Vetting Gone Wrong

Well, it's disappointing to learn that Errol Southers, President Obama's choice to head the Transportation Security Administration, was reprimanded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the 1980's after asking a police officer to run a background check on his wife's ex-boyfriend. But I can't say I'm shocked. After all the hoopla about how fabulous the Obama administration's vetting and nomination process was supposed to be, I think it's undeniable that it's turned into something of a train wreck. Tax errors and employer reprimands are the front line of things that show up in a background check of someone. If you miss them, something is wrong. And it's unstrategic to have this stuff leak out the way it has. It means you're setting up your own minefield, and forcing your own people to walk through it with you. I have no idea how things got to this state, but it's pretty pronounced.