Staff Trouble At Treasury Department?
Email Obama administration officials are pushing back hard at critics who argue that failure to fill key Treasury Department positions is hampering their response to the economic
crisis. The Obama administration has argued that they have more appointees in place than previous administrations and have done big things: housing, stimulus, and the beginning of their bank plans. But in the wake of last night’s news that the top two candidates for key posts have withdrawn, White House and Treasury aides are promising to "expedite" the nomination process and have a slate of candidates before the Senate "very soon." As I reported last night, Annette Nazareth was forced to withdraw from consideration for the deputy treasury slot because senators made it clear she would face tough questioning over her time at the Securities and Exchange Commission — tenure that overlapped with the agency’s failure to catch Bernie Madoff. The candidate for Undersecretary for International Affairs, Caroline Atkinson, was told she had to withdraw after a "tax problem" was revealed early in the vetting process, according to officials. Now the man in line for Deputy Secretary — Sullivan & Cromwell Chairman H. Rodgin Cohen — has his nomination complicated by his work for blue-chip Wall Street clients. The experience that enhances his ability to do the job is also making it harder for him to get it. Like the new Deputy Secretary of Defense, Bill Lynn, he is likely to need a waiver from the strict conflict of interest standards set by President Barack Obama. "That’s what you get when you run as a good government type," said one Senate source. "No one can meet the standard they set for themselves," added another. An administration official concedes that "it’s not easy to find qualified people who don’t have conflicts"
adding that "dozens of candidates" across the government have been forced to pull out because they
couldn’t meet the Obama standard or overcome "nanny tax" and other vetting issues. But even though more waivers will be necessary, there are no plans now for a broader reconsideration of the ethics regulations. "How do they do it in a face-saving way?" asked one Obama ally. One official in the financial services industry suggested they should find a way, comparing it to a life-and-death situation. The official told my colleague ABC’s Matt Jaffe, "If a patient was having a heart attack, then even if the best cardiologist available is a jerk, you would still want that doctor operating on the patient." –George Stephanopoulos
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Our Greatest Smartest Clueless Leader is so smart in finding all types of crooks and tax cheaters to help him advance the ideals of common good.
Annette Nazareth was to withdraw because of failure to catch Bernie Madoff.
- Hey, maybe she invested with Madoff, too, and would be a victim.
The candidate for Undersecretary for International Affairs, Caroline Atkinson, had to withdraw after a “tax problem”.
- Maybe, PB0 can make another exception. Keep her in, we need 3 more women in the government.
Posted by: kat | March 6, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
Geithner needs help. There is no if’s, ands, or buts.
Posted by: Sara | March 6, 2009, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
It seems he can’t even find a good Republican who can pass the test.
It just points out that perhaps we should start with cleaning out Congress.
Posted by: Thinking | March 6, 2009, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
Why is everyone suddenly so eager for this President to fail? Is it so we can have something to complain about a few months/Years down the road? I for one would like for him to succeed so hopefully this country can make the economic turnaround it needs. I’m tired of struggling and living from check to check.
Posted by: Jenny | March 6, 2009, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
Then what happened???? HOW could this happen???
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/us/politics/13apply.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/13/transition.questionnaire/index.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/13/obama-white-house-questionnaire
Posted by: Did he fail | March 6, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
This really shows what kind of people we have in the “Washington Environment”. So many of these people are turning down nominations, perhaps because they have something to hide. After all, look how many tax cheats and other crooks were exposed through Obama’s vetting process (one good thing he’s done as President). As for a broader consideration of the ethics issue, the ethics standards should NOT be relaxed despite what the financial official mentioned wishes. Decades of weak/non-existent ethics standards is what got us in this mess. A return to strong ethics, common-sense judgement, and putting the average citizen first instead of the elitists will save us.
Posted by: Terrence O'Day | March 6, 2009, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
These (insert word here) don’t even pay taxes, yet they the top 1% want to RAISE yours after they took your job overseas, and let their Wall St. cronies steal your social security and retirement savings! Are you Mad as Hell YET!!! What will it take to get you to hold somebody, ANYBODY accountable. Democrat, Republican, they ALL STOLE from YOU!!! Why are you supporting the same people who took everything you own from you???
Posted by: hmn... | March 6, 2009, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
The notion that Annette Nazareth is in any way responsible for the behavior of Bernard Madoff, is like saying Elliot Ness was responsible for the behavior of Al Capone. It is rediculous, and once again reinforces the claim that the Republicans on the hill are doing every thing in their power to make Obama look bad; misery loves company.
Posted by: Mark | March 6, 2009, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
No the president didn’t fail…this country is in such a mess that nothing can be fixed overnight. I’m tired of the bashing…he’s only in five weeks. Does everyone realize the huge mess he is facing? This has been going on for years and years, with greed and fraud and no one watching the store.
