The man leading Barack Obama’s vice presidential search committee resigned Wednesday amid questions about loans he received from a company involved in the U.S. housing crisis. (Source)
But is that the real reason or just a smoke screen? A few aides to the presidential candidates – and even the candidates themselves – have come under intense scrutiny for similar offenses. And none of them quit.
Jim Johnson, the former chairman of mortgage lender Fannie Mae, came under criticism after The Wall Street Journal reported that he obtained loans at below-market rates from mortgage lender Countrywide Financial after he left Fannie Mae. (Source)
That hardly sounds like a scandal. Sounds more like good negotiation skills. But word on the streets is Johnson resigned after Barack Obama refused to accept his recommendation to pick Hillary Clinton as his running mate.
Hillary Clinton ended her shameful candidacy by throwing her support behind Obama. But that support came at a price: Clinton and Obama held a secret late-night meeting in Washington DC before Clinton made her announcement the following day.
After that meeting, Clinton supposedly received assurances from Johnson that Obama was considering her as his running mate. That’s why Clinton seemed so enthusiastic at a rally on Saturday where she lavished praise on Obama.
But by Monday, the mood had changed considerably. Obama still hadn’t made a decision and Clinton’s camp was getting antsy. So Johnson stepped to Obama and asked for at least a partial commitment to Clinton. When Obama refused to give him one, Johnson resigned.
At least that’s the story I’m getting. So please don’t quote me.
