First let me point out that the guy who wrote the original article at the American Spectator, Jeffrey Lord, who is identified on it as “a former Reagan White House political director and author,” seems to have failed to get the right statute. He cites 18 U.S.C. §211, when clearly that statute doesn't apply to the accusation he's making.
The accusation being made is of a crime committed by the Obama administration by offering a job in exchange for a political favor. 18 U.S.C. §211 is titled “Acceptance or solicitation to obtain appointive public office,” and, as indicative of the name, and the language in the statute itself, it's for cases when people accept or ask for “any money or thing of value” to support or influence in obtaining an appointive job for someone. I interpret this as people who act as intermediaries by asking for, or accepting, money or things of value, to get someone in an appointive job.
Then a member mentioned 18 U.S.C. §210. That one, to me, does make sense considering the accusation that is being made regarding the Obama administration's alleged actions. 18 U.S.C. §210 is titled “Offer to procure appointive public office” and states
Whoever pays or offers or promises any money or thing of value, to any person, firm, or corporation in consideration of the use or promise to use any influence to procure any appointive office or place under the United States for any person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.Now, this statute, at first glance, could apply considering the allegations. However, if you look at the language, the offense, first of all, seems to be dependent on the payment, offering, promises of money or thing of value, and secondly it seems to apply to “any person, firm, or corporation in consideration of the use or promise to use any influence to procure any appointive office.” In other words, it would apply to someone paying, offering or promising “money or thing of value” for someone to consider using or using influence to get someone an appointive job.
In my perspective the scenario that the Obama administration is being accused here isn't covered by either §210 or §211. We're being told that the Obama administration offered someone a job for a political favor. In neither of these statutes is there anything against offering the job per se, only offering (or accepting) financial or material gains in exchange for the influence to get someone a job.
Assuming the allegations are true, they are ethically reprehensible in my opinion. I'm not sure, however, if the actions are illegal. But strictly talking about these statutes, I don't think they apply to the allegations we're told.
Hey isn't the UN nuke folks saying that Iran maybe enriching uranium for
warheads? Gay's in the military, it ought to be fun to see how it gets implemented. How is the view so different in the White House so different
now? It is even more tunnel visioned than the last administration. We hear all these wonderful bribe stories from Congress, to buy party members
votes? I could see sweetening deals for Rep. to get their votes, but to have to buy votes in your own party? Obama is doing nothing for the people
of this country. It is all about him and his time in the sun. How many presidents since we have had TV would appear on talk shows and hell be GIVEN
air time to try and sell us his health care plans? HIS PLANS AND DESIRES DON'T MEAN CRAP! He was voted in I thought to run the country and he is
ignoring his responsibilities in favor of HIS goals everything else be damned!
