Obama VP Search Team Chief Steps Down

Jim Johnson Resigns Over Criticism Of Personal Loans After One Week

(CBS/ AP)  A manager of Democrat Barack Obama's vice presidential search team resigned Wednesday amid criticism over his personal loan deals.

"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.

[Syndicate]

The damage is done. Nothing more clearly demonstrates the hypocrisy of Obama than this. Obama has attacked McCain and Clinton for their staff. Remember when Obama criticized Geraldine? Now that the tables are turned its Okay. He didn''t do anything wrong. Hypocrit. You see I''m not upset that the guy took loans. I don''t think he should step down. What annoys me to no end is this double standard were Obama is allowed to criticize the other guys but how dare they criticize him. Thats Bull $hit.

[fstop100]

Just another dishonest person in politics.

[irliberal]

John McCain judgement and experience that only comes with age:

"There''s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along." [MSNBC, 4/23/03]

" I believe that the success will be fairly easy." [CNN, 9/24/02]

"We''re not going to get into house-to-house fighting in Baghdad. " [CNN, 9/29/02]

"But the point is that, one, we will win this conflict. We will win it easily." [MSNBC, 1/22/03]

"But I believe that the Iraqi people will greet us as liberators." [NBC, 3/20/03]

"It''s clear that the end is very much in sight." [ABC, 4/9/03]

"This is a mission accomplished.." [This Week, ABC, 12/14/03]

Want to repeat the last 8 catastrophic eight years? Vote McSame!

[renonv5]

I was just wondering who was going to vet Obama after he is done vetting his vp??? There are still a whole lot of skeletons in his closet.................

Who said this just before disowning his pastor of 20 years?

"I can no more disown Rev. Wright than I could the black community."

Posted by ddhinnyc at 03:22 PM : Jun 11, 2008

====
You could have tried to make some point honestly. The words "just before" make your question dishonest.

[demslie]

O''Bama and the Democrat Controlled News Media have done nothing but Slam McCain about the same issue. This stroy, about O''Bama will not last till the end of the day because the Media Democrats are right now creating a John McCain Lie to take the news off O''Bama. You watch. By Thursday Morning, there will be some "Smoking Gun" revelation about McCain, that was just discovered by the Liars and Cheats of the Main Stream Press and the DNC. This is how O''Bama and the Democrats promise a "New Change for America".

[renonv5]

I still can''t believe this is the person "they" want for the potus. Naive, arrogant, pompous a$$. Thank goodness it isn''t over yet............

[abigail70]

Obama is so hypocritical. Say whatever you want about any other candidate, but it doesn''t change one thing about Obama and his BS. Go back to your church, BO. Y''know, the one you spent 20 years going to, and still had no idea your preacher was a jackass? Yeah, right. I can''t wait to see the last of him.

[libh8er]

Personal loan deals, mutual fund management with George Soros.....no end to Ubama''s abysmal choices.

[renonv5]

You could have tried to make some point honestly. The words "just before" make your question dishonest.
Posted by ge556


------------------------------------------------------It seems you didn''t understand what was written.

[renonv5]

I am so glad Hillary merely "suspended" her campaign.
She knows what is going on with this BO.

[libh8er]

I mean, really. Obama, rather snobbishly, told someone that he is not going to "hire vetters to vet the vetters". What an asss. Posted by mike071067 at 03:18 PM : Jun 11, 2008

I saw him say that. If he were really a different kind of politician for change, he wouldn''t have to. Like my mom used to say, ''show me your friends and I''ll tell you what kind of person you are.''

[larysinclair]

Obama doesn''t vet anybody!! His pastor, his friends, his wife,...This guy is a nightmare.

[shortestfuse]

Maybe Obama should put his buddy Tony Rezko on the VP search committee - oh, on second thought that won''t work because Rezko''s in jail. How about his buddy William Ayers then?

[harrydoghiny]

The United States House of Representatives is voting to impeach the President and this is the best CBS ''News" can do? The network of Murrow has become a joke.

[likeitis5050]

It''s called politics....and it would be amusing to watch and try to keep a tally on each party if gas wasn''t quickly out pacing the minimum wage millions of Americans are tied to, or if every single thing isn''t higher because of oil prices!!! Politics is fun when people are spending food, utilities, and housing payments on gas to get to work and back. These two candidates both are independently wealthy and regardless what price gas goes to will never feel the the pang at the pump. Who gives a f#ck what they do to each other...it''s the s.crew.ing they are giving us that should matter. Drilling needs to start here. S.crew what the environmentalists want protected...they can eat all the organic material removed in order to drill for all I care...just get us off the foreign oil t.i.t NOW!!!

[ekucrew]

Gee....CBS covered the story....I wonder if this saga will be "BREAKING NOOZ" on CNN and MSNBC until midnight?
Olbermann, Matthews, Abrams the Abysmal, Wolfie Blitzen and the wretched political team in cable...all falling all over themselves to NOT report it?

[usbrit-2009]

Obama should have said "When you get Phil Graham off your consultancy list, I''ll get Jim Johnson off mine. For that matter, when you get a member of the Keating five off yours... Oh! you mean that was YOU. Oh how silly of me - I thought the Republicans could find one honest man for me to run against."

