Obama on Jim Johnson controversy

Posted: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 12:51 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones and NBC's Mark Murray
At his press conference today in St. Louis, Obama was asked a question on the preferential loans that veep vetter Jim Johnson received from subprime lender Countrywide, despite Obama's criticisms of the mortgage lender.

"Well, look ... first of all, I am not vetting my vice presidential search committee for their mortgages," Obama answered. "I mean this is a game that can be played -- everybody you know who is anybody who is tangentially related to our campaign I think is going to have a whole host of relationships."

"I would have to hire the vetter to vet the vetters. I mean at some point you know we just asked people to do their assignments. Jim Johnson has a very discreet task, as does Eric Holder, and that is to gather up information about potential vice presidential candidates -- they are performing that job well, it's a volunteer, unpaid position. And they are giving me information and then I will then exercise judgment in terms of who I want to select as a vice presidential candidate."

"These aren't folks who are working for me. They are not people, you know, who I have assigned to a job in the future administration. And ultimately, my assumption is that this is a discreet task that they are going to performing for me in the next two months."

The McCain campaign, which has been stoking this controversy, responded: “It’s preposterous for Sen. Obama to claim that the leader of his VP selection committee isn’t working for him. Barack Obama has castigated Countrywide Financial, but now that Jim Johnson has been exposed for taking sweetheart deals from Countrywide’s CEO -- Obama is in a state of denial. It’s that brand of weak leadership and hypocrisy that shows why Barack Obama has no record of taking courageous stands or making change in Washington.”

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Comments

Note to McCain: the word for Obama is HYPOCRITE.

NObama (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 12:56 PM)

How come no press coverage on the Kucinich 35 articles of Impeachment against Bush & his crime syndicate of a govt? Nothing against Obama & McCain news, but please report about this corrupt govt that is still ruining this country for the next 8 months!

Obama for POTUS!!

Paul, Miami, FL (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 12:58 PM)

Maybe Senator McCain should tell his Republican buddies to stop blocking taxes on oil companies.

That means a lot more to Americans than whether someone is paid or not.

McCain is just another Republican who caves to big oil. Oh, he'll promise to do something, but when it comes to real work, Senator McCain will not do anything to fix the energy fiasco created by his Republican party.

Dan (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 12:58 PM)

Geez, come on people, these are Democrats we're talking about. It's do as I say, not as I do!

Hines Peabody, Coal City PA (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 12:59 PM)

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGN IS SO PATHETIC, HAS NO MORAL PLATFORM AND IS BANKRUPT ON POLICY, HAS THE NEVER TO QUESTION A VETTER?

THOSE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, LEST THEIR OWN HOUSE MAY CRUMBLE!!!!

MR (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:00 PM)

Once again Duel Personality Mc Cain exposes his hypocrisy. What about the Democrat turned Republican spy and criminal Phil Gramm of Enron? Former ties to Enron put Phil Gramm closer to criminality than Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson only got a loan which btw is not criminal.

Oh, don’t forget Phil Gramm, as a lobbyist dealing specifically with legislation regarding the mortgage crisis. Phil Gramm had a hand the mortgage crisis. Mc Cain supported spending billions to bail out Wall Street (wake up people we are not the stock exchanged).

Also John McCain’s Keating Five can be re-visited for public scrutiny. Change is a fresh, new, face, for America, Barack Obama.
Once again Duel Personality Mc Cain exposes his hypocrisy. What about the Democrat turned Republican spy and criminal Phil Gramm of Enron? Former ties to Enron put Phil Gramm closer to criminality than Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson only got a loan which btw is not criminal.

Oh, don’t forget Phil Gramm, as a lobbyist dealing specifically with legislation regarding the mortgage crisis. Phil Gramm had a hand the mortgage crisis. Mc Cain supported spending billions to bail out Wall Street (wake up people we are not the stock exchanged).

Also John McCain’s Keating Five can be re-visited for public scrutiny.
Change is a fresh, new, face, for America, Barack Obama.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:01 PM)

Time to see how "hope" survioes the deluge of critisim and glare of the limelight that is the GE.
Good thing you all dumped Hillary- she dosn't know how to take a pucnh. Geez..

