Republicans Press Obama To Shed Light On His 'czars'

[RCH]

Lawmakers are calling on the Obama White House to offer clarification on the role of some of its top policy makers, the so-called "czars."

 

House Republicans have introduced three resolutions aimed at forcing the president to fully disclose how the advisers were vetted and to explain why they shouldn't be subjected a full Senate confirmation process.

 

"Are these czars advisors or are they policy makers?" Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas asked. Poe said the distinction is important and ultimately mandates whether or not the lack of a Senate confirmation amounts to a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

 

A number of Republicans say their constituents are voicing concerns about possible unchecked power.

 

"They see these czar positions being handed out as candy suckers and they wonder what kind of accountability and transparency comes with these czars," Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, said Wednesday.

 

But the Obama administration is firing back. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Wednesday the "czar" positions have existed for years.

 

"They're positions in the administration, they're positions in the previous administration," Gibbs said. "I think these are positions that date back at least to, you know, many, many administrations, where there may be policy coordination between many different departments in order to make governmental responses more efficient."

 

Gibbs went on to cite two "czar" positions he said were pushed by Republican Sens. Robert Bennett of Utah and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the Y2K czar and a manufacturing czar.

 

Shortly after Gibbs finished speaking to reporters, White House communications director Anita Dunn wrote a blog post on the White House Web site stating there is no such thing as the title of "czar" in the Obama administration.

 

"Many of the officials cited by conservative commentators have been confirmed by the Senate. Many hold policy jobs that have existed in previous Administrations," Dunn wrote. " And some hold jobs that involved coordinating the work of agencies on President Obama's key policy priorities: health insurance reform, energy and green jobs, and building a new foundation for long-lasting economic growth."

 

But neither Gibbs nor Dunn persuaded many on Capitol Hill, with Bennett and Alexander firing off statements.

 

"Unlike President Obama's creation of czars, the Y2K czar was a temporary position for a temporary situation with date certain event," Bennett's spokeswoman said.

 

"Bennett's concern with the Obama administration's czars is that we have no information on their specific duties and whether or not their authority is limited to ensure that the czars do not undermine current cabinet positions within the executive office," she said. "Nice try, Mr. Gibbs."

 

Alexander told FOX News that the White House had clearly not listened or read any comments of his comments about czars.

 

"The White House staff should review my full remarks before launching an attack," he said. "I made it clear that there have always been a few czars but nothing like the 18 new czars appointed in this administration. Eighteen of the administration's 32 czars hold new positions that did not exist in previous administration and were not authorized by law."

 

"These czars are unconfirmed by the Senate, unavailable for questioning, and unaccountable to the American people through their elected representatives," he added. "They're the most visible symbol of too many Washington takeovers."

 

Earlier this week, Reps. Darrell Issa and Lamar Smith sent a letter directly to White House Counsel Gregory Craig, outlining "grave concern" and saying of the czars, "a pattern of behavior and associations maintained by some individuals runs contrary to the very core of our democracy."

 

The letter specifically mentioned former "green jobs czar" Van Jones, noting that he was a "self-described communist."

 

On Wednesday, Issa equated the czars to a "shadow cabinet" and says it's operating without the legitimacy and oversight necessary to any cabinet-level position.

 

Republicans aren't the only ones voicing concerns. Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin told the president he also heard concerns about the czars firsthand on several occasions during town hall meetings in his home state.

 

Feingold urged the president in a letter dated September 15 to "disclose as much information as you can about these policy advisors and 'czars.'"

 

Issa went much further, detailing a lengthy list of what he expects the White House to turn over, and set the deadline for September 29th.

[ybkgd]

Lawmakers are calling on the Obama White House to offer clarification on the role of some of its top policy makers, the so-called "czars."

 

House Republicans have introduced three resolutions aimed at forcing the president to fully disclose how the advisers were vetted and to explain why they shouldn't be subjected a full Senate confirmation process.

 

"Are these czars advisors or are they policy makers?" Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas asked. Poe said the distinction is important and ultimately mandates whether or not the lack of a Senate confirmation amounts to a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

 

A number of Republicans say their constituents are voicing concerns about possible unchecked power.

 

"They see these czar positions being handed out as candy suckers and they wonder what kind of accountability and transparency comes with these czars," Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, said Wednesday.

 

But the Obama administration is firing back. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Wednesday the "czar" positions have existed for years.

 

"They're positions in the administration, they're positions in the previous administration," Gibbs said. "I think these are positions that date back at least to, you know, many, many administrations, where there may be policy coordination between many different departments in order to make governmental responses more efficient."

 

Gibbs went on to cite two "czar" positions he said were pushed by Republican Sens. Robert Bennett of Utah and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the Y2K czar and a manufacturing czar.

 

Shortly after Gibbs finished speaking to reporters, White House communications director Anita Dunn wrote a blog post on the White House Web site stating there is no such thing as the title of "czar" in the Obama administration.

