Johnson Steps Down as Obama VP Vetter
Jim Johnson, one of Sen. Barack Obama’s vice presidential vetters has stepped down after a tumultuous few days as controversy swirled over his association, and personal loans deal with Countrywide Financial Group, a mortgage lender that has received criticism for being at the center of the sub-prime mortgage crisis.
Senator Obama released a statement on Johnson’s departure:
” Jim did not want to distract in any way from the very important task of gathering information about my vice my presidential nominee. So he has made a decision to step aside that I accept. 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 the process.”
The story of Johnson’s $ 1.7 million total loans was first broken by the Wall Street Journal, and had created a maelstrom of Republican criticism for his connection to the financial group, because Obama had been very critical of subprime lenders, and specifically Countrywide Financial.
***UPDATE:AMBINDER HAS JOHNSON STATEMENT****
Tags: Jim Johnson, Countrywide Financial
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Is anybody keeping a list of all of the “corruption connections” for Obama? Hereis yet another one. I wonder if Johnson also “financed” anything for Obama…perhaps that way underpriced house that Rezko helped him with or the lot next door to it…
Dear American Voters,
Hon. Senator McCain and Obama, besides each having many attributes and characteristics. The critical differences between the two of these presidential presumptive nominees are as under:
1. Presidential “Temperament and Composer”.
2. Little Washington “insider Versus outsider” experience.
3. “Vision and mission” for our nation future rather than past.
4. American policies, ” first U.S.A Centric” than any other country [ ies ] centric.
In my professional opinion Senator Obama leads in all above qualities.
The need of our next movement and generation is a change. The Change in ” past Washington and its Leadership”. A change we can believe in and not the seductive, deceptive, and confusing slogan of “leader we can believe in” [? Effexor ?".
Our Greatgrand Nation has to address many present and future challenges and start with new clean "Slate and Senator".
God Bless America. its diverse people, and our Greatgrand Nation.
Our Greatgrand Nation is needs the CHANGE at every level and for long time.
I am sure Senator Obama with the help of Senator Clinton and her supporters, can deliver that CHANGE.
Please stay involved, stay engaged, and stay informed. Please do not allow any seduction, deception, and or confusion by some partisan media and leaders effect your vote [ Psychological Terrorism ]..
Yours truly,
COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
Disabled American Veteran
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas
Obama once again showing off his judgement skills!
[...] sees blood in the water on Obama vetter by Mosheh Oinounou Following Jim Johnson’s resignation this afternoon, the Republican National Committee and the McCain campaign released statements questioning [...]
How many more will there be ?
How many will fit under the bus ?
I think that Obama leads nothing but a lot of talk. He talks a good line but there is nothing behind him that anyone can say he stands on. As a Democrate I am praying that he does not become the next President of the US. We can not afford for that to happen at this time in our history. I really hope over the next few months people start to understand that.
Media wants to confuse you and make you angry…..why?…so you tune in for more of the same.
No matter who you want to win or what side you are for……think for yourself.
Check yourself to see if you are just repeating information that corporate (money focuses) news is feeding it’s viewers.
I will never say who I’m for. Just use your minds wisely and don’t give in to fear.
Best wishes, John Shermer
How many will fit under the bus ?
Give me a break! does anyone remember that McCain was one of the Keating Five in the S&L scandals of th e80’s?
Let’s see….
You’re longtime friends with a homegrown terrorist.
The transaction related to the lot near your home is suspect.
Your spiritual advisor of over a decade plus, is a racist.
Your wife,(potential first lady) isn’t proud of her own country.
You won’t wear a flag pin, or put your hand over your heart, unless you can benefit from it.
You have zero experience in the geopolitical arena.
Your stance on meeting with countires that finance terrorism is in a constant state of flux.
And like “Dubya”, you don’t do so well without a teleprompter.
Barry, you’re just not Presidential material.
From what I have read, Johnson’s loan was legit. Also, even if Johnson did something corrupt or wrong or unethical or whatever, this doesn’t mean that Obama is corrupt or wrong or unethical on the basis of the relationship itself. Just because I know people who are thieves does not make me a thief solely because of my relationship with those people.
I think the issues for many who take issue with Johnson are
1. He is a Washington insider. This cuts against Obama’s claim to change Washington politics and bring a fresh approach. Of course, if one actually looks at who is working on his campaign, one will find Johnson was not the only Washington insider.
