White House Plays Hardball; Says Fired IG Walpin Was “Confused, Disoriented” Engaged in “Inappropriate Conduct”

That’s not hardball.

Firing incompetence instead of hiring it.
Change I believe in.

Norm Eisen, up to bat…

I’d hardly call it hardball when they had to be forced into throwing a pitch.
There are several solid accusations there. If this guy is being railroaded, it should be easy enough for him to refute the factual complaints.

Terry:”Does Mr. Obama qualify? How so?”
HAS ANY OTHER PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION PRESENTED MORE EVIDENCE OF NATIVE BIRTH THAN OBAMA?
No.
Doesn’t that make you seem a bit like a crack pot?

Terry, unlike you Israelis, and apart from a lot of this sophomoric government-knows-best bull, and putting aside the shady politics, and looking past terminations without reasons, and besides all the connections to the Chicago political machine, and not taking into account the lost promises, a lot of us are proud of Obama making it to the white house with a difficult background. I am, anyway.

watch out before celebrating Obama’s purge of those civil servants who dare question his modus operandi. “The Night of the Long Knives” will be soon be coming for you early supporters of Obama. Of course, not literally (hopefully) but a political purge of any true believers who help propel Barak to his erstwhile Presidency. Almost all who seize power eventually purge the ranks to consolidate power. They are afraid of competitors, those who know secrets/methods of their past, and, most importantly, want to remain in power by whatever means. Bewarned those who thought that “The One” would stop the wars, surveillence, spending, corruption, recessions, etc. It is all about the power and personal status (European spending sprees etc) not about any progressive, or other, values.

Actually, jhw539, I’m thinking of joining this birth certificate question. What do you have against it?

Terry:”For other US Presidents, Both Bush’s, Clinton, Carter, Johnson, Nixon, Truman, Roosevelt, etc. no issue. ”
No issue? Why is that? They did not present their ‘long form’ birth certificate or interviews with the dr who delivered them.
“which is a very recent computer generated document and not even valid in Hawaii for identification purposes.”
Of course it isn’t – no photo. Try getting on a plane with your ‘long form’ and see how far you get. The birth certificate he released is the standard one available from the state of Hawaii and is completely valid for proving US citizenship and attaining a passport. Why is that?
“Shouldn’t the people of this country have the right to view the most basic of documents concerning the President — his birth certificate?”
No. They have the right to view proof of his citizenship, and Obama has met that bar to the same degree as every president ever before him.
Again, why are you hold Obama to a uniquely high bar? NO OTHER PRESIDENT HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO RELEASE THEIR SO CALLED ‘LONG FORM’ BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
This has been through the courts and tossed out, including by the Supreme Court – the one with the same makeup that smacked down Gore in 2000. What a waste of time.

I just saw him interviewed the other night and he looked and sounded perfectly coherent.
This “let’s destroy the good names of those out to get me” needs to stop. It’s childish.
Please don’t back down Senator McCaskill and Senator Grassley.
Or Mr. Tapper.

Terry:”My son has a “Certification of Live Birth” like Mr. Obama. My son was born in in a European country. ”
Obama’s birth certificate clearly state the location of birth as Honolulu. Where does your son’s certificate state he was born?
Also bear in mind numerous state officials from Hawaii have vouched for the accuracy of the official document, so now you’re talking a major conspiracy that has held for decades supporting a forged document (false place of birth). One spanning Obama’s entire life, since his birth announcement was in the Honolulu Advertiser on Sunday, Aug. 13, 1961. Now that’s planning ahead!
And again WHY MUST OBAMA PROVIDE MORE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP THAN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION?

“Mr. Walpin was removed after a review was UNANIMOUSLY requested by the BI-PARTISAN Board of the Corporation.”
————————————–
Gee, a unamimous request from a bi-partisan board – that is terribly suspicious!
Off with the President’s head! Send him back to Kenya!
How did the right wing become such fools? No wonder the majority of Americans have abandoned the crackpots.

