Thread: More Of Democrat Congress Dirty Tricks

Former AmeriCorps Official Says Obama Removed Him for 'Doing My Job'
Gerald Walpin was removed by President Obama last week as the inspector general for AmeriCorps and other service programs. His decision followed Walpin's investigation into the alleged misuse of federal grants by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star and an Obama supporter, and the nonprofit education group he headed.

FOXNews.com

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Gerald Walpin, shown here, was the inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service until last week.

An official responsible for monitoring how federal funds for volunteerism are spent told FOX News he was fired by President Obama for doing his job, and suggested it was payback for investigating the alleged misuse of grant money by the Sacramento mayor, an Obama backer.

Gerald Walpin, who until last week was the chief internal watchdog for AmericCorps and other service programs, suggested "political pressure" was behind his ouster. He said he worried the action will have a "chilling effect" on other inspectors general.

Obama gave little explanation for the decision, writing in a letter sent Thursday that he no longer had the "fullest confidence" in Walpin.

The president's decision followed Walpin's investigation into the alleged misuse of federal grants by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star and an Obama supporter who heads a nonprofit education group.

"I am the victim of being fired because I was doing my job and doing it properly," Walpin told FOX News Tuesday. He said he could not let concern for "political pressure" interfere with his staff's pursuit of the investigation -- noting that it was his staff, not him personally, that pursued the inquiry.

He also defended the findings, saying AmeriCorps requested the investigation in the first place.

Walpin said the probe revealed that Johnson "misused" AmeriCorps volunteers for "personal purposes," by having them help in political campaigns and even wash his car.

"They never disputed it whatsoever," Walpin said. "And indeed the agency itself found that our statements were correct and our findings were correct."

Walpin, though, drew criticism elsewhere. After Walpin referred the matter to prosecutors in late 2008, the local U.S. attorney's office questioned Walpin's findings, saying they seemed overstated and did not accurately reflect all the information gathered.

Johnson's St. HOPE Academy released a statement last week after the firing, saying Walpin's allegations were "meritless" and not motivated by an "honest assessment" of the program.

The U.S. attorney's office nevertheless reached a settlement, under which Johnson and the academy reportedly were ordered to repay about half of nearly $847,000 in federal grants they received through AmeriCorps.

Walpin, though, said the agreement was signed "behind our back" and Johnson never was required to repay any money personally.

With his firing, Walpin said he's worried about the "chilling effect" it will have on his staff as well as other inspectors general who are supposed to be free to investigate independently concerns surrounding the agencies to which they're assigned.

He also raised concerns that Obama sidestepped a law he co-sponsored that requires the president to give 30 days notice, and a reason, for removing an IG.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, wrote White House Counsel Gregory Craig a letter on Monday requesting additional documents, explanations and e-mails surrounding the firing.

In the letter, he said Obama may have "violated" the law by giving an explanation that was "insufficiently vague" and immediately terminating Walpin.

Though the Obama letter technically included a 30-day window, Issa said his committee's investigation revealed that Walpin was given scant notice. He wrote that Walpin was given one hour by White House staff to either resign or be fired. Walpin would not resign.

Issa noted growing speculation that the firing was "politically motivated" and retaliatory.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who has been speaking up for the integrity and independence of federal inspectors general, also wrote a letter to Obama last week saying he was "deeply troubled" by the appearance that Walpin was given an "ultimatum" without sufficient notice.

"Inspectors general were designed to have a dual role reporting to both the president and Congress so that they would be free from undue political pressure," he wrote. "This independence is the hallmark of all inspectors general and is essential so they may operate independently, without political pressure or interference from agencies attempting to keep their failings from public scrutiny," he wrote.

Grassley agreed with Walpin, saying "it appears he has been doing his job."

Craig wrote Grassley saying Obama's decision was "carefully considered."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06 ... doing-job/

Dear Friend:

ACORN is celebrating its birthday and as a gift from its friends in the House leadership an amendment that Congressman Steve King (R-IA) and I offered to keep ACORN from getting federal funds through the Census and other federal programs has been denied debate.