2. Claims by Obama that Johnson was someone tangentially related or not working for Obama and not getting paid for the work he did. This claim struck me as both bizarre and disingenuous. Obama hand-picked Johnson not as a consultant on some minor issue but to vet VP candidates. What could be more closely related to a Presidential campaign than the process and people involved in vetting running mates? And what difference does it make if one gets paid or not?
This is not to say McCain does not have his own issues, but from the beginning Obama came out as the agent of change for all things Washington and cultivated an image that placed him above all the political dealings there.
But no surprises here. Politicians will say anything to get elected. Obama is no different.
I used to like Fox news.
Now they suck like the rest.
Obama sucks too.
Obama is just as crooked as Bush. Just to the left instead of the right. We need someone down the middle.
our country and constitutions were built a long time ago and now obama wants to change the way how washington works ? who does he think he is ? it is what it is. all his talks are just words. some people are really stupid to believe in what he has been saying about changing. it is not going to change what we have been having for some two hundred years ok ? be real please.
The saddest part of all this is here is a man, Obama, who has all these opportunities and he chooses to squander them by focusing on messages instead of substance. He consistently makes questionable choices for his personal and professional associations. Then he insists he’s the only one around with good judgement.
He can’t seem to find any consistency in his statements about his personal life or business dealings. He’s thin-skinned and accuses everyone of attacking him and lying about him, while he won’t answer direct questions.
He demands everyone else produce documents, while he refuses to even provide his birth certificate, medical information, full tax information, etc.
It’s a shame the “Col” whose post appears 2nd isn’t also a real psychiatrist for he would then be able to spot this pattern for what it is, and not the snake oil he and Obama are trying to sell.
All of these attacks seem pretty pointless to me - on both sides.
So one unpaid member of the Obama camp had some questionable loans, big deal.
Couldn’t care less about the anti-McCain stuff, either (The whole Keating Five thing almost 20 years ago and the fact that his campaign had a few active lobbyists working for it).
Nothing that has turned up yet seems particularly significant to me. Seems there should be more focus on the candidate’s differences on the actual issues.
And the left wing media tip toes around this. Such a biased group of people and Obama was such a loud mouth during his campaign on such matters.
http://www.andwearenotsaved.blogspot.com
What the heck is a vetter? Its not even a word in the dictionary.
Question? Why won’t this guy (BHO) produce his birth certificate? Is he (BHO) hidding something? Is this guy (BHO) even an american citizen? I know this doesn’t have to do with J. Johnson, but I don’t care about this. We all know up front by now about Obamas sleezy associates, but we don’t know why he will not release his birth certificate.
It depends on the size of the bus. I think he can toss a few more under. Maybe a dozen or so.
Empty Suit Democommie candidate with no experience in anything much BUT lying…and seemingly knows NO ONE of any real AMERICAN substance. I have seen this all before…
Oh where was it? Dukakis…Clinton…Gore…Kerry…Obama…
Vetter - a person who lead a group for Vice Presidental search.
vote for a carter 2cd term! or maybe a clinton 3rd term! “america is the greatest country! we need change”….barack obama. all in one sequential statement.
quadaffi..”our kenyan brother who is an american nationalist”…..he got that right.
God Bless Abu Dhabi
for bailing out the US and purchasing 1/2 the NYC skyline.
And hats off to Cheney, moving your companies headquarters to Dubai was a smart move, you got out while the gettin’s good.
Thank You Saudi Arabia for savings the US Dollar, without you ? There would be no America.
WHEN ALL OF YOU ARE BROKE AND HAVE CHILDREN THAT RESPECT SPEARS AND P DIDDY MORE THAN GETTING A EDUCATION YOU WILL FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE REGRET VOTING FOR THIS IDIOT JUST LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE SHAME FOR VOTING FOR BUSH! LOVE HER OR HATE HER THAT WOMAN THAT YOU TURNED YOUR BACK ON HAD A MACHINE OF PURE FORCE PULLING BEHIND US TO MAKE THE ECONOMY BETTER AND THE REST OF THE WORLD AND YOU SHIT ON HER! I HOPE YOU LIBERALS SINK IN THE NASTIEST OF CRAP AND NEVER GET OUT FOR VOTING FOR OBAMA! I AM NOW AN INDEPENDENT AND WILL HOPE THAT THE CLINTONS RUN IN 12!
[...] call comes less than 24 hours after Jim Johnson’s resignation as an Obama VP vetter, who came under scrutiny for loans he received from Countrywide–a shady [...]