HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS? Tell me I'm over reacting...Please?Obama shifts Census oversight, triggering angry protest by Republicans
By Carrie Dann Congress Daily February 6, 2009
President Obama has decided to bring the U.S. Census Bureau under White House jurisdiction, a move that incensed House Republicans, who fired off a blistering letter to him Thursday, calling it "outrageous and unprecedented" and a "blatant partisan and political maneuver."*** The move would shift the chain of command with the bureau and the Commerce Department, where the bureau currently resides. It comes after the Congressional Black Caucus, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and other groups expressed displeasure with Obama's nominee for Commerce secretary, Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire. Gregg, the groups said this week, opposed efforts to secure emergency funding for the 2000 Census, which they asserted exposes a potential lack of commitment to ensuring that hard-to-reach minority populations are properly accounted for in the 2010 census.
A White House spokesman confirmed Thursday that Obama plans to work closely with the bureau, which will remain within the Commerce Department."From the first days of the transition the census has been a priority for the president, and a process he wanted to re-evaluate," the spokesman said in a prepared statement."There is historic precedent for the director of the census, who works for the Commerce secretary and the president, to work closely with White House senior management -- given the number of decisions that will have to be put before the president," he said. "We plan to return to that model in this administration."
House Republicans reacted quickly. House Oversight and Government Reform ranking member Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Oversight and Government Reform Census Subcommittee ranking member Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., seized on speculation that the move would place the yet-unnamed Census Bureau director under the watchful eye of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, instead of leaving Gregg in charge. They suggested the move could improperly influence legislative redistricting, which is shaped by Census counts."By circumventing the secretary of Commerce's oversight of the Census Bureau and handing it directly to a political operative such as Mr. Emanuel, you are severely jeopardizing the fairness and accuracy of the 2010 Census," Issa and McHenry wrote Obama.
Details of the day-to-day relationship between the White House and the Census Bureau seem hazy. Aides speculated Thursday that the bureau's budget and public-affairs functions may be routed through OMB, an arrangement that would assuage the fears expressed by advocates concerned that the Census director's public statements and congressional testimony would be subject to censorship by less-than-supportive leadership at Commerce. Sources on both sides of the issue said black lawmakers and others interested in securing more funding for the 2010 Census had been hoping for assurances of support from Obama as soon as they learned about Gregg's possible selection to Commerce post.One Democratic aide close to the matter called the administration's decision a direct response to the grievances of minority groups upset with Gregg's appointment."People started yelling at them," said the aide, who added that the details of how the White House's interactions with the Census director remain woefully undefined."Their answer was 'OK, fine, [Gregg] won't be in charge,'" the aide said. "It wasn't a plan. It was a reaction."
The administration's idea to shift jurisdiction over the Census Bureau was not entirely new. In September, congressional Democrats, led by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., proposed legislation to make the bureau an independent federal agency. Such agencies report directly to the president, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency did before it became part of the Homeland Security Department. A Census Bureau spokeswoman declined to comment on any organizational changes until a director is in place.
Z***: "blatant political and partisan maneuver"?? ARE THEY KIDDING? It's SO blatantly AGENDA-DRIVEN, THAT is the problem!! I think I just realized why the Republicans are always losing their bearings...WHEN WILL THEY EVER CALL THINGS LIKE THIS FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE? And...it looks like Gregg won't be taking over Commerce, huh? HE DARED CRITICIZE THE ONE! And look at the special interest groups and how powerful they got and Obama caved!! "No special interest"..? WHAT? You all know what redistricting has done to the vote, don't you. This just smacks of that on an enormous scale. Man, we are in SUCH trouble.
z
By Carrie Dann Congress Daily February 6, 2009
President Obama has decided to bring the U.S. Census Bureau under White House jurisdiction, a move that incensed House Republicans, who fired off a blistering letter to him Thursday, calling it "outrageous and unprecedented" and a "blatant partisan and political maneuver."*** The move would shift the chain of command with the bureau and the Commerce Department, where the bureau currently resides. It comes after the Congressional Black Caucus, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and other groups expressed displeasure with Obama's nominee for Commerce secretary, Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire. Gregg, the groups said this week, opposed efforts to secure emergency funding for the 2000 Census, which they asserted exposes a potential lack of commitment to ensuring that hard-to-reach minority populations are properly accounted for in the 2010 census.