Bobbi, Eau Claire, WI (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:03 PM)

Obama is right on this one.

pete, austin, tx (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:04 PM)

What? The Messiah isn't as pious as he advertises himself to be? Look, Obama comes from the corrupt political machine of Chicago, Illinois, the most corrupt machine in the country. Getting a little politically dirty is a way of life for the likes of Obama. Usually a little payoff here, and a little cover up there solves the problem. Obama may have a little more of a problem covering this stuff up on a national level. The media so far has mostly ignored Obama's past. He better hope no reporters start poking around in his Chicago roots.

John Thomas, Rockford IL (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:04 PM)

Earth to the media -- this is a pretty simple concept -- the blame for preferential loans is on the lenders, not the borrowers.

Lenders are supposed to know the rules and follow them; they're supposed to determine whether borrowers are credit worthy. If a child asks for candy, it's the parent's job to say no, and it's the parent's responsibility for the cavities caused if he or she doesn't. Just like the Bush administration is responsible for handing out money to oil companies like candy to that baby. So, too, if Countrywide gave anyone preferential mortgages, then Countrywide is responsible.

I believe this is total non-issue. By the way, have we checked yet to see if Senator McCain wore a flag pin for his economic speech today?

Obama 08/12

Amy Andersen, Eden Prairie, MN (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:04 PM)

Obama is 100% correct. It's a VP list-making team. All they're doing is collecting info and passing it to Obama. They aren't campaigning for him. They aren't doing it for money, they aren't advising Obama on policy. McCain's just lookin for cheap shots, cause they're running on empty. If we want to play this game, both candidates might as well step down now, because like Obama said, everybody is going to know somebody somehow tied to someone else that has shady dealings with so and so. Trying to play "6 degrees to Kevin Bacon" with politicians and their associations is a pointless distraction from the issues John McCain doesn't want to address.

Ron, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:05 PM)

If McCain wants to talk about hypocrisy and weakness, then he should be prepared to talk about what he did to his first wife.

What Goes around... (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:05 PM)

Why is the media reporting on this like it matters? You guys are like guilt by association on steroids.

J-M, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:05 PM)

bomber ,,,,With most of your staff lobbing for some one, you should watch who you chose to throw stones at.Next you will be saying that you never recived any deals on the eight homes you and the Beer baron own.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:06 PM)

Well, it doesn't look good
Should Johnson resign from the search team ?

Maybe ?

I think Obama should require ethical standards for people who work for him.....

Choose one of Obama's competitors as VP
Edwards, Biden, Richardson or Dodd
(though Dodd looks a little haggard)
(superficial, but maybe important)
But dodd is a good man !!

I'm also OK with Sen. Webb

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:06 PM)

If Jimmy Obama is not checking his people, I shudder to think who he would pick if he wins......

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:06 PM)

Senator Obama is correct in his comments. What is prepostuous is the fact that Senator McCain's hypocrisy and weak leadership demonstrated by his refusal to support the Webb GI Bill is being overlooked by many.

I loved listening to Rep. Kucinich state the articles of impeachment against Bush. Unbelievable that anyone could ever vote for a republican with this inheritance.

Senator Obama/Change to a true democracy (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:07 PM)

He was probably referring to "discrete" (individually distinct)tasks - even though the term discreet (preserving prudent silence) can apply as well.

Chris Avery (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:07 PM)

Here we go again! Why doesn't the McSame machine learn to read tele-prompters, contruct coherent sentences and stop being so petty. Attacking constantly on everything is so yesterday.

Let Obama do his VP work the way he sees fit—You all deal with the real issues. And grow-up!

Like Mitt Romney says: "You act like a bunch of fighting Chihahuas

Andrea, New York City (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:07 PM)

Senator Obama/Change to a true democracy (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:07 PM)

It's called a payroll, McHolmes. I love it how, when they shook YOUR tree, a bunch of bugs came scurrying out, and you were PAYING them.

You give Obama's a shake, and one comes out who's working as a volunteer.

Try harder. This isn't making it and it's a non-story.