 

"Many of the officials cited by conservative commentators have been confirmed by the Senate. Many hold policy jobs that have existed in previous Administrations," Dunn wrote. " And some hold jobs that involved coordinating the work of agencies on President Obama's key policy priorities: health insurance reform, energy and green jobs, and building a new foundation for long-lasting economic growth."

 

But neither Gibbs nor Dunn persuaded many on Capitol Hill, with Bennett and Alexander firing off statements.

 

"Unlike President Obama's creation of czars, the Y2K czar was a temporary position for a temporary situation with date certain event," Bennett's spokeswoman said.

 

"Bennett's concern with the Obama administration's czars is that we have no information on their specific duties and whether or not their authority is limited to ensure that the czars do not undermine current cabinet positions within the executive office," she said. "Nice try, Mr. Gibbs."

 

Alexander told FOX News that the White House had clearly not listened or read any comments of his comments about czars.

 

"The White House staff should review my full remarks before launching an attack," he said. "I made it clear that there have always been a few czars but nothing like the 18 new czars appointed in this administration. Eighteen of the administration's 32 czars hold new positions that did not exist in previous administration and were not authorized by law."

 

"These czars are unconfirmed by the Senate, unavailable for questioning, and unaccountable to the American people through their elected representatives," he added. "They're the most visible symbol of too many Washington takeovers."

 

Earlier this week, Reps. Darrell Issa and Lamar Smith sent a letter directly to White House Counsel Gregory Craig, outlining "grave concern" and saying of the czars, "a pattern of behavior and associations maintained by some individuals runs contrary to the very core of our democracy."

 

The letter specifically mentioned former "green jobs czar" Van Jones, noting that he was a "self-described communist."

 

On Wednesday, Issa equated the czars to a "shadow cabinet" and says it's operating without the legitimacy and oversight necessary to any cabinet-level position.

 

Republicans aren't the only ones voicing concerns. Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin told the president he also heard concerns about the czars firsthand on several occasions during town hall meetings in his home state.

 

Feingold urged the president in a letter dated September 15 to "disclose as much information as you can about these policy advisors and 'czars.'"

 

Issa went much further, detailing a lengthy list of what he expects the White House to turn over, and set the deadline for September 29th.

 

 

That Gibb's is a piece of work eh! I'll be staying tuned to see how this story developes too.

 

RCH, have you heard anything about a National Muslim Day of Prayer being officially recognized in D.C.?

 

MUSLIM PRAYER GATHERING

SEPT. 25, 2009

Washington, D.C. - On September 25th there will be a national prayer gathering of Muslims on the west front of the U.S. Capitol Building. They are expecting at least 50,000 to attend from mosques all across America . They say that they want America to see how they pray!

A permit for this gathering was issued by Capitol Hill Police on July 28th. They will gather to pray from 4:00 AM until 7:00 PM. The gathering will take place by the site where U.S. Presidents have been inaugurated since 1981. The organizers say that it was Obama's inauguration speech in January and his speech broadcast from Egypt in June that gave them the idea for this prayer gathering on Capitol Hill.

They have a wesite set up for this event. To view it go to: islamoncapitolhill.com.. The site features a logo with a red, white and blue hand shaking a light brown hand with the words to the preamble to the Constitution and a page of Arabic text in the background.

It is not yet known who will lead their main prayer service at 1:00 PM nor is it yet known who will preach the sermon. However,they have been working dilgently to raise money to televise the event.

If ever we needed to be crying out for mercy for America , it is now! We must stand strong and speak Truth everywhere we are and at every given opportunity. We cannot be intimidated by the enemies of our God . Let us share the true Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah at every given opportunity. When the Great commission was given it was given to all of us,in America not just some of us. May there be multitudes come in to the Kingdom of God while there is yet time.

[Doc]

Get a rope......

[Last Resort]

Get a rope......

 

Oh, ... they gave us the rope ... just waiting for us to finish hanging ourselves.

[Doc Loco]

Are these jihadists or normal Islamic faithful worshippers?

 

Doesn't really matter when you look at it, Muslims obviously want to turn the White House into a mosque. This together with our president look like the first step to me. Weird and foriegn, foreign and getting weirder by the day. Wonder if Barry will address the multitudes. Loaves and fishes anyone?

 

Someway we need to get our nation back on track. We need real common sense people in DC to represent the mainstream American people and to exclude the vote buying special interests.

[bonedaddy]

Are these jihadists or normal Islamic faithful worshippers?

 

Doesn't really matter when you look at it, Muslims obviously want to turn the White House into a mosque. This together with our president look like the first step to me. Weird and foriegn, foreign and getting weirder by the day. Wonder if Barry will address the multitudes. Loaves and fishes anyone?

 

Someway we need to get our nation back on track. We need real common sense people in DC to represent the mainstream American people and to exclude the vote buying special interests.

 

We need a Non-Politician. That ain't gonna happen. (tons of deleted words follow.)