The Conservative "Obama Czar List" Doesn't Paint Full Picture

09-17-2009

The Obama administration is pushing back against conservative media outlets on the so called " Obama Czars Controversy" and you know what? They have some legitimate points.

You can read more on what White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs had to say on the topic at the end of this post along with a blog post from White House Communications Director Anita Dunn.

The Brody File has been researching this topic for an upcoming story to air on The 700 Club and here's a simple fact: The Czar list compiled by Fox News and other outlets is just not fully accurate. They are listing people like Cass Sunstein, John Holdren and a few others as Czars but these folks have been confirmed by the Senate. That is significant because the main contention here is that these Czars run around unchecked and unaccountable to Congress. Their list shouldn't include them. If you want to make the argument that Sunstein and Holdren shouldn't be nominated by President Obama because of things they've either said or done in the past then fine but to add them to the Czar total is really misleading.

Look,  you can make the argument that the Obama administration has increased the number of so called Czars and it has even concerned liberals like Senator Russ Feingold and Senator Robert Byrd. Still,  if you want to bring credibility to your argument you need to get your facts straight. Conservative media outlets hurt themselves when the information they provide isn't the total picture. It may play well with Obama's staunch critics but doesn't the full truth matter? Conservative media complain about the mainstream media ignoring them (and they have a point) but if Czar lists are inaccurate then is it no wonder that the MSM may question the factual credibility of future  stories? Food for thought.

It seems to me the real issue with the Czars story is all about the Senate confirmation process. In other words, who should be an appointed Czar and who should be confirmed by the Senate? Let's face it. Some so called Czars have more power and influence than others. It seems like those officials deserve the higher scrutiny. How the Congress, The White House and Courts figure that out is of consequence...and perplexing.
 
Gibbs comments from the White House briefing  are below. The question was asked by Major Garrett at Fox News.

The link to the Anita Dunn blog post is here.

Q    Okay.  Senator Russ Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, sent a letter to the White House yesterday about the question of czars.  He's the chairman of the Subcommittee on Constitution.  He asked for more information about the czars' roles, the constitutional authority, how they're paid.  The DNC today has sent out quite a few e-mails about czars have existed in previous administrations, this is sort of a phony issue.  Could you just address for me what the White House thinks about, A, any questions about the czars' authorities, roles, or function in the administration; whether or not there is anything more it should disclose about what they're doing or what authority they derive?  Any of those issues, raised by Russ Feingold and others.

MR. GIBBS:  I have not seen Senator Feingold's letter.  I think -- I don't know if you or anybody else sent around Senator Bennett's letter that several Republicans had signed. Look, I don't -- like I said, I don't know what Senator Feingold said.  There are positions in the administration, there are positions in the previous administration.  I think these are positions that date back at least to many, many administrations where there may be policy coordination between many different departments in order to make governmental responses more efficient. I'm struck by a little of the politics in this, Major.  I noticed on your network they asked one of the House Republicans, Darrell Issa, whether he objected to the so-called czars in the previous administration.  His answer was, no, we didn't. You know, I mean, I think it's -- I've noticed that -- you read Senator Bennett was pushing for a Y2K czar that he didn't think was powerful enough.  You've seen Lamar Alexander call for a manufacturing czar. So, you know, somebody referred to in the Bush administration as the abstinent czar was on the DC madam's list.  Now, did that violate the Constitution or simply offend our sensibilities?  But I think it's been somewhat remarkable that in previous administrations so-called criticism of this has been a bit deafening -- the silence has been deafening, only to have it come around as a political issue now.  I think what the American people would like every branch of government to do is get about dealing with the problems that real people have each and every day rather than playing political games back and forth, day after day, and not solving or addressing their problems.

Q    Since you asked, I can tell you what the letter says -- it's brief; I'm not going to take a lot of time -- "I ask that you identify these individuals' roles and responsibilities, provide the judgments of your legal advisors to whether and how these positions are consistent with the appointments clause.  I hope this information will help address some of the concerns that have been raised about the new position."  Is this something the White House would be prepared to share with Senator Feingold --

MR. GIBBS:  I would have to look at -- read the letter and have Counsel give me an opinion on that.  Again --

Q    But based on what I've read you, does that sound objectionable or something the White House would be opposed to?

MR. GIBBS:  I think the American people hold the President accountable.  That's what we would expect.  And I think as it relates to, like I said a minute ago, any number of the political games that seem to be played each and every day in this little town -- I think we'd best be set getting back to dealing with real business.

 

 

 


 

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