A White House spokesman confirmed Thursday that Obama plans to work closely with the bureau, which will remain within the Commerce Department."From the first days of the transition the census has been a priority for the president, and a process he wanted to re-evaluate," the spokesman said in a prepared statement."There is historic precedent for the director of the census, who works for the Commerce secretary and the president, to work closely with White House senior management -- given the number of decisions that will have to be put before the president," he said. "We plan to return to that model in this administration."
House Republicans reacted quickly. House Oversight and Government Reform ranking member Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Oversight and Government Reform Census Subcommittee ranking member Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., seized on speculation that the move would place the yet-unnamed Census Bureau director under the watchful eye of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, instead of leaving Gregg in charge. They suggested the move could improperly influence legislative redistricting, which is shaped by Census counts."By circumventing the secretary of Commerce's oversight of the Census Bureau and handing it directly to a political operative such as Mr. Emanuel, you are severely jeopardizing the fairness and accuracy of the 2010 Census," Issa and McHenry wrote Obama.
Details of the day-to-day relationship between the White House and the Census Bureau seem hazy. Aides speculated Thursday that the bureau's budget and public-affairs functions may be routed through OMB, an arrangement that would assuage the fears expressed by advocates concerned that the Census director's public statements and congressional testimony would be subject to censorship by less-than-supportive leadership at Commerce. Sources on both sides of the issue said black lawmakers and others interested in securing more funding for the 2010 Census had been hoping for assurances of support from Obama as soon as they learned about Gregg's possible selection to Commerce post.One Democratic aide close to the matter called the administration's decision a direct response to the grievances of minority groups upset with Gregg's appointment."People started yelling at them," said the aide, who added that the details of how the White House's interactions with the Census director remain woefully undefined."Their answer was 'OK, fine, [Gregg] won't be in charge,'" the aide said. "It wasn't a plan. It was a reaction."
The administration's idea to shift jurisdiction over the Census Bureau was not entirely new. In September, congressional Democrats, led by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., proposed legislation to make the bureau an independent federal agency. Such agencies report directly to the president, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency did before it became part of the Homeland Security Department. A Census Bureau spokeswoman declined to comment on any organizational changes until a director is in place.
Z***: "blatant political and partisan maneuver"?? ARE THEY KIDDING? It's SO blatantly AGENDA-DRIVEN, THAT is the problem!! I think I just realized why the Republicans are always losing their bearings...WHEN WILL THEY EVER CALL THINGS LIKE THIS FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE? And...it looks like Gregg won't be taking over Commerce, huh? HE DARED CRITICIZE THE ONE! And look at the special interest groups and how powerful they got and Obama caved!! "No special interest"..? WHAT? You all know what redistricting has done to the vote, don't you. This just smacks of that on an enormous scale. Man, we are in SUCH trouble.
z
39 comments:
You just KNOW that the name "ACORN" will pop up concerning this. If not the organisation, at least the same people.
No, not an over - reaction. Much like our own Prime Minister, Obama thinks he can stick his fingers just about anywhere without scrutiny. As long as MSM continues the glorifiation process expect all manner of change that brings issues, policies, bills and oversight matters closer to the White House radar...
I don't think Obama caved at all. I think this was the plan of the WH from the beginning. Do you think Gregg knew of this when he accepted? Now, he has been effectively marginalized.
He's out of the Senate, his replacement has been named. One influential Republican Senator effectively sidelined.
If he's smart, he'll resign his appointment and run in the Republican Senatorial primary in two years and win back his Senate seat in that state's general election.