They won't even let it come to the House floor for discussion. They don't want to have to go on the record in support of this corrupt organization.

No wonder: The American people have said loud and clear that they don't want Congress funneling their hard-earned tax dollars to ACORN.

In less than 2 weeks, nearly 32,000 Americans signed my petition to stop Congress from spending millions on ACORN's voter registration fraud.

If you haven't signed yet: SIGN NOW!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN MY PETITION:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/TaxDollars/

Please forward this to all your friends and your family and your co-workers.

Congress has absolutely no intention to stop funding ACORN. And, if they can't say no to ACORN -- an organization investigated and indicted for voter registration fraud in more than a dozen states -- where will they draw the line?!

This is your money. You have the right to say that you've had enough.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann




Have you seen Michele Bachmann's ACORN video? Check it out:

Bachmann Urges Taxpayers to Sign The ACORN Petition

And, watch Fox News today (Wednesday, June 17th) as they celebrate
ACORN's Birthday Bash!

5 pm Eastern
4 pm Central

You know ACORN and Nancy Pelosi will be coming after me in the next election Please help me to stay in Congress to fight for YOU!

I was taken for a ride for near 20+ years by the GOP. I thought they stood for something.

Go to GOP.com - see the "Espanol" option? Look at their response picklist:

NOWHERE is Illegal Immigration or Enforcement of existing laws found.

Democrats are pretty obvious that they stand for screwing you.

Republicans are more devious - they say they stand for our values (i.e. Illegal Immigration Law Enforcement) but they've lied to us.

I found this. Can someone translate?

http://espanol.gop.com/SpanishContent.a ... iposDelGOP

Oportunidad para una reforma real de inmigración

Estados Unidos es una nación de inmigrantes, como el senador Mel MartÃ*nez y más de 110,000 latinos que actualmente son parte de las fuerzas armadas de los Estados Unidos. Además, decenas de miles de ellos han servido a la patria con honor y defendido la libertad tanto aquÃ* en nuestro paÃ*s, como en el extranjero. Los inmigrantes de todo el mundo han enriquecido nuestra nación en términos económicos, sociales y culturales. La propuesta de la reforma migratoria del Presidente Bush tiene como propósito una solución justa y segura para dar cabida a los trabajadores inmigrantes que se requieren para contribuir a que nuestra economÃ*a siga creciendo mientras protegemos nuestras fronteras de delincuentes y terroristas.

Temas de interés para los Hispanos

• Implementar un programa de trabajadores invitados
• Aumentar y ayudar a que los hispanos se hagan propietarios de casa.
• Hacer permanentes los recortes tributarios para beneficio de las pequeñas empresas de los hispanos.

Opportunity for a real reform of immigration

United States is a nation of immigrants, like the senator Mel MartÃ*nez and more than 110.000 Latin Americans that at present are part of the armed forces of the United States. Besides, scores of thousands of them have served to the country with honor and defended the so much liberty here in our country, as abroad. The immigrants of the entire world have enriched our nation in cultural, social, and economic terms. The proposal of the migratory reform of the President Bush has as purpose a sure and just solution to make room for the immigrant workers that are required for contribute to that our economy continue growing while we protect our borders of delinquents and terrorist.

Themes of interest for the Hispanic

• To Implement a program of invited workers • to Enlarge and to help that the Hispanic owners of house be done. • To Do permanent the tax cuts for benefit of the small businesses of the Hispanic.

The president's decision followed Walpin's investigation into the alleged misuse of federal grants by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star and an Obama supporter who heads a nonprofit education group.

Former NBA star Kevin Johnson is considered a role model for many black youth in America. I certainly hope this wasn't a case where one black man (Obama) was protecting another because of his public figure status.

Regardless of Obama's efforts to protect him, Mr. Johnson needs to be exposed if he's a crook and cheat. Further, if it is found out that Obama is attempting to protect Johnson because of who he is, then Obama needs to be crucified by the media (won't happen though).