Now we have someone who is trying to do something. Let’s give him a chance….Everyone thinks they know what should be done but he is not an idiot and he is talking with many smart people and asking everyone’s opinion…there are way too many things wrong with this country and since it took time to do this it will take time to undo it.
Posted by: Barb | March 6, 2009, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
Kat – could you please not play the sexist card? According to your post, we need three more women in government. What makes a woman better at the job than a man? As a reverse, what makes a man better at the job than a woman? Gender isn’t/shouldn’t be a qualifying factor for a government job. Otherwise we should turn the Presidency over to Hillary, or to McCain because he had Palin…despite what the voters decided. Let’s just focus on the person’s intelligence, strong ethics and skills (all gender-neutral).
Posted by: Terrence O'Day | March 6, 2009, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
STE…..Smoothest Transition Ever, right?
Watch Obama blame “GOP obstructionism” and threaten more “catastrophe” when Geithner names some bona fide screamers to his staff.
Posted by: WinstonSmith77 | March 6, 2009, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
Everyone who voted for Obama as our president forgot that he was part of the problem in the Senate over the last 2 years during which time American has spiraled completely out of control. If Walmart wasn’t so greedy and corupt polititians under Clinton didn’t let Walmart have their way regarding trade with Asia, then American would still be at work today. I am a registered Independant and I believe that Bush screwed up by following in Clinton’s footsteps on foreign trade policy. Were it not for greed and corruption America would not be in the mess it is in today.
Posted by: John | March 6, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
In response to the question “does anyone realize the huge mess Obama is facing?”:
Does anyone realize the huge mess Obama is making?
Posted by: WinstonSmith77 | March 6, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
Not eager to see Barry fail, just want him to do something other than spend taxpayer monies and pat himself on the back. It’s the economy stupid, not healthcare, bridge building in 2012 or welfare expansion. Quit giving speaches and campaigning then do something.
Posted by: Bob | March 6, 2009, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
Obama is my president, but he messed with this one.
Tim is incapable of running Treasury. It only took me 40 days to find out. Sad isnt it. We have a tax cheat talking about eliminating tax evasion and has present a good idea yet.
ooooooo! Obama why you do this mane?
Posted by: nubiangent08 | March 6, 2009, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
This man is hurting the economy, not helping it. Those who profited the most from this crisis are now re-evaluating their portfolios. They will make windfall profits over the next 3-5 years based largely in part on this idiots fiscal inexperience. The party isn’t over, everyone got caught drunk driving after mowing down the crowd and then got a get out of jail free card! The fact that he has no experts to give sound advice is to blaim. THAT and the fact that he’s really a deep deep undercover communist spy for China.
Posted by: concerned | March 6, 2009, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
MARK:
PEOPLE HAVE HAD GREAT SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT WOULD HELP THE ECONOMY. CUT TAXES
IF YOU CUT THE CAPITAL GAIN TAX, AND CAME OUT AND SAID YOU WOULD NOT RAISE TAXES THE MARKET WOULD SKY ROCKET. BUT HE WANTS TO GO WITH RAISING TAXES AND SPENDING. ITS NOT WORKING. THE MARKETS WOULD BE UP IF THEY HAD CONFIDENCE. THIS ISNT WALL ST. THIS IS OUR RETIREMENT, OUR HOMES OUR FUTURES AND HE DOESN’T EXACTLY MAKE EVERYONE FEEL THAT HE IS IN CHARGE. WE WANT HIM TO SUCCEED I VOTED FOR HIM. BUT IT SEEMS THAT GEITHENER WASN’T THE BOY WONDER THAT EVERYONE THOUGHT HE WAS. IT COMES TO APOINT WHEN THERE IS NO TURNING BACK.
Posted by: KAREN | March 6, 2009, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
what a sad day for our country when we can’t find even one qualified candidate who is honest and ethical!!! Is it no surprise that our country is going up in smoke?
Historians are chilled by the similarites between the problems the U.S. is facing and the collapse of the Roman Empire 1500 years ago!!!!
Posted by: SmokeyJoe | March 6, 2009, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
This really shows what kind of people we have in the “Washington Environment”. So many of these people are turning down nominations, perhaps because they have something to hide. After all, look how many tax cheats and other crooks were exposed through Obama’s vetting process (one good thing he’s done as President). As for a broader consideration of the ethics issue, the ethics standards should NOT be relaxed despite what the financial official mentioned wishes. Decades of weak/non-existent ethics standards is what got us in this mess. A return to strong ethics, common-sense judgement, and putting the average citizen first instead of the elitists will save us.