P, CA (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:08 PM)

McSame has his own campaign to worry about...

An MSNBC exclusive aired on Countdown with Keith Olbermann Tuesday evening revealed potentially explosive news about McCain co-chair Phil Gramm's lobbying activities:

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's national campaign general co-chair was being paid by a Swiss bank to lobby Congress about the U.S. mortgage crisis at the same time he was advising McCain about his economic policy, federal records show.

"Countdown with Keith Olbermann" reported Tuesday night that lobbying disclosure forms, filed by the giant Swiss bank UBS, list McCain's campaign co-chair, former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, as a lobbyist dealing specifically with legislation regarding the mortgage crisis as recently as Dec. 31, 2007.

Gramm joined the bank in 2002 and had registered as a lobbyist by 2004. UBS filed paperwork deregistering Gramm on April 18 of this year. Gramm continues to serve as a UBS vice chairman.

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:09 PM)

Don't you get the feeling that things and people will work out for this campaign? I am an ex-Hillary supporter and I feel good about supporting Mr. Obama now that it's over. What a fun ride it has been, huh?

All I know is that Mr. McCain is not on board to protect my right to choose and he admits he doesn't know much about the economy. Plus he is having too many 'Senior Moments'.

The choice is clear. Where do I sign up?

Shell, Indy (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:09 PM)

So much for McCain's pledge to run a clean campaign on only the issues. Didn't even last three days.
Guess he's learning what others have - to beat Obama, you have to try to make up new issues.

KJ, CR, IA (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:09 PM)

This is not the Reverand Wright I knew

This is not the Tony Rezko I knew

This is not the Jim Johnson I knew

And what and whom are they vetting? The VP nominee better be Hillary or he can kiss a large part of those 18 million votes goodbye.

CSH, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:09 PM)

Exactly. Say it aint so Barry.

Richd (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:09 PM)

When is the McCain camp going to talk about anything of substance in this campaign? Enough already with the ridiculous and childish back and forth over these non-issues. My gas is $4.15. Can we talk about that?

Obama '08

MI, NY (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:10 PM)

McCain campaign knows they have a cartoon character for a candidate so they have to throw anything out there no matter how weak. Obama didn't have to fire have his stafff because they were lobbying for crooks and murders. The more McCain throws the less it sticks. Wave your little short arms and blink.

Elmer, Seattle, WA (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:11 PM)

John McCain is so DESPERATE to get some dirt on this guy. Why don't you just print out some fake muslim emails on the guy and distribute those as press releases, John>

JakeZ (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:11 PM)

I like the way Senator Obama addressed this. The approach from the other side suggests that the McCain campaign is perfectly content with the gridlock that has disabled our congress for the last 30 years as well as interjecting a little bit of fear and "gotcha" that gets our country nowhere.

In choosing his vetting team, Obama has assigned people to figure out if there is anything wrong with potential Vice Presidential candidates. These are people who are very capable of doing the task because they are well connected and able to approach most people in government without being stopped at the door. Well connected also means that favors are done and deals are made which is how the connections are formed. A good vetter cannot be squeaky clean by definition. (It is akin to the security industry hiring the smartest criminals to help them create better security. They know the best ways because they know the systems.)

Democrat (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:12 PM)

Johnson was not at the center of the Mortgate Meltdown, McCain's person Graham was

We do know that Sen. McCain Actually has Paid Lobbyist and those such as Graham who actually played a significant role and was the primary architect of the Mortgate Melt down.

We also know a number of his actual Paid Lobbyist had ties & actually worked for Foreign GOvernments that wre unscrupulous, tyrants.

We also know................................

Doug Goodyear and Doug Davenport, the two McCain aides who resigned from positions within the GOP contender's campaign, stepped down this weekend after Newsweek reported that their lobbying firm, Washington power player DCI Group, represented Myanmar's military junta in 2002 to the tune of $348,000.

Goodyear, who resigned Saturday from his recent appointment as McCain's convention head, is a chief executive and co-founder of the DCI Group, whose resume has earned him ties in Denver, where he helped to usher in a new Major League Baseball team and an international airport, and in North Carolina, where he previously worked at a public relations firm linked to tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds.

