"The Obama transition team is sending a seven-page, 63-item questionnaire to every candidate for Cabinet and other high-ranking positions in the incoming administration. The questions include everything from information on family members, Face book pages, blogs and hired help to links to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, American International Group and troubled banks as well as lawsuits, gifts, resumes, loans and other topics of interest. Keep in mind that there are about 7,000 positions to fill which includes 15 Cabinet positions and nearly 200 ambassadorships as well as agency heads and their immediate subordinates, policy executives and advisers, and top aides to those officials. This sounds like a big job but that's not even half of it. The largest part of the questionnaire asks appointed officials (some that are in high rank positions) and their spouses to list real estate and other business transactions, affiliations and relationships as well as personal financial and tax information. The questions also go in depth about writings of any kind, speeches, testimony, online communications and even personal diaries.
One can argue that Obama's question seem very contradicting because some of the questions he want answered are some things that was pointed out about him. For a example, one of the questions requires immigration status of any kind. Obama's grandmother who was not a citizen was living in the U.S. Another example would be that he was accused of having ties to William Ayers so it seems that his questions are bias/contradicting.
However, I believe that it’s very logical to want to know the people that you’re working with especially in this time of turmoil. If this much intense information and background check was implied many of our problems would’ve been avoided. It is wise to take this precaution where Obama would be aware of the people he is working with as well as any situation that could arise from the result of the questions. I think a lot could be accomplished just by simply asking questions.
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3 comments:
I think you are right and Obama should be able to ask anything he wants. He should know and feel comforatble about everyone . The idea that a situtation could be better by asking and having a discussion with someone he works with is worth it.
I think it is entirely appropriate that Obama is asking for so much information from his potential employees. I mean, these people are going to hold positions of power, and some of them are going to be representing us abroad. It is absolutely necessary for Obama to know the details of their lives - that way, he won't get any Palin-type nasty surprises.
I am going to concur with both Emily and Sam; any President-Elect has the right to ask whatever questions he deems necessary in assisting him in vetting who he wants in his cabinet. Let us not forget that these cabinet positions are in charge of most of the day-to-day operations of the Federal Government and in order to maintain efficiency and productivity, he needs the very best people in those offices. It does not matter if they are former Clinton workers - if they are good in a certain section, let them back into their old position and continue to do the good work they did about a decade ago.
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