OBAMA'S THREE QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION APPOINTMENT

Throughout the transition Barack Obama talked of an administration that would be transparent, ethical and would seek the letter of the law in all matters, especially with those appointed to positions within the administration. There would be no lobbyists and every appointment would be the best person for the job whose honesty and credibility would stand far and above any appointment in any other administration.

Then the rubber met the road. Two high powered lobbyists are now at the Pentagon and the Treasury Department. One Cabinet appointee, Bill Richardson, has already left because of an investigation on similar charges that removed Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich from office.

Obama has claimed that each Cabinet position would be the best person for the job and someone who would meet his claim of bringing change to Washington. Not only has he failed to meet his own standards but his appointments have actually only met three specific qualifications. Each of his appointments whether Cabinet level or staff level falls into one or more of the following three categories.

Appointed as payola for campaign favors - This is not unusual for Presidential appointments but Obama has exceeded most of his predecessors. Several of Obama's appointees fall into this category. People who worked on his campaign or conceded to his campaign and as a result became a supporter who used there former candidate status to campaign for Obama. Of course Biden and Clinton fall into this category as well as so many staffers who are too numerous to mention.

Appointed because they served under Bill Clinton - This particular category contains more appointees then each of the other two. Hillary Clinton tops the list followed closely by Attorney General Eric Holder. Chief of Staff Rham Emanuel though not a Cabinet position holds the most powerful job in The White House next to the President and he is a hold over from the Clinton years. Obama's administration looks much like Clinton III.

Guilty of tax evasion - I know that Democrats on Capital Hill and Obama himself are calling it a simple mistake but the tax problems of Timothy Geithner and Tom Daschle are far more than just simple mistakes. If this same ,"mistake," is made by ordinary citizens, not only does the IRS jump in with both feet but in a case as severe as Daschel's the distinct possibility of criminal charges would be considered. Especially with the $83, 000 dollars of income that he failed to report. This amount is over and above the$128,000 in taxes he evaded paying from 2005 - 2007.

Both men have settled the debt but not because they had investigated and followed through on the situation of their own accord. They only settled the problem BECAUSE Obama appointed them and now they are saying they are sorry and that it was just a simple mistake.

It now becomes painfully obvious that Barack Obama has a double standard when it comes to political cronies and the American people. If you campaigned for Obama, worked for Bill Clinton and evaded paying taxes that you are alright by Obama. If you lobbied for a living but one of Obama's cronies want you on their staff. Then you are alright by Obama.

During the campaign the lack of experience of Barack Obama concerned millions. After his election that same lack of experience scares even more. Now he adds cronyism over experience for political appointments in his administration. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what is going to lead our Nation for the next four years. God help us !

Ken Taylor

UPDATE - Since posting this earlier Tom Daschel and Obama's appointee for performance Czar Nancy Killefer have both bowed out as appointees due to failure to pay taxes. Though removed from consideration, the fact still stands that an inexperienced individual sits in the Oval Office who is willing to redistribute income through tax credits has no problem appointing people who fail to pay taxes. A disturbing double standard.