Another one of those seemingly boring, legalistic White House scandals has popped up again—the kind that was legion during the Clinton era.  This one bears scrutiny because of the contrast between the media’s treatment of it and a similar but benign Bush controversy.

In 2006, George W. Bush asked eight U.S. attorneys to resign.  Bush had full discretion to fire the attorneys, who as members of the executive branch served at his pleasure.  He could have removed them for not wearing flag pins if he felt like it.  The mainstream media and Congressional Democrats screamed bloody murder.  Proving that Democrats are more likely to defend evil than Republicans are to defend good, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales sheepishly resigned over his involvement.

In the past week, the Obama administration has discharged two Inspectors General: Gerald Walpin, IG for the Corporation for National and Community Service, which includes AmeriCorps; and Judith Gwynn, IG for the International Trade Commission; and made life miserable for a third, Neil Barofksy, IG for TARP.

Obama fired Walpin in retaliation for his critical report on Obama supporter and Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson’s misuse of funds with nonprofit organization St. Hope Academy.  The agency received $850,000 from AmeriCorps to tutor students, redevelop buildings, and fund arts programs; instead, Johnson used the money to pad salaries, pay employees for personal favors, and bribe constituents to interfere in a local election.  Johnson was barred from receiving federal funds.  read more »