Posted by: Terrence O’Day | Mar 6, 2009 2:56:18 PM
Thats exactly why they are turning them down. These folks are a getting a crash course in an effective background investigation.
I bet Barney, Chris, dodd, beuhner, or McConnell accepted the nomination, their background wouldnt be squeakly clean either.
I am glad Obama was elected b/c more americans are interested in whats happening in Washington. No matter bad, mad and upset at Obama for hiring Geither it maybe worth it in the future for voters to be more curious about who they are voting for.
Posted by: nubiangent08 | March 6, 2009, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
Hey George all of these questions are well and good but here is the most important….Are u gonna let Ali keep the dog she fell in love with on Oprah
Posted by: Tracy | March 6, 2009, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
DOes anyone wonder why George S is till allowed to parade as a journalist given his involvment with the democratic administration>
Posted by: stanjones | March 6, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
In case you missed this on Politico…it’s laugh out loud funny:
President Barack Obama doesn’t go anywhere without his TelePrompter.
The textbook-sized panes of glass holding the president’s prepared remarks follow him wherever he speaks.
Resting on top of a tall, narrow pole, they flank his podium during speeches in the White House’s stately parlors. They stood next to him on the floor of a manufacturing plant in Indiana as he pitched his economic stimulus plan. They traveled to the Department of Transportation this week and were in the Capitol Rotunda last month when he paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln in six-minute prepared remarks.
Obama’s reliance on the teleprompter is unusual — not only because he is famous for his oratory, but because no other president has used one so consistently and at so many events, large and small.
After the teleprompter malfunctioned a few times last summer and Obama delivered some less-than-soaring speeches, reports surfaced that he was training to wean himself off of the device while on vacation in Hawaii. But no such luck.
His use of the teleprompter makes work tricky for the television crews and photographers trying to capture an image of the president announcing a new Cabinet secretary or housing plan without a pane of glass blocking his face. And it is a startling sight to see such sleek, modern technology set against the mahogany doors and Bohemian crystal chandeliers in the East Room or the marble columns of the Grand Foyer.
Obama has relied on a teleprompter through even the shortest announcements and when repeating the same lines on his economic stimulus plan that he’s been saying for months — whereas past presidents have mostly worked off of notes on the podium except during major speeches, such as the State of the Union
Posted by: melsg | March 6, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
WHO WOULD WANT TO WORK ALONGSIDE TG??HE DOES NOT PROJECT CONFIDENCE AT ALL!!HE SEEMS THE TYPE THAT YOU WOULD BE A “SCAPEGOAT” FOR, WHILE HE FORGES AHEAD!
Posted by: Denisea213 | March 6, 2009, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
George, I lost all respect for you this week finding out how you are spending time worrying about a radio talk show host and not the issues we’re facing. Obama’s dishonesty is rubbing off..thought you’d changed from your Clinton years.
Posted by: melsg | March 6, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
obama should have let geithner go when the tax problem surfaced. No one has any trust in that man, how can he get qualified people to work for him, when he him self is not qualified. Obama will not be happy untill America is finished.
Posted by: jollypolly2 | March 6, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
With regard to all prospective appointees who’ve had to bow out due to tax problems, has anyone stopped pointing fingers long enough to think that it’s evident the U.S. Tax is very long overdue for a complete overhaul? Our tax laws are so convoluted, contradictory and complicated that even experts can’t figure them out. I don’t think any of these individuals caught in a “catch-22″ because of unpaid taxes were dodging their obligations, more likely, is their preparers were just as flumoxed as the rest of us.
Posted by: nanameow | March 6, 2009, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
It is ironic how this administration mirrors the state of the current economy insofar as not being to fill jobs. Who would want to work for such a corrupt person anyway? It is becoming increasingly obvious that Mr. Geitner is not capable of the job but also not capable for hiring people to advise him. This guy is so incompetent. So much for a honeymoon Mr. Obama–you are NOT MY president.
Posted by: James | March 6, 2009, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
George – How can we believe any of your so called reports when you are briefed each and every morning by Rahm, James and Paul. You have lost all credibility.
Posted by: mark | March 6, 2009, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
Anybody can give taxpayer money to Wall Street. Bailout Economics has proven to be a Moral Hazard that keeps going and going and going.
Posted by: Geo | March 6, 2009, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
i realize now that the only way you can become a politician is to be rich, know or be related to a politician or be a super charming loveable lying crook.
Posted by: jane gutowski | March 6, 2009, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
i realize now that the only way you can become a politician is to be rich, know or be related to a politician or be a super charming loveable lying crook.
Posted by: jane gutowski | March 6, 2009, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
This country needs to stop all of the back stabbing and get busy with the problems. It seems that a lot of people do nothing but complain about others trying to get things to work. There is no easy fix, but if people think that every ones plan is so bad why don’t they have one that is “so good”. Just a bunch of people talking out the side of their necks.
