June 11, 2008
Obama VP Search Team Chief Steps Down
Jim Johnson Resigns Over Criticism Of Personal Loans After One Week
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Jim Johnson arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington Monday, June 9, 2008, for a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. (AP)
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Photo Essay Barack Obama A look at the life and meteoric rise of the president-elect.
"Jim did not want to distract in any way from the very important task of gathering information about my vice presidential nominee, so he has made a decision to step aside that I accept," Obama said in a statement. "We have a very good selection process under way, and I am confident that it will produce a number of highly qualified candidates for me to choose from in the weeks ahead. I remain grateful to Jim for his service and his efforts in this process."
Johnson, the former chairman of mortgage lender Fannie Mae, received loans with the help of the CEO of Countrywide Financial Corp., which is part of a federal investigation in the midst of the subprime mortgage crisis. The story was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. (Read more about the controversy.)
Republican presidential candidate John McCain had accused Obama of hypocrisy for speaking out against Countrywide's tactics while his vetter got favorable rates on three home mortgages totaling $1.7 million.
In a statement, Johnson said his withdrawal did not mean he accepted any of the charges levied against him in recent days.
"I am extremely proud of my service to Fannie Mae and in other important dimensions of public service," Johnson said. "This withdrawal should in no way imply that I accept the blatantly false statements and misrepresentations that have been written about me in recent days."
McCain's campaign also reacted to the resignation.
"Jim Johnson's resignation raises serious questions about Barack Obama's judgment," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. "Selecting the vice presidential nominee is the most important decision a presidential candidate can make and one even Barack Obama has said will 'signal how I want to operate my presidency.' By entrusting this process to a man who has now been forced to step down because of questionable loans, the American people have reason to question the judgment of a candidate who has shown he will only make the right call when under pressure from the news media. America can't afford a president who flip-flops on key questions in the course of 24 hours. That's not change we can believe in."
Johnson served on Obama's vetting team with two prominent Democratic attorneys - former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder and Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy.
Johnson brought the most experience to the vetting team, having filled the same role for Democratic nominees John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984. He and Holder had been holding meetings this week with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to seek their input on possible running mate candidates.
On Tuesday, Obama said Johnson had a "discrete task" and was performing it well. He suggested the Countrywide connection was not a problem since Johnson was an unpaid volunteer and hadn't been assigned to work in a future administration.
"I am not vetting my V.P. search committee for their mortgages," Obama said at the time.
©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 402 CommentsObama has shown great fortitude in dealing with problems on the campaign trail. I tip my hat to the man. I''''m just not totally convinced he''''ll be able to win the election this Nov. The GOP is holding onto a large amount of "dirt" on the guy. A lot of it is discussed on the realdealreport website http://www.realdealreport.com I just don''''t know if he can fight through this.
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Posted by jjandall at 09:47 AM : Jun 13, 2008
Did it never occur to you that if Obama wasn''t so damned dirty, he wouldn''t have to be fighting it?
Obama has shown great fortitude in dealing with problems on the campaign trail. I tip my hat to the man. I''m just not totally convinced he''ll be able to win the election this Nov. The GOP is holding onto a large amount of "dirt" on the guy. A lot of it is discussed on the realdealreport website http://www.realdealreport.com I just don''t know if he can fight through this.
When confronted with real time questions he is very shacky, not very presidential at all.
1. no pandering to special interest groups;
2. affordable, high-quality health care for all;
3. an enlightened withdrawal from Iraq;
4. economic sanity and justice;
5. foreign policy of diplomacy and dialogue;
6. the Supreme Court, and thus the right to choose;
7. an end to the divisive, stagnant politics of yesterday;
8. a renewable and clean energy revolution;
9. a White House that speaks honestly, instead of treating us as adversaries;
10. politics of hope and change, not fear, stagnation and distraction;
11. send our youth around the world with foreign language dictionaries, not guns;
12. finally get serious about global warming;
13. rebuild our military;
14. rational, humanistic, forward-thinking trade agreements; and
15. end tax breaks for companies who send jobs overseas.
It won''t be easy, and we may have to prioritize, but oh yes we can!
And to those of you who say we can''t, rather than sling petty insults, just simply tell me why you think We the People can''t do what I just described.
ENLIST AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, THE SO CALLED HOLY WAR OR ENLIST YOUR LEGAL OF AGE CHILDREN, INTO THE HOLY WAR. CAN`T FIGHT IT, SITTING AROUND TALKING ABOUT, YOU BLOOD THIRSTY, LOW LIFES.
ENLIST NOW, BY ALL MEANS, SINCE YOU FEEL SUCH PASSION FOR WAR, BLOOD AND DESTRUCTION.
THE WAR IN IRAQ IS A FARCE....
1 MILLION DEAD IRAQI BABIES, CHILDREN, WOMEN & MEN, OVER 4,080 US TROOPS KILLED &
THOUSANDS DIS-MEMBERED, OVER 4,055 ALLIED FORCES, KILLED AND THE HIGH NUMBER OF U.S. SOLDIERS ATTEMPTED SUICIDES & SUICIDES...
PLUS THE NUMBERS OF U.S. SOLDIERS, SELF INFLICTING WOUNDS ARE ALSO AT AN ALL TIME HIGH !!
DO YOU HEAR ANY MAINSTREAM NEWS MEDIA OR ANY NEWS MEDIA, TV, RADIO OR INTERNET SHOWCASIING OR DISCUSSING THESE FACTS...
NOOOOO...YOU DON`T AND YOU WON`T !!!
