The Washington Monthly

November 13, 2009

ONE TRACK MIND.... The departure of White House Counsel Gregory Craig has been rumored for months, but it became official today. Craig stepped down after 10 months on the job, and will be replaced by Robert Bauer, a Democratic lawyer who's represented President Obama for years. The announcement was, as the NYT noted, "timed to take place the same day the Justice Department disclosed that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and four other men accused in the plot will be prosecuted in federal court in New York City."

But that's not what Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) believes. No, the "official" version isn't quite compelling enough for the King-man. He thinks he knows the real reason, and it's all about ... ready for this? ... ACORN.

Newly appointed White House counsel Bob Bauer is "perfectly positioned to be tasked with erasing the tracks between Obama and ACORN," one Republican lawmaker charged Friday.
The lawyer's hiring, announced this morning shortly after Greg Craig officially resigned the post, was also an attempt by the White House to deflect any fallout that may arise from an ACORN investigation currently underway in Louisiana, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) added in a statement.

"Bob Bauer has a public record of defending Barack Obama's relationship with ACORN," the congressman told supporters. "Bauer's hiring appears to be a tactical maneuver to strategically defend the White House exactly one week after Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell raided ACORN's national headquarters in New Orleans and seized paper records and computer hard drives that may lead to the White House."

There just has to be a prescription medication available to help King with his troubles.

As Tony Romm reported, the allegations don't stand up well to scrutiny. Bauer worked for the Obama campaign last year, and when Republicans launched trumped up allegations against ACORN, Bauer suggested there may have been cooperation between the McCain/Palin campaign and Bush's Justice Department. That's scandalous because, well, King says so. Needless to say, the right-wing Iowan's disturbed conspiracy theory doesn't make a lick of sense.

As Dave Weigel added, "King's attack here is almost surprisingly irresponsible. Almost."

What's more, Eric Kleefeld noted that King's latest derangement "comes a few days after another King press release in which he alleged that the resignation of White House communications director Anita Dunn -- Bauer's wife -- was connected to the aforementioned investigation against ACORN in Louisiana. So King previously seemed to be implying that Dunn was leaving in a hurry because of an ACORN scandal -- and now says that Bauer is coming in because of the same ACORN matter."

I imagine there are quite a few good folks in Iowa's 5th congressional district. It's a genuine shame King embarrasses them on a daily basis.

—Steve Benen 4:05 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (12)

Comments

And the media will play along. Ignore the bribes and murder in Iraq!

Posted by: Obama Won on Change on November 13, 2009 at 4:07 PM | PERMALINK

Only a few in the 5th actually.

Posted by: MNPundit on November 13, 2009 at 4:10 PM | PERMALINK

Hurray for Zeitgeist. I know he must have been worried with Michelle Bachman. Virginia Foxx and Marsha Blackburn taking all the crazy congressional headlines :-P

Posted by: Dee Loralei on November 13, 2009 at 4:39 PM | PERMALINK

I imagine there are quite a few good folks in Iowa's 5th congressional district. It's a genuine shame King embarrasses them on a daily basis.

*************

That may be but the majority in that district voted for this fucking buffoon ... which then makes the majority of that district also buffoons ...

Posted by: stormskies on November 13, 2009 at 5:02 PM | PERMALINK

There just has to be a prescription medication available to help King with his troubles.

Sure, the cure King craves is the installation of an old white Republican guy into the White House.

Posted by: Bobo Teh Clown on November 13, 2009 at 5:46 PM | PERMALINK

Marsha Blackburn Voted FOR:
Omnibus Appropriations, Special Education, Global AIDS Initiative, Job Training, Unemployment Benefits, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, Agriculture Appropriations, U.S.-Singapore Trade, U.S.-Chile Trade, Supplemental Spending for Iraq & Afghanistan, Prescription Drug Benefit, Child Nutrition Programs, Surface Transportation, Job Training and Worker Services, Agriculture Appropriations, Foreign Aid, Vocational/Technical Training, Supplemental Appropriations, UN “Reforms.” Patriot Act Reauthorization, CAFTA, Katrina Hurricane-relief Appropriations, Head Start Funding, Line-item Rescission, Oman Trade Agreement, Military Tribunals, Electronic Surveillance, Head Start Funding, COPS Funding, Funding the REAL ID Act (National ID), Foreign Intelligence Surveillance, Thought Crimes “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, Peru Free Trade Agreement, Economic Stimulus, Farm Bill (Veto Override), Warrantless Searches, Employee Verification Program, Body Imaging Screening.

Marsha Blackburn Voted AGAINST:
Ban on UN Contributions, eliminate Millennium Challenge Account, WTO Withdrawal, UN Dues Decrease, Defunding the NAIS, Iran Military Operations defunding Iraq Troop Withdrawal, congress authorization of Iran Military Operations.

Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
See her unconstitutional votes at :
http://tinyurl.com/qhayna
Mickey

Posted by: mickey on November 13, 2009 at 6:24 PM | PERMALINK

I've been to Iowa's 5th district and I wouldn't be so quick to assume that they are good folk. Among other things: they elected Steve King.

Posted by: Stacy on November 13, 2009 at 7:11 PM | PERMALINK

"King's attack here is almost surprisingly irresponsible. Almost."

The key word here is "surprisingly" because there is nothing about this guy that isn't irresponsible. It is to be expected so it isn't surprising at all.

Posted by: Texas Aggie on November 13, 2009 at 8:51 PM | PERMALINK

Hey! We've had to suffer this idiot for a lot longer than you've known anything about him. I'm not naive enough to ask for a little sympathy for the 40% or so who vote against him every time around. But it would be great if the national party would help recruit a credible challenger and put some cash into it.

It's a tough district for democrats, but I think his craziness puts this district into play with the right challenger.

Posted by: Henry P. Wallace on November 13, 2009 at 9:15 PM | PERMALINK

"That may be but the majority in that district voted for this fucking buffoon ... which then makes the majority of that district also buffoons ... "

You are talking about Obama aren't you?

"I've been to Iowa's 5th district and I wouldn't be so quick to assume that they are good folk. Among other things: they elected Steve King."

I guess that those of us who have been to the U.S. would wonder if there are any good people there snce they elected a truly incompetent Obama as President ...

Posted by: usr102 on November 14, 2009 at 9:23 AM | PERMALINK

In case you progressives haven't noticed, King has a progressive challenger. No mention of him in the article. Weird. Lots of ranting here and little support for what matters. That's truly a one track mind.

Posted by: Jack on November 14, 2009 at 5:56 PM | PERMALINK

"You are talking about Obama aren't you?"

Actually, he wasn't since Obama a. unlike King, isn't a congressperson, so, by definition, he can't have a "district," and b. also unlike King, isn't a buffoon.

Posted by: daniel rotter on November 15, 2009 at 3:04 AM | PERMALINK