount of political capital was expended to get Obama elected and as we have seen from the endless procession of democrat political stooges being appointed to high profile government positions, I am beginning to suspect that people have started to call in their favours with the administration now because they sense Obama is going the same way that Jimmy Carter did and they want to cash in their chips while they’re still worth something. Sort of like rats fleeing a sinking ship.
Dreadnought223 on June 29, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Nothing to see here, move along. Michelle fashion coming up after the break.
Mignon? WTF kind of stupid name is that? Is her brother’s name Ground-Chuck?
Ris4victory on June 29, 2009
His wife disapproved of Filet.
faol on June 29, 2009 at 9:59 AM
good point…
cmsinaz on June 29, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Clyburn is a slug… and a lying, hypocritical slug at that!
mankai on June 29, 2009 at 10:00 AM
James Clyburn is a racist hack. My parents were drawn in his district for a long time. They got redrawn into another democrat hack district “represented” by John Spratt.
SouthernGent on June 29, 2009 at 10:01 AM
First, this isn’t going to get reported – and the left doesn’t care about the appearance or incompetence at all. Cheating on taxes, ignoring the Constitution, blatant racism. The left doesn’t care. Anything beats having a republican in power. Anything.
The only way this crap helps is that it will motivate the right. And I have to admit, I’m pretty motivated these days.
JeffinOrlando on June 29, 2009 at 10:02 AM
dhunter on June 29, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Two words:
“I won”
Fuzzlenutter on June 29, 2009 at 10:03 AM
There nothing surprising about this. Nothing at all. Mr. Obama preaches transparency and those of us who paid attention can see right through him.
Miss Molly on June 29, 2009 at 10:03 AM
The only change we got were the Rep’s stealing pennys and the Dem’s now stealimg thousands of dollars each.
Rick007 on June 29, 2009 at 10:03 AM
OOPS, sorry, missed quote off!
dhunter on June 29, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Um, that would be three words.
Bishop on June 29, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Transparency you can believe in………….. That is if you are a complete brain dead idiot unable to think for yourself. Yes you can or maybe you can’t. Put your mortgage payment in mail, pay the doctor bill and trade your clunker in for a smart car from Detroit. Also be mindful that your utility bills are going up as well as your taxes and you need to save for that. Poor baby you’ve been had.
bluegrass on June 29, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Mignon?
Did he call his sons, T-Bone, Chuck, and Sir Loin.
Mojave Mark on June 29, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Seriously, where is the outrage. Why aren’t Americans from coast-to-coast not protesting this Chicago street thug turned third-word dicator?
highhopes on June 29, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I agree, but this has gone on so long that nobody notices. Change will only come about when we MAKE it come about. I don’t mean voting for change, I mean protesting in the streets. This country would still had separate fountains for blacks and whits if Dr King and others had not led the people to the streets in protest.
old war horse on June 29, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Well, knock me over with a feather!
gridlock2 on June 29, 2009 at 10:09 AM
While they’re at it they’ll probably hire Mignon’s brothers T-bone and Rib-eye.
The FCC has been pretty much useless, make that more than useless, for a few decades now.
viking01 on June 29, 2009 at 10:09 AM
racist!
moonbatkiller on June 29, 2009 at 10:10 AM
I’m shaking my head at how many people are devoting their comments to her name.
Come on, already.
MadisonConservative on June 29, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Woo Hoo! Barack’s Sotomaier just got her *ss handed to her by SCOTUS in a 5-4 decision
mkm19602000 on June 29, 2009 at 10:10 AM
How in heaven’s name can anyone be surprised about any of this?
Mr. Grump on June 29, 2009 at 10:11 AM
I can’t decide whether Obama is more corrupt OR more incompetent.
Right now I’m thinking Obama is about 98% corrupt and 99% incompetent.
So it’s “incompetent” by a nose currently.
NoDonkey on June 29, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I know, isn’t it grand? SCORE 1!
