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Don’t Hold Your Breath On the Sibelius Firing

Home - by - September 13, 2012 - 08:10 America/New_York - 19 Comments

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President Barack Obama’s Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated the Hatch Act, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said Wednesday.

Sebelius violated the law, the office said, when she publicly endorsed President Barack Obama’s re-election during a taxpayer-funded public event on Feb. 25, 2012.

Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner wrote to Obama that the OSC found Sebelius “violated the Hatch Act by making extemporaneous political remarks in a speech delivered in her official capacity” on Feb. 25.

“The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official authority or influence to affect the outcome of an election,” Lerner wrote to the president. “A federal employee is permitted to make partisan remarks when speaking in their personal capacity, but not when using an official title or when speaking about agency business.”

“Secretary Sebelius and the Department of Health and Human Services reimbursed the U.S. government for all costs and expenses associated with her travel to the February 25, 2012, event,” Lerner continued. “HHS subsequently reclassified the trip from official to political and issued a statement to that effect. OSC found no evidence that Secretary Sebelius made any other political statements in her official capacity.”

The Federal Times suggests that Sebelius may be fired for her illegal activity. “The finding could possibly cost Sebelius her job,” the outlet reported. “Although OSC did not recommend any specific punishment, and said Obama will decide how to punish her, Hatch Act violators are usually fired.”

» 19 Comments

  1. fxdwg

    September 13th, 2012

    Yeah, she’ll be fired soon enough. Nov. 6th is right around the corner.

    Thumb up +7

     
  2. Bloodless Coup

    September 13th, 2012

    “Reuters News Clip Captures Obama In Kenya Saying: I’m So Proud To Come Back Home”

    http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2012/09/reuters-news-clip-captures-obama-in.html

    Thumb up 0

     
  3. Carlos The Jackal

    September 13th, 2012

    Fire Dr. Mengele?
    Hitler would never do that!

    Noteworthy Comment Thumb up +10

     
  4. Will Profit

    September 13th, 2012

    Sebelius gives Frau Blucher a run for her money when it comes to butt ugly.

    Thumb up +6

     
  5. Bloodless Coup

    September 13th, 2012

    The cover up continues…

    “Israeli Science Website Scrubs Article Claiming Obama Birth Certificate Forgery”

    http://dprogram.net/2012/09/12/israeli-science-website-scrubs-article-claiming-obama-birth-certificate-forgery/

    Thumb up 0

     
  6. Boobie the Rocket Dog

    September 13th, 2012

    I see another pardon added to the lame-duck list along with all the blacks on death row anywhere in the country.

    Thumb up +7

     
  7. Cripes Suzette

    September 13th, 2012

    Bummer. Her firing was the only bright spot in the news yesterday.

    Thumb up +5

     
  8. RickeyG

    September 13th, 2012

    Please don’t fire Sibelius, he’s one of my favorite composers…I just love “Finlandia”. What, he’s already dead? Oooohhhhh….Sebelius…yes, please fire her!

    Thumb up +5

     
  9. old_oaks

    September 13th, 2012

    “Secretary Sebelius and the Department of Health and Human Services reimbursed the U.S. government for all costs and expenses…

    Excuse me, I could be completely irrational here, but isn’t the Department of Health and Human Services actually the US Government?

    How does the US Government reimburse itself?

    Thumb up +9

     
  10. OzarksAbe

    September 13th, 2012

    @ old_oaks
    Your absolutely right, the Obummer campaign must reimburse HHS.
    No wonder they can’t balance a budget!

    Thumb up +5

     
  11. Frosteetoes

    September 13th, 2012

    I hope President Romney goes after all these criminals from this crooked administration. Press charges against them and send them to prison where they belong. Career politicians need to know that they too will be held accountable.

    Thumb up +8

     
  12. muddjuice (Absolutist)

    September 13th, 2012

    You are ugly when you’re corrupt…..

    Thumb up +2

     
  13. Hybrid Lemon

    September 13th, 2012

    Why is Obama kissing Burt Bacharach?
    That’s just plain GROSS!

    Thumb up +3

     
  14. Bob M.

    September 13th, 2012

    So after that kiss, WHICH one turned into a prince? :oops:

    Thumb up +4

     
  15. simply enraged

    September 13th, 2012

    @ Bob M.: Actually, they both turned into turds without clean ends…

    As for firing she who should never have been hired, with this administration, laws apply only to the bitter clingers among us.

    Thumb up +3

     
  16. scr_north

    September 13th, 2012

    How can you put a law into place and not outline the penalties when that law is broken? While that may work when reasonable people are elected but becomes a joke when scofflaws the like of Obama gain their seats.

    Thumb up +2

     
  17. ronterf

    September 13th, 2012

    The she lurch!

    Thumb up +1

     
  18. GW Bear

    September 13th, 2012

    “Obama will decide how to punish her,”

    Is he going to kiss her again? Personally I’d prefer to be flogged than that.

    YECCCCCCCCH!

    Thumb up +1

     
  19. the aardvark

    September 13th, 2012

    OK, just when exactly is Hell gonna freeze over in order for this to happen. My bet is on Nov., 6.

    Thumb up 0