I think he was cleverly maneuvered, with the hopes his replacement can't beat a Democrat in a general Senatorial election.
Pris
yes... i see danger
kw
Since Obama’s earnest drive to convince the nation to weaken its economic strength through redistribution as well as weaken its national defense, COUPLED WITH HIS UNPRECEDENTED WHITE HOUSE TAKEOVER OF DECENNIAL CENSUS TAKING FROM THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT, has confirmed the very threats to our Republic’s survival that the Constitution was designed to avert, it no longer is sustainable for the United States Supreme Court and Military Joint Chiefs to refrain from exercising WHAT IS THEIR ABSOLUTE CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO DEFEND THE NATION FROM UNLAWFUL USURPATION. The questions of Obama’s Kenyan birth and his father’s Kenyan/British citizenship (admitted on his own website) have been conflated by his sustained unwillingnes to supply his long form birth certificate now under seal, and compounded by his internet posting of a discredited ‘after-the-fact’ short form ‘certificate’. In the absence of these issues being acknowledged and addessed, IT IS MANIFEST THAT OBAMA REMAINS INELIGIBLE TO BE PRESIDENT UNDER ARTICLE 2 OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. Being a 14th Amendment ‘citizen’ is not sufficient. A ‘President’ MUST BE an Article 2 ‘natural born citizen’ AS DEFINED BY THE FRAMERS’ INTENT.
It took Octavian fifteen years to reach the point when he became Augustus Caesar; he knew the Roman people . . . he understood the limitations placed on him by tradition and culture. He only very gradually destroyed the Roman Republic to make himself the sole power in Rome; part of this process included a direct appeal to the Populares . . . promising something in return for their loyalty and adoration. This is the intent of modern American democrats. Slowly . . . but faster than we ever imagined, Obama is destroying our Republic piecemeal; but that’s okay . . . it is what the American people wanted: hope and change.
He keeps biting off way, way, way more than he can chew.
I'm telling you folks from experience. Eight years is a long time.
You really need to pace yourselves before you pop a vessel or something.
You know what they say about payback.
The White House “Takeover” of the Census:
The Critics are the Partisans
The controversy over White House plans to play a more direct role in overseeing the operations of the US Bureau of the Census as some sort of “political grab” reflects, more than anything else, an astounding ignorance of how the Census operates. The charge is that by having the Census Bureau Director report directly to Rahm Emmanuel, Obama’s Chief of Staff, that this would allow him to manipulate the 2010 population count for partisan advantage in reapportionment and redistricting. This is contrasted with the situation under President George W. Bush where he kept the Census Bureau “independent.”
This became an issue when President Obama surprised most with his nomination of Senator Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire) to be Commerce Secretary a little over a week ago. This was surprising because Gregg has in the past voted to eliminate this Commerce Department and has been a strong opponent of providing needed resources for the 2000 Census. This raised serious concerns by Black and Latino leaders working for an accurate count of their communities and all Americans by the 2010 Census. The Gregg nomination, given his track record, is grounds for reasonable questions about the appropriateness of his candidacy for the Commerce post.
The reactions, largely by Republicans, to the White House response by announcing plans to play a more direct role with the Census are either totally political or based on a total ignorance of the way the federal government works. The Census Bureau (or any other agency under a full department, in this case Commerce) is overseen directly or indirectly by the White House. When the Census Bureau ran into problems last year with its management of its failed handheld computers program that would have automated the population count, the Bush White House set up a special group inside of Commerce to directly oversee this problem. The Commerce Secretary under Bush was also in no way an independent player “protecting” the Census Bureau from partisan influences. Accepting these assertions would be tantamount to making up history from scratch.
It is also not possible by the White House or anyone else to easily manipulate the 2010 population count to rig reapportionment or redistricting in favor of one party or the other. The Census Bureau has a well developed set of protocols and procedures to assure as objective a population count as possible. No one, whether it is a powerful figure like Emmanuel or even the President, can manipulate this process.