Before the 2004 political season, Goodyear was recruited to help mediate between political ad gurus and cable companies who wanted a piece of the political advertising pie. (Source: Roll Call, 6 Nov 2003)

Many have pointed out that it's ironic that Goodyear got the convention chair gig. The favorite for the post was originally Paul Manafort, the lobbying partner of McCain campaign manager Rick Davis. Manafort's lobbying ties to some not-so-savory foreign characters, including a Philippine dictator, prompted the veto.

vl,fl (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:12 PM)

I'm an Obama supporter and I received preferential treatment one night at a bar and ended up dancing on it, yet I still tell my kids not to drink to excess. So based on that, I'm a hypocrite and a threat to Obama's reputation...oh wait, I think the beer was distributed by Cindy McCains business...Guess all that's left for me is Nader!
It's going to be a long 5 months if it stays this petty.

Get to the issues, Dayton OH (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:13 PM)

The McCain campaign, which has been stoking this controversy, responded: “It’s preposterous for Sen. Obama to claim that the leader of his VP selection committee isn’t working for him. Barack Obama has castigated Countrywide Financial, but now that Jim Johnson has been exposed for taking sweetheart deals from Countrywide’s CEO -- Obama is in a state of denial. It’s that brand of weak leadership and hypocrisy that shows why Barack Obama has no record of taking courageous stands or making change in Washington.”

------------------------------------------

What part of "Economic Advisor Phil Gramm Helped Cause The Mortgage Crisis By Deregulating The Mortgage Industry" does Uncle Fluffy not understand?

Better yet, why is he so oblivious to Gramm's lobbyist interests in UBS fighting mortgage reform?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:14 PM)

Can you really accuse Obama of hipocrasy, McCain, when you sponsored a BILL to end lobbyist influence, and then have lobbyists consulting your campaign?? Can you really point fingers at this tenuous tie to Countrywide when TWO OF YOUR TOP ADVISORS have ties to AMERIQUEST??? This is totally Republican politics, highlighted every time Fox News does some piece on Obama's campaign ties, but omits John McCain's campaign completely in their discussion. This is a toothpick in Obama's eye compared to the virtual telephone pole in McCain's!!

Lee, Austin, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:15 PM)

It's early for polls...
But, these look good
Obama seems to have gotten a bump
Calling all Democrats: PLEASE COME HOME !!

From RCP:

Rasmussen 06/07-06/09 3000 LV 50 43 Obama +7.0
Gallup 06/06-06/08 2389 RV 48 42 Obama +6.0
IBD/TIPP 06/02-6/08 916 RV 43 40 Obama +3.0
CNN 06/04-06/05 921 RV 49 46 Obama +3.0
CBS News 05/30-06/03 930 RV 48 42 Obama +6.0
USA Today 05/30-06/01 803 RV 47 44 Obama +3.0
Cook/RT St 05/29-05/31 802 RV 44 43 Obama +1.0

John McCain, Endless War
John McCain, More of the same

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:15 PM)

And of course this news won't affect how Obama's biggest starry eyed fanatics view Barack. They'll just blame Bush, and accuse McCain of the same things. Nothing is too corrupt for their Barack.

Tide is Turning (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:15 PM)

Wow, not so eloquent off the cuff is he?

No wonder he's afraid of town halls and clings to his podiums.

Interesting (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:15 PM)

Dems need to start attacking McCain on the Keeting 5 scandal in a very public way... The Reps are already leading in the race to define Obama (fairly or unfairly) and this counter punches need to start flying by tomorrow!

Obama '08

MJH Lansing, MI (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:15 PM)

LOL! Obama is learning quick --- dropping his staff like hot potato and disavow any links. Imagine how many in his staff are wolves in sheep skin that the public are not aware of. If the public puts him in office, his pack will fleece America of what Bush left behind... November will be an opportunity to waste if ever the majority are swayed to his hypocritical cause.

Boboy, WI (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:16 PM)

I'm a Republican who is sick and tired of all the gotcha politics that are being played and that stand in the way of real work. If it's a Democrat like Obama that stands up to the B.S., then so be it. I support him on this.