If all this were true, why break the law to fire the guy? Why tell him he had 1 hour to resign? Also no comments from the “bipartisan” board. All this is supposedly based off of one meeting as well. Sorry its BS and Obama is trying to desperately cover his tracks.

“was confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions …” Sounds like Mr. Obama when the occasional reporter dares to ask a followup…

Hi DL13
I have to agree with you. Even assuming the guy was not a good IG, they should have waited a decent period before firing him. To do so just after a successful investigation of fraud sends the wrong message to other IGs.

Hi Denita,
Actually the Supreme Court never ruled on the merits of the case… check it out…

Hi sybilll
This thing has a script – just remember the travel office affair under Mr. Clinton. First the firing, then the smear, then the lawsuit, then the settlement. We are still in the regime of the smear.

Hi danita
Yes they refused to consider it because it is more properly and issue for the Congress and the Free Press. You are apparently not concerned. When the rule of law is cast aside, who will protect you?

Hi Terry,
Honest question. If Obama now owns the MSM, with typical *grandma’s* never seeing the truth, are we truly sunk, as I fear? And, I have never been a fear-monger, and I lived through Carter and Clinton. Frankly, at this point, I would take Clinton.

Hi sybilll
I never thought I would see that day… but I agree with you on Clinton… I would even overlook the interns….

Hi danita
I don’t know where you are coming from. I have no fear of foreigners, I even married one and I have lived more than 20 years abroad working a living with foreigners.
Please try to understand that it is about the rule of law, in this case the supreme law of the land, the US Constitution. Are we to so casually dismiss one of its provisions because to do so helps a guy we like?
Mr. Obama has never been completely “vetted” by the press as was every predecessor both Democrat and Republican. This occurred becuase of the presses hope for him to be elected, and because of a fear of being called “racist’. Even now if ask any fundamental questions about this guy, you are dismissed as a crackpot.
Ask yourself why he won’t even release the most basic document – his birth certificate. Ask your self why he sends lawyers into court to keep this document under wraps. Ask yourself why his records at Occidental College are under wraps. Why his records at Harvard are under wraps. How he got to Editor of the Harvard law review, yet had no article published in it.
What is your conclusion? What is there to hide? Oh, I get it, you don’t care, you just love him…

“Mr. Obama has never been completely “vetted” by the press as was every predecessor both Democrat and Republican. This occurred becuase of the presses hope for him to be elected, and because of a fear of being called “racist’.”
================================
Terry, you have no idea what kind of research ‘the press’ has put into President Obama and your statement is thus meaningless.
Your presumptions you state about the motivations of the press clearly say a lot more about you, than about the press.
You agenda is showing Terry.
The sky is falling Terry! The press is controlled by foreigners! The Supreme Court of the United States has allowed a foreigner to become President by refusing the hear the case! The press are all reverse racists! White people are losing out AGAIN!
The country is doomed Terry and only a person like you can save it!
Oh the corruption! Oh the scandal! Oh the drama!
That darn foreigner spoiling everything!
Too bad Bush already sold the country down the pipes to China in debt bonds Terry! You’ve been bought and sold already!

Hi Danita,
Why so defensive? Why not even consider any of the serious issues I posed?

Your shtick smells Terry, and I’ve pointed out why. Live, learn and grow.

Rog . ..
Sounds like you’ve totally prejudged the situation before all the information is in . .. a prejudiced approach is what one expects from those with a political agenda to flout.
Waiting until all the information is in and the situation is clearly stated and proved is what a decent, rational citizen might do.

Terry, having ‘lived overseas for twenty years’ I’d think you’d have finally realized that when you left the US you became the foreigner. With that attitude it’s a shame to think that you may actually be overseas representing us to other people.

Another one of those “What if Bush did this?” moments…
It is just pathetic.

Maybe Obama should stop and smell the roses in the Rose garden before they start to wilt. He’s the one who is dazed and confuzed. How did we get talked into electing this talking head anyways?