Finally, influencing broader policy issues on the use of Census data, such as with the issue of the use of sampling to adjust the population counts, is most definitely a political process beyond the purview of the Census Bureau. This would not be affected by who the Census Bureau reports to, since whether it is the White House or the Commerce Secretary, this is an issue that would be framed by whoever is President. The use of sampling for adjusting the Census numbers was something that is ultimately under the jurisdiction of the federal courts. In addition, the political redistricting process is something that is overseen by the Department of Justice in its administration of the Voting Rights Act. And as we have seen with the Bush Administration, the Justice Department has certainly not been kept “independent” of politics.
The fact is that by taking a direct interest in the 2010 Census, President Obama will be assuring that this population count, which is only 15 months away, would get the attention and resources needed to make it accurate and assure that hard-to-count populations get counted. Currently, there are thousands of Census staff working hard to make sure that the 2010 Census is the most accurate and fairest possible. President Obama is telling them and the American people that he supports them fully and understands the importance of the 2010 Census to the country. It is the critics who seem to want to politicize this situation, at the cost of turning the 2010 count into a disaster and tremendous waste of money.
potential lack of commitment to ensuring that hard-to-reach minority populations are properly accounted for in the 2010 census.
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And the problem with a fair census is what exactly?
Who gets to represent illegal aliens.
Especially when the "experts" decide that 6.852% of them were missed in the original census count and the "undercount" needs to get added to a "Democratic" urban district.
It's creepy.
But I've always distrusted the census...the whole situation.
At this pace, Rahm Emmanuel's ego might just be equal to Obama's in no time.
Hey Ducky. Don't worry about us. We'll be pointing out the truth that you want to avoid over the next four years. It's Obama who should pace himself.
Average American took the words out of my mouth. I think what we are going to see is the border states and districts have an incredible growth in population. I think this is an opportunity to count illegals.
Duck, what the Hell do you mean by this "payback" nonsense. You've said that before and it makes no sense. I respect your willingness to come and state your point but this talk of payback is one of the more rediculous statements you make and that is saying a lot. What are you being payed back for? Do you need redress for Bush keeping you alive and not blown up at the mall by a suicide bomber? Are you unhappy that Bush managed to keep the economy growing for 7 years in spite of being handed a recession, getting hit with the unprecedented spending needs of 9/11 and hurricane Katrina, and the horrendous burden of Democratic written banking and mortgage policies? Are you unhappy that the Bush tax cuts allowed you to keep more of the money you earned? What do you need repayment for? Enlighten us.
Angelo, I am stunned that you are mocking Bush for keeping the census "independant". Suggesting anything otherwise hints at a dictatorial government. Reality is that the Obama administration is looking to manipulate the census and your suggestion that they would never do anything like this is, quite frankly, naive.
As far as the issue being the appointment of Judd Gregg and this appointment being a justification for taking over the census, this is an incredibly rediculous argument. This appointment, good or bad, reflects on only two things
-Obama appointing him in the first place, which is surprising since all of his other cabinet picks have been stellar
-the wisdom of the Senate confirming him for the post
The arguement is rediculous because the Dims are using an injury that is self-inflicted to justify the unprecedented manipulation of a government agency to further their political power.
I quite frankly have to question whether the nomination of Gregg was a mistake after all. Maybe he's a stooge in their takeover plan.
Sorry for the long posts, Z. I'm caffeinated this morning :)
...ranking member Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Oversight and Government Reform Census Subcommittee ranking member Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., seized on SPECULATION that the move would place the yet-unnamed Census Bureau director ...
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When you have something concrete let us know.
Now-now Z--The Constitution -what Constitution-the REAL one or the 'living -breathing' one of the Dark Side?!....
The Republicans - angry-how long is that going to last?...
I'll wait and see if the Rs have developed a spine...
C-CS
When you have something concrete let us know.
Because fixing things with hindsight is so much easier than preventing them using foresight.
