Obama's Exception

You start with one lie, not good; two, I start getting squeamish, and three, your out!!

Related: Obama flashes irritation in press room

"Lobbying issue dogs Pentagon nominee; Obama excepted Raytheon VP" by Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | January 23, 2009

WASHINGTON - President Obama's choice to be the top deputy at the Pentagon hit a snag yesterday over questions about his recent work as a lobbyist for Waltham-based Raytheon Co., which received more than $10 billion in weapons contracts last year from the agency he would manage.

Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he would delay considering the nomination of William J. Lynn III to be deputy secretary of defense until the White House provides more information on why Lynn, who was a registered lobbyist until July 2008, is exempt from new rules barring former lobbyists joining the administration from working on the issues that were the focus of their lobbying efforts.

As the Pentagon's number-two official, Lynn, now Raytheon's vice president for government operations and strategy, would have wide influence over decisions affecting the company, which relies on Defense Department contracts for much of its business...

********************

Lynn's nomination, which must be approved by the full Senate, appears to directly contradict the rules that Obama laid out on Wednesday in an effort, in his words, to "close the revolving door that lets lobbyists come into the government freely."

I think we ALL KNEW he was blowing fart mist at us. I didn't take him seriously, did you?

.... But yesterday, Obama's spokesman indicated that an exception - in the form of a waiver - would be made for Lynn, who served as the Pentagon budget chief in the Clinton administration and was previously a defense aide to Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.

HYPOCRITE!!!

"Even the toughest rules require reasonable exceptions," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. "Our waiver provisions are designed to allow uniquely qualified individuals . . . to serve the public interest in these critical times."

Translation: Obama means NOTHING of what he SAYS!!

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, who interviewed Lynn for the job, also defended him yesterday. "I asked that an exception be made," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon, saying that he believed Lynn could do the job better "than anybody else I saw."

Oh, and GATES ASKED FOR IT?

What GREAT CHANGES are underway, huh, Amurka??

--more--"

"Pentagon nominee agrees to sell Raytheon stock" by Associated Press | January 24, 2009

WASHINGTON - A former Raytheon Co. lobbyist nominated to be deputy defense secretary has agreed to sell his stock in the military contractor and similar holdings, but won't be forced to step back from decisions related to his former employer, the Pentagon said yesterday.

Pfffft!

Instead, William J. Lynn III's dealings at the Defense Department would be subject to ethics reviews for one year, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said. Lynn was a registered lobbyist until last July and is now the Waltham-based defense contractor's vice president for government operations and strategy....

Oh, I'm sure he'll be a nice fit -- for RAYTHEON and their BOTTOM LINE!

The action yesterday seemed to satisfy Levin, who said he would support the nomination.... But Senator John McCain of Arizona, the panel's ranking Republican, said he was disappointed that a recently employed lobbyist would be nominated to the number-two position at the Pentagon. McCain said he would not endorse Lynn until more details are provided on when Lynn would recuse himself from decisions.

After Obama just held a dinner in his honor? This is the bipartisanship?

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who requested Lynn as his deputy, did not want Lynn to have to recuse himself outright from all decisions involving Raytheon because it would severely limit his ability to do his job, Morrell said.

Which will be SHOVELING more WAR LOOT into RAYTHEON'S COFFERS!!!!

--more--"