More oppressive progressive communist character assassination.

He must be sent to a re-education camp.

A unanimous request for the Board of the Corporation, a board made of both Republicans and Dems was submitted to Obama to have Walpin removed. Basically Walpin’s bosses. And he was working from home despite objections to this from the board. Umm yeah if I worked from home I would be getting fired as well. The comments here are ridiculous considering Obama basically followed advice he was given by the people who were in charge of this organization. Even Fox news has a story today basically saying the same things.

A unanimous request for the Board of the Corporation, a board made of both Republicans and Dems was submitted to Obama to have Walpin removed.
______________________________________
Walpin was the IG tasked with investigating the Corporation. So they can ask the watchdog to be fired? I would like to see where in the IG Reform Act that’s allowed.

“Mr. Walpin was removed after a review was unanimously requested by the bi-partisan Board of the Corporation,” Eisen writes in the letter..”
Removed after a review was requested? Then there must be some original review paperwork somewhere? It says unanimously a bi-partisan decision of the board, so who are the Republicans (Besides Goldsmith) on the board and did they give a statement? Goldsmith serves on the Fannie Mae foundation, wonder if he has some luggage being held over his head…
“Lawrence Brown … had filed a complaint about Mr. Walpin’s conduct with the oversight body for Inspectors General, including for failing to disclose exculpatory evidence.”
Looked this up. This complaint was filed over the Kevin Johnson case!!!!
“Mr. Walpin referred the case to the U.S. attorney’s office so it could consider prosecuting Mr. Johnson and a colleague for misusing federal funds. The office reached a settlement with the academy that required the group repay some of the money it had received — an agreement that Mr. Walpin criticized in a report that he issued in May. — (note: This agreement was reached with THE Inspector General so the White House Staff, leaving Mr. Walpin out of the loop)
The acting U.S. attorney, Lawrence Brown, filed a complaint against Mr. Walpin with the integrity committee of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, a federal body. The complaint was not immediately available, but Mr. Walpin’s defense refers to charges that he overstepped his authority as an auditor and improperly communicated to the press. Mr. Walpin denies both charges.”
Improperly communicated to the press?? Where was he supposed to go with this when your boss is undermining you?
This whole thing stinks.

===And then he needs thirty days notice.
Posted by: jhw539 | Jun 17, 2009 9:35:48 AM===
I’m surprised. I never expected you to criticize something Obama signed off on.

=== He was also doing his job effectively in finding fraud within the Americorps program.===
Well something was wrong since a settlement was reached. Wherein the accused forked over money.

Why isn’t this being covered in the main news?!!
This is so ridiculous that Obama can fire an Inspector General (the position was created in response to Nixon’s Executive Branch fraud), without any actual evidence of wrongdoing, or doing a bad job. In fact, based on the Walpin’s reports and the fact that he was uncovering at least over a million dollars in fraud, I would say he is doing an excellent job.

Axey “===I guess you must be a big supporter of unions since you seem to believe that no one should be fired without triple review, cause in duplicate, and at least one second degree felony. And then he needs thirty days notice.
Posted by: jhw539 | Jun 17, 2009 9:35:48 AM===
I’m surprised. I never expected you to criticize something Obama signed off on.”
First off, I will have to remember that you don’t seem to comprehend sarcasm. And second off, in just the last week I have voiced support for two lawsuits against the Obama administration (FISA related and states secrets related – give to the EFF and ACLU to take a stand on these efforts to limit government power!).
The myth of an Obama ‘cult of personality’ is just that, a myth. He regularly takes flak from the left – heck, he can’t even get the same level of blind unquestioning support from his fellow party members in Congress. If you want to find a cult of personality, look at the Republican Congress’s voting record (and record number of filibusters at the end) during the 8 years of the Republican administration. And check out how the voters rewarded that blind devotion.