Christian Soldier - would you like to explain how this is a Constitutional issue?
This is a catch all whenever the right wing gets its knickers in a knot but they are always short on specifics.
Surely with so many Constitutional scholars in the far right base you can give a short explanation.
No wonder "Hope" lies at the bottom of Epimethius' wife's (Michelle Obama) jar.
You didn't appreciate the politicization of the Justice Department, did you ducky? Why should we appreciate the same vis a vis the "census" and related political gerrymandering?
amnesty amensty amensty for all!!
We all know Republicans can't count. Give the job to Pelosi. She knows about billions of Americans that nobody else even knows exist.
No Farmer, I thought the politicizing of the Justice Department was a disgrace.
Now if we can get a little more information about this other than the speculation of well know knuckle dragger Darryl Issa (R - Car thief).
The Bush manipulations at Justice were real. I'll get upset when something concrete is proven here.
Obama would appear to not trust his own cabinet appointees. If the man can't be trusted with the census bureau, what makes us think he qualified to run the rest of "Commerce", ducky?
Obama's treating Republican's in his cabinet much like Prime Minister Malaki was treated Sunni's in his...
Appoint them to executive offices, but don't let them get their hands on any real power...
"The Gregg nomination, given his track record, is grounds for reasonable questions about the appropriateness of his candidacy for the Commerce post."
So Angelo, let me get this straight. With Gregg as Commerce Secretary there are grounds for concern.
But we shouldn't be concerned by the direct involvement of the leftists in the WH?
However, you say this:
"It is also not possible by the White House or anyone else to easily manipulate the 2010 population count to rig reapportionment or redistricting in favor of one party or the other."
If this is true, why does it matter who the Commerce Seretary is?
You speak out of both sides of your mouth, and would like us to believe you know what you're talking about. Can't have it both ways Angelo.
BTW, Bush wasn't President during the last census nor will he be during this census. But, I digress.
The census became a joke when sampling first took place for the so-called "uncounted" who had to be "counted", and given that, divining how many people there REALLY were.
The purpose of the census is simply meant to count the population. For that you need a postcard, ie "how many live at your residence?"
However now as in especially the past couple of decades, we are expected to fill out a "book" with every demographic known to man.
This is called profiling isn't it? Well, not if the feds are in charge. If we're all citizens why is this necessary?
The census long ago became something else. It's purpose is to pigeonhole citizens by race, income, country of origin, etc. None of which is necessary to count the size of the population.
Pris
If the man can't be trusted with the census bureau, what makes us think he qualified to run the rest of "Commerce", ducky?
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Again, all we have are suspicious from one of the most conservative and corrupt members of the House, Darryl Issa.
Let me know when you've got something real.
I like Ducky's "payback" comment. I'm happy to see that clueless libs like "Ducky" are admitting that liberalism is NOT driven by the ideals of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but instead by childish gotcha games and a dangerous flirtation with ass backward Marxism. Idiots.
You keep saying that Issa is corrupt, ducky. Instead of repeating the baseless charges, why don't you expand upon them? What "corruption" has Issa ever been a part of that would nullify his assertions against the saintly intentions of the anointed Obamessiah (P*ss be Upon Him)?
Mr. Falcon, The facts are in my article....nobody's hiding anything. And the facts remain...it's a SPECIAL INTERESTS situation, it's not AMERICAN INTEREST.
This is YOUR business, I saw your blog profile.
Please read the comments here on the site, it's time professors heard all sides again, don't you think?
I'm always proud of the people who come here.....comments you don't often hear, I'm sure. We have a blog here which encourages conversation on all sides...I hope your classrooms do, too. THAT's American, too.
My Hispanic and Black friends want to be treated as AMERICANS...not a special interest group.
Thanks for coming by!
Ducky...payback or not, the people here at geeeeZ are mostly interested in a successful country...not how bad the payback ticks the other party off. Most presidents don't run a country that way.