Keith, American Fork UT (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:17 PM)

Can someone ask McCain if he knows that Putin is not the President of Germany and if McCain remembered to take his pills today?

strawmanmunny,lexington,KY (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:17 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Between Countrywide and Rezko, Obama is going to make White Water look like child's play.

ObamaMama - Glenwood, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:18 PM)

IT IS O.K. GRANDPA. HE SAID HE DID NOT EMPLOY HIM. Did you hear me. Or should I say it louder? HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR PILLS?

Candi California (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:19 PM)

Let’s talk about the economy and Bush/McCain and the GOP. The war in Iraq has done so much damage to our economy here in the US we have only begun to see the effects.
If you think back to the before the McCain/Bush invasion of Iraq oil was trading around 25.00 a barrel. Now we are looking 150.00 a barrel before the end of summer.

Some of you say this has nothing to do with the war in Iraq; let’s play the blame game. Well let’s follow the money shall we? With any crime that has been committed you have to find motive. Who has benefited most from this war in Iraq?

A.Bush and Channey are two former oil executives and have friends in American Big Oil Companies; have the benefited?

B.Big equipment and supply companies (i.e.) Halliburton; have they benefited?

C.How about Iran, they more money now then they ever had; have they benefited?

D.Saudi Arabia Bush begs them to produce more oil; have they benefited?

E.Has Osama Bin Laden and Al Quida; have they received more money from the Saudi Arabians that secretly support them; have they benefited? Has he even been killed or captured? We found Hitler in a bunker are Bush/McCain and the GOP chicken s**t to go get this turd?

F.The military industrial complex; have the benefited?

Did Iran have a Nuclear Technology?

Obama 08/12

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:19 PM)

A volunteer position is entirely different from someone being on the payroll.

Erik, Bowie MD (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:20 PM)

Dan -

Maybe Senator McCain should tell his Republican buddies to stop blocking taxes on oil companies.

So how does raising taxes on the oil companies find this country one more drop of oil? How does raising taxes on the oil companies reduce the price of fuel at the pump?

If it's revenge you seek, elect a Democrat.

Oly Williams, Monroe, LA (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:21 PM)

Obama needs to stay away from person with a shady past.

Sorry Jim Johnson!!

** For discounts on Barack Obama products $8.99 & Up. Use this coupon at this Obama Store http://www.MyObamaStore.com
Coupon - Obama-X2Y9-10 (10% OFF)

America for Obama (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:21 PM)

Question for Sen McCain and Republicans:

So in other words, it is ok for Sen McCain to have an 'advisor' in Phil Gramm who is a lobbyist for UBS (who in case you have forgotten or don't know) is one of the big lenders responsible for the sub prime mortgage mess. Perhaps Sen McCain AND you should look to your own house FIRST - it is Sen McCain and yourselves who are the hypocrites here. Or maybe if Senator McCain gets rid of all the lobbyists working or advising him - there will be no one left on his staff.

Mr. Johnson is not an advisor to Sen Obama - he is volunteering as 1 of 3 people vetting possible VP candidates.

That is a lot different than being intimately involved in setting economic policy.

But once again the GOP and Sen McCain point fingers - that is not change - that's the same old, same old.
Sen McCain gives me the creeps.

Obama '08

Obama Supporter from NY (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:21 PM)

I'm confused. This is a CONTROVERSY because? This guy took a legal loan from a legal company that has not been charged for breaking any laws. Obama has criticized the company. So what. This is a man that Obama trust to GATHER INFORMATION. McCain has actual lobbyist from lenders on his team. JJ has not worked for nor lobbied for any of those companies. This is getting ridicules. They don't have anything on this man, it's a slow news day, so they manufacture a "controversy". Give me a break.

Be Real, NY, NY (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:23 PM)

The republicans should be tried for treason for injecting their silly arguments, with the foul intention of denying the voters due process, to an unfetterd opportunity to weigh the issues, and compare the candidates policies.

Let's send them the messge come November, that we have found them guilty of malfeasance, and a lack of sincere patriotism.

donna (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:24 PM)

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