I’m sure it was just a coincidence that Walpin happened to be investigating an Obama supporter/friend. I’m sure that had nothing to do with it. He must be crazy or senile, or both. I’m really sure, but could someone pass the kool-aid? Please?

Greg:”I’m a an American citizen.
Obama is not until PROVEN to ALL Americans, not just the ones who choose to believe in POLITICIANS! ”
He has proven himself an American citizen as much or more than every other US President in the history of our country. Your absurd conspiracy theory has gone up to the Supreme Court – which has the same makeup as the one that ruled against Gore case in 2000 – and been summarily dismissed. Please remove the tin foil hat and return to reality.

Didn’t Obama campaign on increasing funding to Americorps?
The first lady’s chief of staff is the director of Americorps?
A big Obama supporter was misusing Americorps funds, barring him from receiving stimulus money as mayor.
The stimulus drastically increased funding to Americorps and oh, by the way, had money in wait for the Obama supportor Mayor in Sacremento. Funds he couldn’t get unless the the restrictions were lifted (thus the settlement).
And St. Hope, recieving 800k of tax payer money is insolvent and cannot pay back the settlement. Mr. Johnson has to pay back 73k of personal money he misused.
And the inspector General who uncovered it was fired.
It’s good to be King I guess.
…hmmmmm….

I saw Mr. Walpin on the news he sure did not look nutty to me, maybe he took his med and was able to sit through the interview am sure that is what some will say.
This is cold and heartless for any administration to pull this poor man’s name through the mud like this, what is going on with these people Obama sure is turning out to be scary, I feel so sorry for this man and he family no one deserves this kind of treatment no matter what the issue may be.

It’s hilarious to think an administration with Rahm “Dead to me!” Emmanuel is going to fire someone for disruptive behavior.
I realize not all employees are good employees, and maybe this guy really deserved to lose his job.
The lack of attention by the board and the administration that he actually found substantial wrongdoing while he was supposedly not doing his job is troublesome to me.
It could make me suspicious that the board was happy to just give taxpayer money away without oversight. I know that is unheard of in government….

jhw539,
400,000.00 thousand REAL American CITIZENS have serious doubts.
NONE of the cases have been heard on their merits by the S.C. NONE of them.
They have only been told, “We will not hear these cases”…that is not the same.
Absurd? Absurd is following blindly ANY politician. You would take the side of man that you do not even know over your neighbors, the Americans?
Again, Kool-Aid is not the right recipe. It was Flavor-Aid and my family the Joneses can supply you with the correct recipe.

Greg:”NONE of the cases have been heard on their merits by the S.C. NONE of them.
They have only been told, “We will not hear these cases”…that is not the same. ”
Seriously, why do you think the Supreme Court, the guys who gave Bush the presidency, looked at this case and decided it was not worth their time? The Supreme Court had the opportunity to rule on it, they did take a look at the merits, and decided it was not worth their time.
The top court has had it’s say (along with various lower courts). Sorry if our Constitutional government system doesn’t satisfy you, but it has worked well enough to make us the most prosperous free country in the history of mankind so I think I’ll stick with it.

Anyone that thinks this was a politically motivated investigation by Walpin (mbs in particular), obviously cannot read, because the investigation into Kevin Johnson’s St. HOPE foundation was done over a year ago, before Obama was president. It seems like it would be quite silly to waste resources investigating a long shot (at the time) presidential candidate’s supporters.

KR:”Actually the response I read from the Supreme court is that the plantiff’s did not have undo hardship from the case and thus was not heard. …
I didn’t see anything from the court that talked about the merit of the case. ”
The Supreme Court can take any case for any reason they want to. If they wanted to look at it, they would have looked at it. “Not worth our time” is not a proper reason to reject the case, hence the official justification. And just to provide that response indicates they did indeed take a brief look at the case.
Lower courts have looked indepth at the merits of the case and ruled unequivocally against them (that’s how it got to the Supremes).