BUSH IS SO D@MNED `EXPERIENCED` ALRIGHT, EXPERIENCED AT GETTING THE USA IN DEEPER SHHHHHIT
Israel has 150 Nuclear Weapons, that could DESTROY the WORLD Times OVER an thats without Jimmy Carter Exposing this fact, NPR, Rueters & PBS Knew Israel had Nuclear Weapons, Noone knew the Exact NUMBER, Now they DO.
So the Helpless Nation All Alone Song & Dance has been EXPOSED FOREVER !!
You go DIE for Israel, they are not Helping in Iraq or Afghanistan are they...Hmmmm
Is Israel, Laying down its Flesh, Bone, Blood & Spirit ?
NOOOO
If I have (150) AK-47`s & (150) Mac-10`s and my Enemy has (50) 38 Specials & (20) 44 Magnum Revolvers.
Trust Me, My Enemy is AFRAID of ME, Not ME being AFRAID of My Enemy.
Enough of this Holy Land, Bibilical, Torah & Quran Bull Spit !!
This is about Money, Power, Might Makes Right and Humanity, on either Side, DOES NOT MATTER.
Leave your Religous & Racial Hate at the Door, its Over Played & Played Out.
So Much for being `Experienced`
Sorry
Governor George Bush Jr. Of Texas was In-Expeienced when he came into Office, During Office and Now Coming to the End of his Office, he leaves with the Lowest Approval rating of any US President.
A Governorship is (State-Regional Experience) Only
Ask Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton they too were of Governors of (Ga) & (Tex) with No National or International Experience, but the Most important thing, their saving Grace, they were White.
None of them had National Or International Experience....
Just say You want a White Person, ANY White Person, whether the White Person is a 72 Yr Old Semi Senile War Monger, with a Irrational Temper, with his Menaical Trembling Hands of the Button, just as long as he`s White.
PS: JIMMY CARTER BROKERED THE ISRAEL & EYGPTIAN MIDDLE EAST PEACE AGREEMENT & THE AMERICAN & RUSSIAN STRATEGIC NUCLEAR ARMS AGREEMENT AN BOTH AGREEMENTS STILL STAND, TO THIS VERY DAY.
I bet you`ll have a Problem (R) Vice President Bobby Jindal, whose Real Name is Not Bobby, but an Adopted Name.
Bobby Jindal was also a Hindu until Graduating High School and he continues his Hindu traditions of being a Vegetarian.
IF McCain`s A $$ is Elected and Jindal is his Vice President and John McCain falls Ill or Dies in office, then Piyush Jindal will become President of the USA at (36)
B!tch About that ....
You Snaggle Tooth Jack A$$`s
Bobby Jindal LOOKS MORE like an ARAB, than Barack Obama ....
I can Hear it NOW, when McCain can`t Finish his TERM as YOUR USA President...
I Piyush Jindal, do Solemly Swear, to uphold the constitution of the USA as its...President
Hahahahaha !!!!
he kept pushing he has the best judgment,
but we''ve to see this realized.
Posted by GreatDriveW at 10:51 AM : Jun 12, 2008
Bob the Builder! Yes we can!
So when are you going to post some points that are actually TRUE??
Once we''''re disarmed, TALKING from a position of weakness is just asking somebody to beat the KRAP out of you!
NO WHACK JOB OBAMA ''''08!!!
Posted by RowdyWicca at 02:49 PM : Jun 12, 2008
And of course good old Russia and China would never possibly LIE to the US. No, those types of accusations are reserved for Bush only!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=dl32Y7wDVDs
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Posted by JoeCoolSwat at 10:38 AM : Jun 12, 2008
I''ll second that!!! Obama''s whack job idea is to TALK the world into peace! What''s his plan when the TALK runs out?
Once we''re disarmed, TALKING from a position of weakness is just asking somebody to beat the KRAP out of you!
NO WHACK JOB OBAMA ''08!!!
You and your ignorance how can he do anything with the supreme court, fool #1
His vp looker just got a special loan not for one but for 3 homes and thought it to be oka while hundreds are being turn away he did this prior/before resigning.
I realize I am old and foolish about a lot of thing but you seem to be very young and ignorant please find a school and get entereed into the first grade and start the long process of learning.
b obama will do nothing he has no idea of what he is saying and I guarantee at the age of 70 he has you fooled as bush did the RNC and the religious right.
The president that has did most for the poor and the nation of America or the US of A during thre past 50 years as Wm. J. Clinton, I am certain he wife would have did the nation a grat service it is a shame that h. dean screwed the nation and ************* out of the post. Frank Bowers ofAustin, TX
1. no pandering to special interest groups;
2. affordable, high-quality health care for all;
3. an enlightened withdrawal from Iraq;
4. economic sanity and justice;
5. foreign policy of diplomacy and dialogue;
6. the Supreme Court, and thus the right to choose;
7. an end to the divisive, stagnant politics of yesterday;
8. a renewable and clean energy revolution;
9. a White House that speaks honestly, instead of treating us as adversaries;
10. politics of hope and change, not fear, stagnation and distraction;
11. send our youth around the world with foreign language dictionaries, not guns;
12. finally get serious about global warming;
13. rebuild our military;
14. rational, humanistic, forward-thinking trade agreements; and
15. ending tax breaks for companies who send jobs overseas.
Oh, yes we can!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs
Posted by Beastof70
That is so correct, Obama puts his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing, and then decide what to think....When addressing white folks, he''s half-white, when addressing blacks, he''s 100% african-american, and when he wants to look good in front of veterans on Memorial Day, his relative is a WW2 hero
Posted by republic1776
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You obviously assume this man, who''s sole experience has been nothing more than a giant exercise in academia, has a set of core principles.
Few of these hyphenated-Americans could produce anything I suspect you would view as "principles."
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