"speculation" ducky:? Conservatives like to try to stop problems BEFORE they happen..to think ahead. This is how your party will camouflage everything until it's too late...we were 'speculating' a stimulus package, too, weren't we, until...IT'S HERE! CATASTROPHE..NOW NOW NOW!!! VERY little time,...ignoring the people...just like you fascists like it! Ya, Ducky..big gov't=fascist...WHEN will you please wake up?
Larry and FJ..I think you covered my PAYBACK point better than I did...just read them as I was typing mine; thanks.
Chuck....you kidding? If that's 'too much caffeine', keep it up! its important facts get known and not hiddin liberal deceit... great job. Thanks.
Check out this posting over at Ace of Spades. As that site says, this is a "census heist."
Being from outside the country, I have to shake my head in disbelief.
Census is a good thing, you will want to know who is in your country, and the information is very valuable as a resource for certain government decisions. But the main issue is: IT MUST NOT BE INFLUENCED BY POLITICAL MOTIVES, which it undoubtedly does if it is directly attached to the WH.
But here is the kicker: The census data in the U.S. is used for political purposes, i.e. reshaping of voting districts with the objective that districts are guaranteed to be and stay Democratic or Republican. I am sorry, folks, that is one of the most idiotic principles I have ever heard of - it is even not practiced in third world countries, to the best of my knowledge.
Voting districts need to be identical to geographical/political districts, as in any other country in this world. This maeandering of district lines for purpose of catching all Democrats and avoiding the Republicans in a district (and the inverse) defies the laws of statistics and, therefore, representative government. This is equally undemocratic and idiotic as the institutionalized bribery through campaign contributions - both are destined to rig elections.
Where is Jimmy Carter when we need him? Did he not recognize this? Ah, I forgot, he approved of the elections in such countries as Venezuela and Cuba, so he can't protest against similar principles applied in the U.S.
Man, we are on a slippery slope on our march to communism.
Mr.Z
"speculation" ducky:? Conservatives like to try to stop problems BEFORE they happen..
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Yeah, that's how you screwed the pooch in Iraq. Let's wait for some evidence.
Maybe the Census Bureau has WMD's?
Ducky:
"Yeah, that's how you screwed the pooch in Iraq. Let's wait for some evidence."
Ask the Iraqis who rejoiced after voting last week...you missed it because your media won't tell you....a party of Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis...all fingers in the air..thrilled. Don't look now, but the real news gives GOOD info, too.
"Maybe the Census Bureau has WMD's?"
Metaphorically? YOU BET, Ducky...you BET.
Ducky -- Where's the proof of corruption that FJ asked for? Or are you going to do another of your convenient disappearing acts?
Doesn't it make sense that any function of government that is open to corruption through political influence should be insulated from that happening?
I wouldn't trust either party to conduct something as important as the census without involving politics.
Wasn't that the idea of having bureaucrats in government? The Pendleton Act was supposed to erase politics from government thereby allowing it to run smoothly on a daily basis.
You would think that government really has trouble running things on the level and efficiently. I mean the post office and the IRS run very well, don't they?
I don't trust politicians and government, but I'm sure some people do. Bigger is better, eh?
hi-gi u-tsa-ti-na tsu-gv-wa-lo-di-ni-gv-hna-nv ga-da-wa-hi
- "Get off my land" [translated from the American]
At this point in time; my biggest fantasy is that it is confirmed that Barrack Hussein Obama was ineligible to be president of the United States of America and that he is removed.
Furthermore, that every little commie -socialist order he signed is tossed in the garbage can along with the appointments he made of individuals in important cabinet offices.
Anyone ever look at who is in line to the throne?
If Obama wants to really be a successful president, he had better hope for a Republican majority in the house, because what with the blatant power grabbing going on right now, we just might get to a point where no one will vote Democrat again.
I did say this was a fantasy.
WVDOTTR
Beamish;
ho-ye-tads-gue-g\\
that means GOOD POINT.
WV...In our dreams! you're so right.
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