Miss Molly on June 29, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Take a black marker and line change the H in your HOPE sticker with a D . Now maybe you can figure it out. If you’re lucky the change is in your pocket.
bluegrass on June 29, 2009 at 10:13 AM
This is the ONE who swore that he was different, not the same old, same old. I guess it was “just words”…
blue1 on June 29, 2009 at 10:13 AM
OT — Supreme Court rules in favor of white New Haven Firefighters…
D2Boston on June 29, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Probably not; they are followers of Ayn Rand.
Vashta.Nerada on June 29, 2009 at 10:15 AM
We have a glimpse into the liberal psychosis. Clyburn thinks of his daughter as a piece of meat.
alliebobbitt on June 29, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Just hookin’ a sista up.
Lou Budvis on June 29, 2009 at 10:18 AM
How long until we can officially compare the Obama administration to the Harding administration?
MadisonConservative on June 29, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Oh, he only meant on the “R” side of the aisle where everyone is corrupt liars.
Surely nobody thinks he meant hisself or his supporters!
Come on now. All the folks who did not vote for him are just a bunch of knuckle-dragging buffoons who cannot think of anything beyond their next meal.
The adults are in charge now.
tru2tx on June 29, 2009 at 10:22 AM
NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER…YOU RACIST!!!!
BillaryMcBush on June 29, 2009 at 10:24 AM
“One hand washes the other” – It’s the Chicago way!
mojo on June 29, 2009 at 10:24 AM
ot: Same here. My son is very upset about it. Billy Mays was his hero he said. He had tears in his eyes when he talked about it. I gave him a big hug.
Miss Molly on June 29, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Chicagoland USA.
And none of the Obamatons and misguided ‘independents’ saw this coming?
Chaz706 on June 29, 2009 at 10:27 AM
So?, is Zero having the FCC create a set-aside job or did Zero “inspector-general” Mignon’s predecessor?
viking01 on June 29, 2009 at 10:29 AM
And the big question still remains: What are we going to do about this?
BetseyRoss on June 29, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Clyburn, let us not forget, is the genius who accused the governors of TX, SC, LA and MS of racism for refusing Porkulus funds.
So glad that he’s in Congress.
One Against Many on June 29, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Douchebag in Chief also made a deal with Hillary. There’s no way she endorsed Obama without him promising her that SOS position in advance (unless he made her another offer she couldn’t refuse… sniff, sniff).
Unlike you guys, as a woman I had respect for Hillary during the primaries. I lost it when she joined Obama. I remember Bill and her being outraged by the way he treated them both, and Bill saying something like: He can kiss my ass, I will never endorse him. When the Clintons started campaigning for Obama, I knew he promised Hillary the SOS position. Turns out a lot of politicians are whores… and by that definition, I’m sure that if someone investigates deep into Obama’s cronyism, he’d find out the White House is a brothel.
Michelle Dubois on June 29, 2009 at 10:40 AM
I see before me the arc of moral outrage and it is bending toward throwing the bastard out of power.
The question is how much damage to the nation will occur before there is justice. How many lives turned dismal by this out-of-control spending. How many killed by Obamacare initiatives. How much power installed in unelected and undemocratic organizations like ACORN (now COI) and labor unions.
highhopes on June 29, 2009 at 10:41 AM
More celebration of unqualified diversity by Our Dear Leader.
GeneSmith on June 29, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Thank you enlightened voters . . . you left wing jackasses really stuck it to us this time.
rplat on June 29, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Ouch! That’s gonna leave a mark on the “wise Latina” who led the charge against them.
highhopes on June 29, 2009 at 10:42 AM
The only ones for whom this is news are the starry-eyed who insisted, many of whom still do from what I can tell, that Obama was a “man of character,” a Jesus-like figure who could transcend modern politics. Welcome back to reality, chumps.
evergreen on June 29, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Are you actually saying that you have to be female to have had respect for Hillary? I’d argue that lots of people who wouldn’t ever vote for her had “respect” for her in the sense that she was a legitmate candidate unlike the filthy lying street thug that ultimately got elected.
highhopes on June 29, 2009 at 10:47 AM
clears throat.