Catherine T:”[Eisen charged that at a May 20, 2009 board meeting Walpin "was confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions and exhibited other behavior that led the Board to question his capacity to serve."]
This is the worst of tactics/smears and right out of the Marxist handbook. ”
What? Could you provide any actual support for that hysterical claim?
This actually seems more like typical politics (which is not a compliment of Obama’s administration, but I don’t consider it an insult either – I don’t want a starry eyed hippy in the Whitehouse).

Gerald “was confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions and exhibited other behavior that led the Board to question his capacity to serve.”
The Truth explains:
Confused: Mr. Walpin does not understand that Obama is above the law and can make whatever decision at will, regardless of any laws previously supported by BHO.
Disoriented: Mr. Walpin does not realize that all laws are suspended for Friends of Barack.
Unable to answer questions: Questions like “why are you exposing our crooked friends?”, “why are you being honest?”, “are you not a team player?”, and “do you think George Bush and Republicans are responsible for all the trouble in the world?” Mr. Walpin was stumped.
Exhibited other behavior that led the Board to question his capacity to serve: Mr. Walpin curiously chose NOT to resign when ordered, so the Administration had to break the law and fire him.
Silly independent thinkers will not make it in Washington. Notice that ABC complied with the Administrations demand for a star-studded propaganda mission on Federal Healthcare from the Blue Room. I’ll be popping popcorn for this love-fest.

Wow! This is “faxing it in” at a very high level. If there’s negligence and gross misconduct on the part of the Head Nut, I think President Obama is well advised to terminate him immediately before he can do anymore damage. Administrators like this poison lots of good people with their arrogance and bad attitude. Not available, not accountable, and not gonna change = bye-bye.

Obama needs to look in the mirror.

If a person is confused wouldn’t you offer them help or counseling before you fire them. Obama is the worst thing this country has ever seen.

danita – “To some people on this forum, President Obama can do nothing right and every news item is an opportunity to badmouth the President, name call and insult.”
There are those that fit your description, but many more who fit the “Obama can do no wrong” category.

Seems there was an on-going FBI investigation into possible obstruction of justice at Kevin Johnson’s organization (the one Walpin found had misused taxpayer funds).
This probably was not a good time for the White House to step into this hornet’s nest.

[jhe539: What? Could you provide any actual support for that hysterical claim?]
This actually seems more like typical politics (which is not a compliment of Obama’s administration, but I don’t consider it an insult either – I don’t want a starry eyed hippy in the Whitehouse.)
(Have to say, your worst fear re ‘starry-eyed hippy’ would be far less worrisome than what we have.) Keep in mind; did not say they invented character assasination; or have exclusive rights; but Marxists have ‘well adapted’ these tactics; if not made ‘high art’ of the MO. Saul Alynski fashions the same by his dictum; Identify; Isolate, Freeze; your target. . .(A tactic, we know, Obama and Lefties et al use regularly and rigorously)
some references: Mikhail Bakunin observed how rather than discussion of issues, the tried and tested method of leftism and Marxism was spread through the art of character assassination, [4] close associates of Marx were adept in the practice of:
. . .cowardly, odious and perfidious insinuations. They seldom (but not exclusively) make open accusation, but they insinuate, saying they “have heard – it is said – it may not be true, but’, and then they hurl the most abominable calumnies in your face.
More personally;
John Fuegi – 2002 – Biography & Autobiography – 732 pages
. . .we know Marx was given to outbursts of verbal violence and character assassination of those who did not slavishly follow him and his ideas. (A tradition that again; invited what is now a ‘core value’ for practicing and ambitious Marxists.
(Another, favored tactic is to attack one’s intelligence; as it leaves the ‘recipient’ unable to defend himself; without risking giving this insult. . .legs and a very familiar Leftist MO.)
Russian Proverb: “We treasure the deceit which uplifts us more than a thousand burdensome truths.”
Cannot think of a better summation of America’s viral ‘Obamania’; perped by the delusions of our Leftist MSM et al.
(Dont’ know; but maybe this speaks as well; to the personal, i.e. the ‘celebratory’ when one succeeds by using the worst of deceits; against another. Or perhaps there is another proverb for that one.)