[vastr-wcon]

.
The hussein parade of slimebags and bad judgment continues..... Rev. "God D@#! America" Wright, Tony "real estate deal with hussein" and slum landlord Rezko (now, a convicted felon), Weathermen terrorist - and hussein pal - W. Ayers, and now Jim Johnson - special treatment from the sleaziest sub-prime lender of them all.

The character of person is determined by the company he keeps.

/

[oscarez]

You people are wasting your time posting here. This is a non-issue and no matter how hard you try you cannot make it one!!!

[whitepicks2]

Jim Johnson wasn''t even a paid campaign worker. He was a volunteer.

McCain has had at least 134 lobbyists running his campaign and raising money for him.

Here''s the full list: http://mccainsource.com/corruption?id=0006

[libh8er]

You people are wasting your time posting here. This is a non-issue and no matter how hard you try you cannot make it one!!! Posted by Oscarez at 03:45 PM : Jun 11, 2008

Dear Numbnuts,

It''s obviously an issue or he wouldn''t have quit. Pull the weiners out of your ears and step in to reality.

[libh8er]

The network of Murrow has become a joke.
Posted by HarryDoghiny at 03:39 PM : Jun 11, 2008

It has been a joke since before memo-gate. Where have you been? In fact, of all the LAMEstream media, CBS is probably the most fair. But nobody beats Fox.

[usbrit-2009]

You can really tell that the GOPigs are getting desperate. Years in the wilderness ahead, unable to shake the ghost of W for decades. Poor babies. "But we haven''t finished ruining the country yet - just four more years... WAAAAAAHHHHHH!

[shingles1]

McCain has had at least 134 lobbyists running his campaign and raising money for him.
Posted by whitepicks2

Yeah, but whitepicks2, it''s only bad when the OTHER guy does it!

...like McCain''s sh*t don''t stink.

[usbrit-2009]

But nobody beats Fox.

Posted by LibH8er

I hope you mean Fox Soccer Channel - you''ll have no argument from me there.

[oscarez]

As I said LibH8er this is a non-issue and no matter how hard you try you cannot make it one.

[shingles1]

But nobody beats Fox.
Posted by LibH8er

Better than Comedy Central, that''s for sure.

[beastof70]

Did y''all pay close attention to OsamaObama''s typical lawyer wording and stuttering as he attempted to respond to this. He knows this would have no legs, had he not brought so much border line criminal baggage to the party already.

This guys along with his associations already makes WhiteWaterGate, TysonGate, and the Rose Law Firm look like childs play.

Reckon why OsamaObama refuses to expose his Birth Certificate?

[hoseobama]

USBrit - your statement proves that you personally don''t believe in what Obama has as a slogan. We all know he doesn''t stand for change.

If he did, you and your ilk would be saying that what was this guy doing on our candidates staff in the first place. Unless of course, You & Obama got your loans as a ''friends of the CEO'' too.

Yup - birds of a feather flock together. Unrepentant convicted Bomber for a long time friend, ''GD America'' for a pastor, Rezko as a large donator, and now Jim Jones - uh Johnson.

Sorry, guess I couldn''t help myself from the pun about the original Koolaid dispenser.

[deceler8]

Obama could go on TV and sing that old Garrett Morris schtick "I''m gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see" and he''ll still be elected.

[hoseobama]

FDS - Fox Derangement Syndrome.

The name for those far left posters that can''t stand the fact that Fox News has both a Republican point of view, as well as the usual Democratic point of view, (as every other news media has only the latter.)

But, be kind folks - those people with FDS can''t help themselves... It''s hard to take on reality when it doesn''t fit your agenda.

First there is denial, then claims of ''unfair'', then a great deal of gnashing of teeth, followed by finger pointing, and at some point the slow realization that it IS fair and more balanced dawns on them.

At this point the FDS victim has moved from far left to just liberal. Not all make it. Some are too firmly entrenched in their denial of the facts.

Have pity. They expect it. It is an entitlement. It''s a Democrat ''thing''.

[beastof70]

But nobody beats Fox.
Posted by LibH8er at 03:50 PM
============================

The only thing that could beat Fox would be a real American channel that doesn''t give all these hyphenated-Americans equal time.

IOW: Who cares about fair and balanced. I personally could care less about listening to these un-Americans explaining how much damage they plan on doing to America.

[ajmarine111]

Posted by deceler8 at 04:00 PM : Jun 11, 2008


Funny.

[hoseobama]

"As I said LibH8er this is a non-issue and no matter how hard you try you cannot make it one. - Posted by Oscarez

Sorry oscar - your actions speak so loudly I can''t hear what you are saying.

If you weren''t afraid of it turning into an issue - you wouldn''t bother responding. You''d let the opposition spin their wheels.

Yup - another Far left liberal in denial.

