BOMBSHELL from W. Post on White House politicization at GSA!

[kpete]

BOMBSHELL from W. Post on White House politicization at GSA!
Sun Mar 25, 2007 at 09:01:46 PM PDT

GSA Chief Is Accused of Playing Politics
Doan Denies 'Improper' Use of Agency for GOP

By Scott Higham and Robert O'Harrow Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, March 26, 2007; Page A01

Witnesses have told congressional investigators that the chief of the General Services Administration and a deputy in Karl Rove's political affairs office at the White House joined in a videoconference earlier this year with top GSA political appointees, who discussed ways to help Republican candidates.

With GSA Administrator Lurita Alexis Doan and up to 40 regional administrators on hand, J. Scott Jennings, the White House's deputy director of political affairs, gave a PowerPoint presentation on Jan. 26 of polling data about the 2006 elections.

................

When Jennings concluded his presentation to the GSA political appointees, Doan allegedly asked them how they could "help 'our candidates' in the next elections," according to a March 6 letter to Doan from Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Waxman said in the letter that one method suggested was using "targeted public events, such as the opening of federal facilities around the country."

On Wednesday, Doan is scheduled to appear before Waxman's committee to answer questions about the videoconference and other issues. The committee is investigating whether remarks made during the videoconference violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that restricts executive-branch employees from using their positions for political purposes. Those found in violation of the act do not face criminal penalties but can be removed from their jobs.

So we have proof that arms of the executive branch were actively working to harm political opponents and help allies.

more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/25/AR2007032501048.html
via:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/25/234756/254


Waxman's letter to Doan http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/pdf/waxman_letter_030607.pdf. It includes allegations of a discussion among the political appointees about how to push Speaker Pelosi (this is January 2007) out of a courthouse opening in CA and how to include Sen. Mel Martinez at a ceremony in FL. The hearings on Wednesday should be interesting, to say the least.

Waxman's requesting all the documents:
http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/pdf/waxman_letter_030607.pdf