Dazed and confused.
Sounds like a great name for a song…

Is this one-sided smear story part of the payback for getting an exclusive at the white house? Is ABC on Obama’s payroll now.
I just saw Walpin on TV. He seems a lot more articulate than most of our congress to me.

Too bad that MS Tish has lost use of her brain. Think about it. This guy is investigating his friend. He’s the last guy Obama should be firing. If he wanted to do it Right, follow the procedure, which is give the senate 30 days to evaluat the man. Obama sponsors the law himself for God’s sake. Get your damn head out of the sand before we’re all wearing Obama patches on our sleeves.

If they can fire this decent and competent man for doing his job, just because he realized that KJ was paying back to you and me only 1/2 of what he STOLE and NO jail time, which others more than likely would have gotten; then think about this same bunch of disingenuous politicians deciding your health care decisions.
Will ABC bring this up when at the White House for their very partisan and very, much hack-like promotion of ObamamaNannyStateCare?

Nate: Too bad that MS Tish has lost use of her brain.
___________________________
I will say respectfully that was not called for. You must have misread something, as I am not supportive of the President’s firing of Mr. Walpin.

Why is this not on the nightly news? What was done was illegal and ABC knows it. It might show Obama in a bad light so you won’t report it. How sad that you have gone from newsmen to yesmen.

I think what Obama did to Gerald Walpin is a disgrace. There is no evidence he was incompetent. Did you see Glen Beck today! He had Mr Walpin on his show today. I have lost all respect for Bam Bam.

Where is the integrity of this White House? What happened to our transparent government we were promised? Change? Yes We Can? It looks like Obama wants everybody to change – except the politicians.

Pleeeessseee!!! I smell a COVER UP! This is beyond blatant. When will the US wake up??? Mayor Kevin Johnson is CORRUPT and is in Obama’s back pocket! This is why Mr. Walpin got fired. This is just another example of a White House “explaination” that totally INSULTS our intelligence. What else is new?

Please stand with those looking into the apparent illegal firing of Gerald Walpin. It appears Mr. Walpin was fired for doing his job, i.e. revealing corruption. Not only is his firing illegal, his good name is being smeared in the name of cronyism. A good American and senior citizen should not be treated with such disrespect. Please do not let this happen!
I have been dealing daily with all types of people for 35 years, including senile people. It is blatantly clear that Mr. Walpin is NOT senile! He is sharp as a tack.
Kevin Johnson should be criminally charged, and Mr. Walpin reinstated and issued an apology personally from Obama.

Even if you give that maybe this Walpin was Senile (which I really cannot see how he is) There is still the 30 days notice issue? (the same 30 day notice legislation that Obama supported) WHY IS OBAMA ignoring the very rule that he supported? That in and of itself is a huge issue that needs to be investigated by ABC News!

I am ashamed for ABC. I will no longer watch this network or support sponsors who advertise on it. I will do my homework and find out who they are. I will find out whose ads were on before, during, and after the Obama Healthcare Show and will make sure they know why I can no longer purchase their products or services.

Question President Obama in regards to this firing. Have you heard Walpin on the radio on TV? He is not confused, he is not senile. This is a smear. Get to the bottom of this ABC with truth and integrity.

This article is disgraceful. I’m finished with ABC.

No mention of the other side anywhere in the article…time to write ABC, NBC…etc…any news media that does not do their job and tell the story in full so that the people of America are fully informed and they can make up their own minds!!

It’s frightening that the Obama administration completely controls ABC, NBC, CBS and the mainstream network ‘news’ programs. And what is even scarier is that these ‘journalists’ know it and don’t seem to care. Holding back truthful stories to prevent any kind of embarassment to Obama is dangerous for this country. It’s propaganda at it’s worst. The truth will come out and I hope it puts all the butt kissing celebrity journalists out of business.

