Bernard Kerik's "nannygate" excuse for withdrawal bogus?

[NNguyenMD]

I read the LAT article on his withdrawal yesterday, and it said that two of Clinton's first two appointees for US Attorney General were withdrawn b/c of similar employment of illegal immigrants. I think the whole thing must be bogus thuogh, and such an excuse is just to distract us from what could have really embarrassed him in public. Nobody cares, except for nutcase xenophobes, whether or not you hired an undocumented nanny, ESPECIALLY when there's a big fat R next to their name.

[msgadget]

1. Simply, yes.

Although he had the support of Clinton and Schumer much was reported on the many scandals and scandalous behavior since he was announced. He probably would've made it through confirmation but I read that some on the right were beginning to question some of his actions post-9/11.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. It was a publically "acceptable" excuse, but an obvious lie.

My guess is that there are much bigger scandals waiting in the wings, and he decided that he did not want to give up all the money he was making just to be Homeland Securty Czar.

[nostamj]

16. "waiting in the wings"? hardly...........

HOMELAND SECURITY
Who Is Bernard Kerik?

Over the last several years, former NYC police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik, President Bush's nominee to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security, has become "a multimillionaire as a result of a lucrative partnership with former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani." Indeed, the New York Daily News suggests, Kerik's selection was less based on merit than it was on Giuliani's "pull within the White House" and "Kerik's work on the campaign trail" for Bush. Kerik's record, however, raises serious question about his motives, ethics and ability to defend America. Kerik abruptly quit a critical job in Iraq, mismanaged rescue efforts in the aftermath of 9/11, used his official posts for personal enrichment and has been plagued by serious scandals. Here is a detailed look behind the mustache:

KERIK ABANDONS CRITICAL POST IN IRAQ TO TAKE A VACATION: The Washington Post reports that Kerik's track record on issues of national security is "spotty." Appointed by President Bush to train a new Iraqi police force in 2003, "Kerik came under criticism for inadequate screening of recruits as U.S. authorities rushed to deploy the force. It has been plagued by desertions and by allegations that insurgents have infiltrated the ranks." Worse, Kerik "quit four months into his six-month tenure in Iraq, telling New York reporters later that he needed a vacation."

KERIK CRITICIZED BY CONSERVATIVES FOR POST-9/11 OPERATIONS: A prominent Republican member of the Sept. 11 commission, former Navy secretary John F. Lehman, sharply criticized Kerik "for failures of leadership during the terrorist attacks" of 9/11. Lehman said that Kerik allowed turf battles with the Fire Department to "hamper rescue efforts" and called Kerik's leadership at the time "not worthy of the Boy Scouts."

KERIK SENT COPS OUT OF NYC TO RESEARCH HIS PERSONAL MEMOIRS: As police commissioner of NYC, Kerik used city police officers – who could have been protecting the people of New York – to help him write a book he would sell for personal profit. The Washington Post reports that the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board fined Kerik $2,500 for "sending two police officers to Ohio to help research his best-selling 2001 memoir, 'The Lost Son.'"

KERIK'S STUNNING CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Kerik has made $6.2 million dollars in profits from his relationship "with Taser International, a Scottsdale, Ariz., manufacturer of stun guns." Kerik was appointed as a director of the company immediately after he had the NYPD purchase the guns as police chief. Since 2002, Kerik has hawked Taser's products to police departments around the country. Recently the company has made an "aggressive push to enter markets either regulated or controlled by the federal government, most notably the Department of Homeland Security." Thomas Smith, the company president, said the company would "continue to go after that business" at the Department of Homeland Security should Kerik be confirmed.

KERIK'S DIRTY DOOR DEAL: Failing to follow proper bidding procedures, Kerik spent $50,000 on four security doors for the NYC police headquarters. The doors were all too heavy for the floors of the police headquarters and three are now in storage. Shortly after leaving his post as commissioner, "Kerik became an adviser to a company distributing the doors." He later renounced the post after "the door-maker's president was indicted for defrauding the city."

KERIK SHILLS FOR THE DRUG INDUSTRY: In April, the Washington Post reported that Kerik opened a high-priced consulting firm to sell his New York City police credentials to wealthy corporate bidders. The firm was promptly hired by the pharmaceutical industry's chief lobbying group to build opposition to letting American seniors purchase lower-priced, FDA-approved medicines from Canada. Without any evidence, Kerik claimed reimportation could "invite terrorists to launch a biological attack under the guise of a legal purchase."

KERIK ACCUSED OF FORCING GUARDS TO DO POLITICAL WORK: Newsweek reports that in 1999, Kerik "was named in a civil lawsuit as the architect of a system to force prison guards to work for Republicans in their off-hours." The suit, brought by a warden, claimed that Kerik would "hunt down" anyone deemed "disloyal." The suit was settled, with the warden winning $300,000 and a promotion, while Kerik's protégé was indicted in connection the scandal.

[msgadget]

19. I'm waiting for one of you to bring up

his NY mentor, with whom he made great chunks o' cheddar. I didn't hear any pols making public waves about him but it'd have been interesting during his confirmation if the word 'profiteering' slipped out.


