bobbyw24
12-26-2009, 07:10 PM
There are few stranger political bedfellows than conservative anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist and liberal blogger Jane Hamsher. But the two joined forces on Wednesday to call for the resignation of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, in a letter they penned to Attorney General Eric Holder.
The duo contends that Emanuel’s service on the board of the government-sponsored mortgage company Freddie Mac from 2000 to 2001 may have given him some knowledge of alleged financial irregularities at the time.
http://images.politico.com/global/news/091223_rahm_emanuel_ap_218.jpg
Norquist and Hamsher say in a letter to Holder that “stonewalling by Mr. Emanuel and the White House” leave them “no redress” other than to call for his resignation. Norquist is the head of the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, and Hamsher is the publisher of the liberal blog Firedoglake.
In a press release, Norquist said, "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be transparent. There is only one reason that Rahm Emanuel and others have fought to keep how they handled billions of dollars of other people's money hidden from public scrutiny; they are hiding corruption. What would they have us believe they are hiding? Their unexpected business acumen?"
Said Hamsher in the same release, “This administration is pushing for an $800 billion bailout while the organization has no Inspector General or basic oversight, a bullish tactic Emanuel seems to favor while his activities with Freddie Mac are questioned by investigative reporters.”
In the letter to Holder, the two activists noted:
“A 2003 report by Freddie Mac's regulator indicated that Freddie Mac executives had informed the board of their intention to misstate the earnings to insure their own bonuses during the time Mr. Emanuel was a director. But the White House refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request from the Chicago Tribune for those board minutes on the grounds that Freddie Mac was a 'commercial' entity, even though it was wholly owned by the government at the time the request was made.”
Asked about the letter during a press gaggle on Air Force One on Thursday, Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton replied, "I have the feeling that Rahm's job is very safe."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30944.html
The duo contends that Emanuel’s service on the board of the government-sponsored mortgage company Freddie Mac from 2000 to 2001 may have given him some knowledge of alleged financial irregularities at the time.
http://images.politico.com/global/news/091223_rahm_emanuel_ap_218.jpg
Norquist and Hamsher say in a letter to Holder that “stonewalling by Mr. Emanuel and the White House” leave them “no redress” other than to call for his resignation. Norquist is the head of the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, and Hamsher is the publisher of the liberal blog Firedoglake.
In a press release, Norquist said, "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be transparent. There is only one reason that Rahm Emanuel and others have fought to keep how they handled billions of dollars of other people's money hidden from public scrutiny; they are hiding corruption. What would they have us believe they are hiding? Their unexpected business acumen?"
Said Hamsher in the same release, “This administration is pushing for an $800 billion bailout while the organization has no Inspector General or basic oversight, a bullish tactic Emanuel seems to favor while his activities with Freddie Mac are questioned by investigative reporters.”
In the letter to Holder, the two activists noted:
“A 2003 report by Freddie Mac's regulator indicated that Freddie Mac executives had informed the board of their intention to misstate the earnings to insure their own bonuses during the time Mr. Emanuel was a director. But the White House refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request from the Chicago Tribune for those board minutes on the grounds that Freddie Mac was a 'commercial' entity, even though it was wholly owned by the government at the time the request was made.”
Asked about the letter during a press gaggle on Air Force One on Thursday, Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton replied, "I have the feeling that Rahm's job is very safe."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30944.html