Getting Fired: Gerald Walpin's Reward for Integrity

How sweet it is, the power to do no wrong. To be so loved and admired that rose-colored glasses distort the picture of integrity and moral value; given by the very people who voted you in; the ultimate free pass. President Obama has lost sight of his job as our elected official and you, Gerald Walpin, will pay the price. Gerald Walpin was fired without cause or explanation and now President Obama and his staff have (approximately) thirty days to put a reason together after-the-fact.

I know I will hear the arguments of George Bush (and his cronies) abusing the office to which he was elected. I will draw the fire of those that see President Obama as the next Gandhi, but the fact remains, he has shown a blatant disregard for legislation. Legislation that when introduced to Congress was co-sponsored by, then senator, Barrack Hussein Obama .

In April, 2008 the Inspector General Reform Act was unanimously passed by the senate; a bill meant to amend the Inspector General Act of 1978. Ironically, this bill was enacted to create a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, in addition to other enhancements. One of the statutes presented in the bill was a requirement that the president give Congress a 30 day notice, with explanation of cause, if an inspector general is to be fired. Inspector General Gerald Walpin received no such courtesy; he was given an ultimatum: Resign in one hour or you will be let go. According to the Washington Examiner, Gerald Walpin recalls Norman Eisen saying “Mr. Walpin, the president wants me to tell you that he really appreciates your service, but it's time to move on. You can either resign, or I'll tell you that we'll have to terminate you." Irony rears its ugly head one more time. Norman Eisen is the Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform. I wonder if President Obama will use the excuse of ignorance, which seems to be the excuse du jour, when it comes to accepting responsibility for one’s actions.

Inspector General Walpin just finished an investigation of corruption in which Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson (KJ of NBA fame) misappropriated grant money given to his nonprofit organization St. Hope. The investigation of this organization began last year and, as reported by the Sacramento Bee, “The city of Sacramento likely is barred from getting federal money -- including tens of millions the city is expecting from the new stimulus package -- because Mayor Kevin Johnson is on a list of individuals forbidden from receiving federal funds, according to a leading attorney the city commissioned to look into the issue.” Kevin Johnson, it should also be noted, is a supporter of President Obama. Where are the cries of cronyism? How is it that Kevin Johnson, whose organization bilked the government of over $400,000, keeps his job, while 78-year old Mr. Walpin loses his job for doing the right thing?

If President Obama truly wants to be a hero for our youth, he’d be standing up for Mr. Walpin and condemning Kevin Johnson. What kind of message is this sending to our children? Is it hope and change? I think it’s the same dreaded business-as-usual that President Obama constantly associates with the former administration. This self-proclaimed “man-of-the-people” is nothing more than a charismatic, media-made icon of the same-old-thing. Just know, Mr. Walpin, that some of us still appreciate those with the courage to choose integrity over popularity and self-indulgence.