vetting news stories on Newser

VP Candidates Can Expect Vetting Palin Never Got

Mark Russell — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:50:08 CDT

The Republican Party may be suffering from an enthusiasm gap this election cycle, but don't expect a game-changing VP this time around, writes Richard Stevenson at the New York Times . Someone like New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez might look ideal, for instance—female, Hispanic, Tea Party-friendly, handgun fan, bipartisan support....

GOP Uses Van Jones to Rebel Against Czars

Kevin Spak — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 08:27:38 CDT

Republicans have groused for months that Barack Obama has too many “czars,” high-ranking, specialized advisers that, they complain, skirt congressional approval. Now they have a poster boy for their objections, Politico reports: Van Jones. This week an old lecture video surfaced in which he called Republicans “assholes,” as did an...

Clinton Derides Vetting Process as a 'Nightmare'

Rob Quinn — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:42:08 CDT

Hillary Clinton told USAID staff yesterday that the Obama administration's vetting process for top jobs has become a frustrating "nightmare," CNN reports. Clinton was asked why the agency is still without a new administrator. "It's not for lack of trying," she responded. "It takes far longer than any of us...

Women Indeed Dominated Obama's Court List: Insiders

Katherine Thompson — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:05:01 CDT

President Obama's short list for his Supreme Court pick consisted of four women: Solicitor General Elana Kagan, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, US Court of Appeals judge Diane Wood, and the eventual selection, Sonia Sotomayor. By Friday, Obama thought he was ready to make the pick, but decided to take...

Stolen RAF Files on Drug Use, Sex Spark Blackmail Fears

Matt Cantor — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:51:10 CDT

Top British military officials are at risk of blackmail after three Royal Air Force hard drives containing revealing vetting details were stolen, the Daily Mail reports. Files on the drives told of “criminal investigations, drug abuse, use of prostitutes, and extra-marital affairs,” said a Ministry of Defense memo. “This data...

How the Justice Confirmation Game is Played

Kevin Spak — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:20:13 CDT

The process of replacing David Souter has begun in earnest, so get ready for “Washington at its best (or worst, depending on your perspective),” writes Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post . All three branches of government, and a boatload of special interests and egos, will brawl it out over the...

How Obama Can Ensure Victory for His Justice

Kevin Spak — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:04:00 CDT

If Barack Obama wants to avoid a drawn out battle over his Supreme Court nominee, Mark Halperin has some advice: Vet the nominee exhaustively, and if anything comes up, make sure it comes out early and favorably. Be ready to play up “whatever Horatio Alger elements” of the nominee’s life...

Obama's CIO Once Pleaded Guilty to Theft

Kevin Spak — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:45:01 CDT

Vetting blunders don't get much more basic than this: Vivek Kundra, Barack Obama’s embattled Chief Information Officer, has a criminal record, Gawker’s Owen Thomas reports. Kundra, who’s currently suspended because of unrelated bribery charges against an employee, pleaded guilty to stealing less than $300 in 1997, according to Maryland state...

Treasury Pick Withdraws After Vetting 'Issue'

Nick McMaster — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:52:25 CDT

Staffing the Treasury Department is proving to be a pickle for the Obama administration, with the third candidate in less than a week withdrawing from consideration today, ABC News reports. H. Rodgin Cohen, a partner with law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, was considered the top choice for Deputy Treasury Secretary...