Let’s review. Obama is a crook and a liar. If his mouth is moving, he is lying. He lies with ease. He lies with moxy. He lies constantly, and never means anything he says. If he says one thing, you automatically know he will do the opposite. Believe nothing he says. He has a very dark agenda, yet sells himself as the smiling nice guy. His outer persona hides an angry, nasty guy with a huge chip on his shoulder. This guy will say and do ANYTHING to accomplish his agenda. He is a consummate liar.
marklmail on June 29, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Gentle rebuke. Many people knew who/what she was before she made her deal with Obie, just as you knew what Obama was without having to elect him to find out.
JiangxiDad on June 29, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Hillary and respect?
(Visualize doormat Hil’ explaining to Chelsea that Daddy’s fling with the hired help is the road to empowerment.)
viking01 on June 29, 2009 at 11:00 AM
I scratch your back, you scratch mine!
So with this little gem in our hand what do we do?
What steps do WE THE PEOPLE take to thwart obama
niaim
egsse
tr
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kc
ea
ColdWarrior57 on June 29, 2009 at 11:00 AM
I am sure that Mignon L. Clyburn, of South Carolina, will do a fine job at the Federal Communications Commission. / SARC
? – What is her experience?
http://techpresident.com/blog-entry/grumblings-over-obamas-little-known-fcc-pick-famous-last-name
Though Clyburn’s name has been floated as an FCC pick for some time, not much is known about her record on the South Carolina PSC. In that vacuum, there’s been a scramble to frame her nomination based on we do know about the situation. And some telecom advocates are having a strongly negative initial reaction to her nod. Sascha Meinrath, a research director at the New America Foundation, titles his post “A Disaster for Public Interest?,” Meinrath suggests “the dominant feeling” amongst telecom advocates is that Clyburn “is extremely tight with the telecom incumbents and that having her on the FCC will all but ensure a stalemate that will prevent any meaningful telecom reforms from being passed.” If that’s true, Meinrath writes, “President Obama would have really sold the public interest down the river.” Meinrath argues that the rank of the paterfamilias of the Clyburn family sullies the nomination of the daughter: “Even objectively this looks like a traditional ‘inside baseball’ quid-pro-quo — appointing the daughter of a powerful congressman to score political points just doesn’t look good.” On the blog Obsidian Wings, Publius titles his/her post on Clyburn, “Obama’s Harriet Miers?”
http://www.saschameinrath.com/2009/apr/30/mignon_clyburn_fcc_commissioner_disaster_public_interest
What I had heard is that her first choices of jobs were all involving the DoE; but having failed to secure a position at the Department of Energy, the FCC Commissionership was the “booby prize.” Given how little is actually known about Ms. Clyburn’s positions on key telecommunications issues and her lack of experience in this area, one cannot help but wonder why she’s been chosen for such a critically important post.
izoneguy on June 29, 2009 at 11:01 AM
I’ve noticed that a lot of Republicans don’t like the Clintons (males and females). My point was that, though I didn’t support her views, I respected her out of a solidarity to someone of my own gender. After all politics is still a male dominated world. but I wasn’t trying to say that you have to be a female to respect her.
Michelle Dubois on June 29, 2009 at 11:02 AM
What NEW cronyism?
Watch who gets the cement, garbage, FCC, etc. porkulus contracts. Same old Hoffa club, with some token black beneficiaries for MSM.
Reality Check on June 29, 2009 at 11:11 AM
There’s a paradox of Hillary’s solidarity towards women when Monica enters the picture.
And Paula Jones. And Gennifer Flowers. And Juanita Broaddrick. And Kathleen Willey.
viking01 on June 29, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Groan.
Buy Danish on June 29, 2009 at 11:14 AM
I came to this great country in 1997, I’m still learning :)
Maybe I romanticize things, but American presidents (left and right) were always these amazing leaders, trying to make the world a little bit better. Somehow Obama doesn’t fall into this category and it’s heartbreaking :)
Michelle Dubois on June 29, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Mignon? WTF kind of stupid name is that? Is her brother’s name Ground-Chuck?
Ris4victory on June 29, 2009
PRETENTIOUS!
LSUMama on June 29, 2009 at 11:16 AM
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