Posted by: taxpayingvoter | March 6, 2009, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
George Stephanopoulos makes me nervous that he works for abc, i am convinced he personally tracks all online user information. He was a big time pollster and social scientist in his political days. Don’t get me wrong George, I consider you one of the good guys, but still your presence makes me nervous.
Posted by: mikeinreality | March 6, 2009, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
So, two more people that Obama appointed had to step down. Wow!!!! I guess Obama doesn’t know any law abiding citizens to fill the posts. Obama is a “catastrophe”
Posted by: CW | March 6, 2009, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
Seems to me that the Obama team is actually subjecting their picks to much more scrutiny than either of the Bushes or Reagan ever did. In fact, this can be proven by reference to the employment application questionnaire they are using. They are making every effort to weed out potential problems from the start. Where they have decided to accept a candidate despite some background problem (i.e. Geithner himself) I think we can safely infer that there was some specific quality or qualification in that candidate which they felt justified their choice. But don’t expect that sort of a pass to be issued often.
We should expect the Obama presidency to reflect a much different philosophy than perhaps almost all administrations of the past 50 years. I do not think Obama intends to be bound by tradition or by the various D.C. “kingmakers”. He has his own ideas and ideals about how government should work, and I think he intends to pursue those without compromise.
As for those (almost exclusively conservatives / Republicans) who continue to clamour for more tax cuts as the “only” way to restore the economy, I must say that we had 8 years of that philosophy under Boy George, and look where it got us. You cannot keep spending on credit as if there is no tomorrow, and still expect that everything will work out okay “tomorrow”! Bottom line: we tried it & it didn’t work. We tried it again & it didn’t work again. We tried it yet another time, and it “helped” to create a disaster. Time to try SOMETING ELSE.
Posted by: Jordan | March 6, 2009, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
I wish Obama was a socialist. If he was, he’d confiscate the property and assets of the crooks who looted this country and now are forcing us to bail them out!
Posted by: Steve | March 6, 2009, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
Steve,
Here, here! I want Obama to succeed. I want Tim Geithner to succeed. I hope they can fill those seats and I wish the republicans would stop standing in the way of progress.
On another note.. When Wall Street hates what Obama/Geithner put in place, it is definitely a good sign for the people. AIG bailing out Goldman Sachs at 100% on the dollar?! Republican appointed Hank Paulson has thereby forced the taxpayer to bail out Goldman Sachs on both sides Goldman Sach’s gambles?! You remember Hank Paulson don’t you? He’s the guy who told Bank of America to let Lehman collapse and bail out Merrill Lynch instead.
Posted by: Common Sense | March 7, 2009, 8:46 am 8:46 am
Jail for Republican Bush croney Hank Paulson and everbody else at Goldman Sachs that stole our money. We want it back! We will get it, too.
Posted by: Common Sense | March 7, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am
Obama spin doctors abound. And for those who arent swayed by the Obama spin doctors, his youth brigade(gestapo)will be coming to a town near you to help you see the light.
but seriously, a known TAX CHEAT for Treasury Secretary.Mind boggling.
That’s CHANGE alright
Posted by: Badger | March 8, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am
Badger,
Only in America can we have people make amends for a mistake but have that error held against them forever. What a perfect loser you must be!
Posted by: Common Sense | March 8, 2009, 9:02 am 9:02 am
common sense
Have you been naive all of your life, or is this a sudden development?
Putting a tax cheat in charge of the IRS, is just one more display of Obamas incredibly POOR JUDGEMENT.
Turbo Tax Timmy was either too dumb to figure out that he was $30,000.00 behind in taxes, or he cheated, and then lied about it. Pick your poison.
and Don’t get me started on Obama Press Sevretay, Robert Gibbs, who can’t answer a question about the weather without crapping on himself, or Hillary (Ms DOUBTsniperFIRE)Clinton who has made one foreign affair blunder after another.
Posted by: Badger | March 8, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am
I fully support our President. I beleive he is the right man in the right place at the right time. He has quite a bit of work in front of him, that will take the best & brightest minds surrounding himself with to keep all of these hughe problems managed and moving in a corrective direction. We dug ourselfses in this hole over many years and we wont get out of it overnight.
The only concern i have on how he is handling all of these huge issues is that he is pivoting a little too quickly from on focal point, ie Stimlus to Health Care without closing most of the doors on the previous.
Again, we truly have several huge problems landing concurrently and they are not mutually exclusive, which is why he is tying them together chronologically as they should be. And they will end up supporting each other very soon. We need to make sure we have ALL of our collective ducks in a row (departments fully staffed) to assist management levels that actually do the heavy lifting.
Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | March 8, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am