Mr. Tapper- Does it bother you to read so many comments that actually question whether you work for a news organization or a cheerleading company for Pres. Obama?

IT IS TIME TO STAND UP TO THIS PRESIDENT AND HIS STAFF! WE MUST ALL UNITE AND TAKE BACK OUR FREEDOMS AND BE ABLE TO PROUDLY SAY “WE PUT YOU INTO THE WHITE HOUSE AND WE WILL TAKE YOU OUT AND THE SAME WITH OUR SENATORS AND CONGRESS.
WHY DO WE ALLOW OUR CONSTITUTION TO BE CHANGED OR REWRITTEN AND EVEN ABUSED, WHEN DO WE SAY ENOUGH AND SHOW THESE POLITICIANS THEY WORK FOR US NOT THEIR PARTY OR SPECIAL INTERESTS GROUPS, WE HAVE THE POWER TO FIRE THEM ALL!!

It looks to me like all this focus on Mr. Walpin’s integrity is a well placed smoke screen to cover up the real issue that was uncovered. Kevin Johnson is a crook and a thief and wont even be made to repay the $400,000 settlement back (due to creative wording and the fact that he is a good friend of the president).
Ultimately, what I want to know is…will ‘we the people’ still be participating in elections in 2010 or will we be a dictatorship?
Heil Hi…oh yeah, I mean, Obama. Wait. Am I still in AMERICA?!
I agree that Mr. Johnson should be criminally charged, and an apology issued to Mr. Walpin.

Dear Mr Tapper, You have been one of the few MSM reporters to start asking this administration tough questions but it is time to step up to the next level! This Republic deserves some real investigative reporting in the style of Woodward & Bernstein regarding the firing of Mr. Walpin. I hope that type of journalism is still alive and not just reserved for Republicans. I have not sensed anything this fishy since Watergate, where is Deep Throat when you need him?

It seems most of the comments I have read are coming from haters of the Obama administration. Get a grip on yourselves. I’m convinced Mr. Walpin was let go because of his behavior. Did any of you pay any attention to the part about the board meeting? Republicans were on that board meeting as well; they witnessed Walpin’s behavior as well.It seems like all you bitter Obama haters are grasping for straws.

I totally agree with the thoughts of “anorm”.
I no longer watch ABC and will be contacting their advertisers regarding the biased, so-called journalism. The elite media personnel need to look outside their pampered bubble. Middle America watches their news and entertainment programs. While middle America stands in line for health care under the proposed government program, the Manhattanites will be whisking by in limos to their private doctors with their expensive, health care programs.
Regarding Gerald Walprin…….independent inspector generals are to be given 30 days notice by law which was co-sponsored by Senator Obama. Jake Tapper………where are you?

Actually Pres. Bush DID fire two IG without cause in Feb 2002 which is what makes the right wing outrage aver the Walpin firing so ironic. Bush fired Luise S. Jordan, the IG at the Corporation for National and Community Service & Roberta L. Gross, the IG at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . Both were IGs with good service records for over 5 years. Both were thanked for their service & simply told that the White House was in the process of selecting someone else. These were legal firings as the White House has the right to change appointments. This is in part what led to the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 which state that an IG must be given 30 days and the congress must be given notification of the reasons for dismissal. What everyone fails to understand is that the Congress doesn’t have to agree with the reasons. They don’t have the right to vote or veto the reasons. They don’t get to grade how good the reasons are. They only have to be notified. This is why Walpin wasn’t fired outright, but was suspended with pay. He won’t be fired until the 30 days are passed. The reasoning behind the termination may or may not be political (as the Bush firings obviously were) but the White House hasn’t broken any laws. They are within their rights to dismiss any IG so long as they give their reasons to congress and don’t actually suspend pay until the 30 days are passed.

My goodness the President fired a man for doing his job. Kevin Johnson misused stole etc $840,000.00. This story is becoming very interesting. Let the digging begin.