>Since leaving City Hall at the end of 2001 to start his own firm, Mr. Giuliani - who gained national prominence guiding New York in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center - has succeeded in leveraging his well-known name to advise businesses and others on issues such as security, corporate governance and accounting fraud. <

http://yahoo.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20041201-000538-0416

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Not when you consider that his position puts him in charge of the INS

[msgadget]

3. Hadn't thought of that. Thanks for pointing it out.

[neebob]

4. Well, he couldn't have done anything questionable

while working security for the Saudi royal family.

[NNguyenMD]

6. I hate the show, but I saw Buchanan on Scarborough Country pathetically

try to play Kerik as the victim of unfortunate circumstances and vicious attacks by the media. Which is total bs b/c this guy was getting major blow jobs by every media outlet upon the mentioning of his name. It hypocrisy at its worst. And I think you right in that a "nannygate" is considered a publically harmless excuse. There's something else that must be really hot in his file that no one else wants us to see.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

13. Buchannan also "played" Hitler "up" as the real victim of the....

Houlocaust! Let's remember this!!!

"Buchannan = SHIT"

[SeveneightyWhoa]

20. Wtf, are you serious?

Point me to something that provides more info on the claim you just made..

[pleiku52cab]

7. One report pointed out

that he withdrew BEFORE he had to submit his personal financial records. Maybe it was his nanny that was responsible for all his shady/corrupt prior financial dealings and he withdrew just to protect her reputation. What a great and humanitarian gesture on his part.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. well it appears at minimum he is a tax scofflaw where nanny is concerned

[yardwork]

9. I'm convinced that the guy has serious issues in his past

that he and others did not want coming to light.

The fact that he didn't pay taxes for his employee is bad enough, and good enough reason for him not to be considered for a cabinet position. Come on. Most of us peons have known that we have to pay taxes for employees all our lives. Anybody who didn't know was wised up during the Clinton administration. No excuse for this.

But I am sure that there is worse in his background.

[Nordic]

10. it's disgusting how the press repeats this obvious CRAP

The man "withdrew" because he's a total douchebag.

He's a loser, he's a quitter, he's dishonest, he has a terrible record, and an embarrassing past.

He couldn't take six months in Iraq, he QUIT after four, supposed to be there training the Iraqi police? Please .......

He's a scumbag which is why he would have fit right in with Bushco.

[aquart]

11. Which is why I don't understand his withdrawal.

He's just their kind of guy and it's not like shady dealings bother them.

[pretzel4gore]

18. the mediawhores protecting their anus

anus=bush, junior

[KoKo]

12. There was so much real dirt on him that the Nanny was the one thing

they could throw out to the Media with the caveat "Well Clinton's folks had Nannygate problems, too."

The New York Newspapers had enough on Kerik that they probably could have started a criminal investigation that might have tied him up for years.

He got off light with "Nanny" story, media laps it up and they "move along" to the next thug they can find to put in his place. :-( Their "Operating Mode" is getting kind of transparent these days..though.

[flygal]

14. I thought the same thing - they always get away with so much worse!

[PurityOfEssence]

15. Those from the underclass who defend the aristocrats tend to be dirty

There's a deep coldness in this person; whether it isn't his fault due to his Dickensian upbringing or not is the grist for another discussion. What we do know is that he's a user and a thug, and he's been a party to so much enforcement for his betters that he can't bear scrutiny. They don't maintain power through niceness.

He's got his millions; he should go away now like a true Republican: I've got mine, so fuck you and fuck all of the others I've fucked to get my pile. Sadly, though, he thirsts for acceptance, and he is now denied this; money, although fun, won't slake him.

Bye-bye Mr. Bormann!

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. Just saw a thread that say there's a warrant for his arrest

In NJ from some civil lawsuit for a condo that he owned, that he didn't pay the bills on. You would think with all that money he's making for insider trading, he could at least pay off his friggin' bills.

[AliciaKeyedUp]

21. I agree it's bogus

No one in Washington ever admits why they leave a job.

This city is full of crap sometimes.

[UTUSN]

22. BOHHHH-gus - 3 Things: 1-Arrogance 2-"Security" 3-Vetting

The Shrubbites have sold themselves to gullible Dittoheads on TWO main points: 1) That only they can make us secure, 2) that 9-11 confers automatic "heroism" (FREE PASS for anything) on anybody connected with it.

KERIK embodied, just as much as Shrub and GUILIANI, both of these pillars and just happened to collapse more obviously because of being unable to get out from underneath his baggage. The two pillars are made of sand.

What was "heroic" about Shrub-GUILIANI-KERIK at 9-11? They just happened to be in power when it happened. If anything, they should have reaped "finger-pointing". KERIK was stepping out of the shower when the planes hit and joined GUILIANI walking up some streets coated in powder. Shrub showed up days later with his cheerleading megaphone atop a pile of bodies, after days when the people were stunned by the absence of leadership. So much for "heroism".

But the Shrubbites have managed to doublespeak 9-11 into permission and adulation for anything, meaning their arrogance in acting like they can do anything they want. Leading to their sloppiness (arrogance) in screwing up the vetting on KERIK, which, by the way, was the poor performance of Alberto GONZALEZ's shop, another screw-up waiting to happen (GONZALEZ, that is).

This brings us back to "security". The Shrubbites can't VET for the same reason they can't manage "security": Because they only hear what they WANT to hear.