[kofiananimus]

WHY IS McCAIN GETTING A FREE PASS?? CBSnews.com is silent on these:
- McCain%u2019s top economic advisor, Phil Graham, is a lobbyist for the UBS bank that was the primary bank involved in the mortgage crisis, and while a Senator, instigated much of the deregulation of the mortgage industry that led to the scandals and crisis.
-McCain says he supported Katrina victims when he actually voted against Katrina funding twice.
-McCain courted the endorsements of EXTREMELY controversial pastors Hagee and Parsley... CBSnews.com was silent until McCain FINALLY rejected the endorsements, and immediately ceased coverage of Hagee and Parsley, all while continuing coverage of Rev. Wright long after Obama had rejected his support.
-McCain can%u2019t tell the difference between Sunnis and Shias.
-McCain%u2019s own GOP colleagues talk about McCain%u2019s rage disorder.
- McCain%u2019s involvement in the Keating Five, and Cindy McCain conveniently %u201Closing%u201D the financial books in the Keating Five scandal.
- Cindy McCain being busted stealing prescription drugs from a charity to feed her prescription drug addiction? (Maybe she was self-medicating to ease the pain of John McCain calling her a %u201Cc***%u201D and telling her she looked like a %u201Cwh***%u201D with %u201Call of the make-up on%u201D)

[smiley676]

Actually this is an issue. Obama criticized Hillary''s judgment over the Hsu matter. Yet no one has ever criticized his judgment over Rezko, Ayers, Wright, Johnson, etc. It''s time to start looking at Barack''s choices and asking the real question--can he make a good decision?

[libh8er]

YOu Southerners dont have a brain cell in your heads, not one. Posted by neoconism at 03:59 PM : Jun 11, 2008

Coming from a ''pillar'' of intellect, like you, that doesn''t mean much at all. LOL

[hoseobama]

smiley676 at 04:05 PM

Excellent point.

Oscar ?

[beastof70]

YOu Southerners dont have a brain cell in your heads, not one.
Posted by neoconism at 03:59 PM :
===========================================

Seriously joker, one has to wonder what kind of ultra-high velocity whacky weed are you smoking?

A hyphenated-American such as yourself, generalizing about other Americans?? Hmmm???

[libh8er]

WHY IS McCAIN GETTING A FREE PASS?? Posted by kofiananimus at 04:03 PM : Jun 11, 2008

Must be because it''s all leftwing B$. That''s my theory. What far left website did you slither to to acquire all that horse squeeze?

[donbl1]

Because of Obama''s position on untainted money and advisors there may be some problems in appointing well qualified candidates for many jobs in a new administration.

Most political professionals have not been able to survive without abusing at least some of Obama''s litmus tests.

Is this good or bad for America to deny them work in an administration? I suspect we will end up with a buch of rookies and we all know that rookies make mistakes.

Are we cutting off our noses to save our faces?

[parrot123-2009]

Yet another non-story throwing negative attention towards Obama, while John McCains flock of braindead Nazi lovers try to fan the flame
Posted by neoconism at 04:07 PM : Jun 11, 2008

Against his better Judgement - McCain had critized Obama right at the same time he''s selection of ''Charles R Black'' was causing all kinds of noise probably never expecting that this democrat will go as far as resigning - Now he needs to get rid of Charles R Black one way or another .... Otherwise he''d be rubbished for his critism. Most Repugs sure didn''t know this. Cheers!

[jlelijah]

This story presented by Exxon Mobil and CBS News, partners in crime.

[illary-2009]

So, this is "Change We Can Believe In?"
"Yes We Can" get a great deal on a mortgage!!

[d33pthroat1]

The Republicans will come at Obama with every little, minor thing.

Their very vocal talking-heads (Limbaugh, Hannity and others)are going to raise a storm over anyone on Obama''s team even if all that person did was steal a piece of cake from the fridge. They''ll somehow turn that into a national security issue.

Obama has to stay strong and not fold at every daring accusation.

More importantly, he has to hire some Clinton advisors to attack McCain. Clinton knew how to play dirty politics (she meant as much when she said she knows how to win against the Repubs). So, he needs to get her advisors'' help to beat on McCain, otherwise, he will be eaten alive.

[oscarez]

If McCain does not stroke out, when Obama makes him mad at their first debate, it will be a wonder. Old John is a loose cannon when he gets mad. Just who we need to carry the nuclear football.

[beastof70]

So, this is "Change We Can Believe In?"
"Yes We Can" get a great deal on a mortgage!!
Posted by illary at 04:24 PM
====================================
Unbelievable....Rezko gives OsamaObama a great deal on this "little piece of property" just before he leaves for prison, and now we see Obama''s boy getting multiple great deals on some very heafty mortgages.

This is what we''ve all grown to expect any time a Democrat is involved. Remember the Harry "Palms" Reid "special land deal"???

[beastof70]

If McCain does not stroke out, when Obama makes him mad at their first debate, it will be a wonder. Old John is a loose cannon when he gets mad. Just who we need to carry the nuclear football.
Posted by Oscarez
=============================
I''ve had similar curiosity about your boy....Reckon OsamaObama will break down and start crying on stage the first time someone ask him a real question?

After all, he comes across as being very imature.

[beastof70]

The only folks who could vote for any Democrat are hyphenated-Americans.

Mostly un-Americans.