After the Sestak fiasco now there has been exposed this story about Colorado politician Andrew Romanoff, the former speaker of the Colorado house of representatives. He issued a statement Wednesday evening claiming that the White House raised the possibility that he might be offered an administration job if he opted to not challenge incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. On the heels of the Sestak affair this looks terrible and may have much longer legs than the Sestak affair. The Obama administration has been taken a pounding from all sides and has tried to deflect some of the problems by going after BP. This may work for a short time but these new problems, coupled with the fact that the President has only made two trips to the gulf coast in over forty days, has seriously wounded this administration. If you do not think this will carry on into the November elections, I suggest you think again and add up all the disasters and embarrassment that this administration has caused this country. Obama and the White House know much more about this than they are letting on to. This will be an issue for for a long time and hopefully will be investigated and exposed for what it is, Chicago style politics right at home in the swamp.
Democratic Senate Candidate: White House Floated Possible Jobs If I Chose to Not Run Against Incumbent
By Jake Tapper ABC News
Andrew Romanoff, the former speaker of the Colorado house of representatives, issued a statement Wednesday evening claiming that the White House raised the possibility that he might be offered an administration job if he opted to not challenge incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.
Romanoff also released what he said was an e-mail from White House deputy chief of staff Jim Messina outlining three possible jobs -- deputy assistant administrator for Latin America and Caribbean for the U.S. Agency for International Development; director of the Office of Democracy and Governance at USAID; and director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency – he could have if he didn’t run.
Romanoff did not accept any of the offers, and currently is challenging Bennet, who has the endorsement of President Obama.
The White House did not comment. The statement comes as the White House attempts to distance itself from the controversy stemming from attempts – also unsuccessful – to convince Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., to not challenge Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., in the Pennsylvania primary. Sestak ultimately defeated Specter.
Last week, the White House released an internal report from White House counsel Bob Bauer stating that nothing inappropriate was offered to Sestak -- just a non-paying job on an advisory board, offered by former President Clinton at the request of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. Republicans are demanding more information and alleging malfeasance.
Tonight, Romanoff said that Messina called him on Sept. 11, 2009 to tell him that the White House would support Bennet, appointed to the position to replace former senator and current Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
“I informed Mr. Messina that I had made my decision to run,” Romanoff said in a statement. “Mr. Messina also suggested three positions that might be available to me were I not pursuing the Senate race. He added that he could not guarantee my appointment to any of these positions. At no time was I promised a job, nor did I request Mr. Messina’s assistance in obtaining one.”
Later that same day, Messina sent Romanoff an e-mail with descriptions of three possible jobs, the candidate said. Romanoff said he left Messina a voice mail “informing him that I would not change course. I have not spoken with Mr. Messina, nor have I discussed this matter with anyone else in the White House, since then.”
The Denver Post’s Michael Riley reported last September that Messina “suggested a place for Romanoff might be found in the administration and offered specific suggestions, according to several sources who described the communication to The Denver Post. Romanoff turned down the overture, which included mention of a job at USAID, the foreign aid agency, sources said.”
Since the Sestak story gained media traction last week, Romanoff has found himself under increased pressure to explain what, exactly, he was offered. “But Romanoff won't answer the question,” Denver Post columnist Mike Littwin wrote on Sunday. “And it's worse than that. According to Romanoff spokesman Roy Teicher, not only does Romanoff refuse to answer the question, he won't even say why he refuses to answer the question.”
Romanoff said he had refused to comment about the matter "because I did not want – and do not want – to politicize this matter." But because a "great deal of misinformation has filled the void in the meantime" that "does not serve the public interest or any useful purpose," he was issuing the statement.
Job descriptions in the e-mail from Messina, as provided by Romanoff:
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Latin America and Caribbean, USAID
As one of five geographic bureaus in the Agency and as a major contributor to the broader U.S. foreign policy objectives in the region, the Bureau for Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) promotes stable democracies, prosperous economies, secure borders, and cooperative neighbors in the Western Hemisphere. The LAC Bureau is taking a proactive approach to maximizing the impact of foreign assistance and continuing its efforts to transform and improve business operations that support Agency-wide reforms. In line with the new Foreign Assistance Framework, priorities include consolidating democracy, fostering growth through free trade and business opportunities, investing in people through education and health, and enhancing security by promoting alternatives to illegal drug cultivation. Additionally, the Bureau is implementing a number of highly visible programs in the Western Hemisphere, including support for the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA); the Andean Counter-Narcotics Initiative; the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria; and the recommendations for the Presidential commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. This position reports to the Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean. The position functions as advisor to the
Assistant Administrator, LAC. The position is responsible for oversight and general management of one or more LAC Bureau offices.
Director, Office of Democracy and Governance, USAID
The Director is the chief operations officer of the Office and a principal advisor to senior Bureau and USAID management in defining the scope and objectives of the Agency's and the Administration's initiatives to support democracy and foster good governance. Activities of the Director include oversight for all staffing and personnel functions in the Office, as well as oversight of technical officer recruitment, selection, and placement, and direct supervision of the senior democracy and governance advisors for the Agency. The Director provides program definition, design and oversight, and evaluation for USAID's democracy and good governance programs and serves as a senior advisor in the administration for developing democracy and good governance program strategies. The Director supports democracy and good governance programs in all parts of the Agency and leads in the development of strategic approaches to democracy support and good governance. The Director represents the Agency at the senior level with other U.S. Government departments and agencies, with senior officials of foreign governments, with senior political officials from host countries, and with senior officials of U.S. implementing organizations. This position reports to the Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Human Rights (DCHA).
Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
USTDA was first created as part of USAID through the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and made independent in 1991. Their stated mission is to “advance economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries.” Unlike Ex-Im , OPIC and other international development agencies, USTDA does not directly finance exports and development. Instead, the agency seeks to achieve its mission by making small grants to fund feasibility studies, reverse trade missions, conferences, trainings, and other technical assistance programs that link U.S. companies to overseas development projects. With a budget of $55.2 million (FY 2010) and a staff of 78 professionals (48 full-time, 25 contractors and 5 foreign-service nationals), USTDA’s success is dependent on being able to seek out new opportunities, leverage its private and government relationships, and find development opportunities for both private business and larger federal foreign assistance/development agencies. A testament of USTDA’s success is its ratio of grant dollars spent versus dollars in exports created, which is nearly 1:35. This position requires Senate confirmation.
-Jake Tapper
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