President Barack Obama vows to clean up American politics

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**Frazzled**

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4309051/President-Barack-Obama-vows-to-clean-up-American-politics.html

I am down with this

President Barack Obama has vowed to clean up politics as he called a halt to American officials profiteering from government, introduced tough new rules on lobbying and froze the pay of his top staff.

By Toby Harnden in Washington

He demanded "a clean break from business as usual" and vowed to "close the revolving door that lets lobbyists come into government freely and lets them use their time in public service as a way to promote their own interests".

New rules, he said, were needed to "restore that faith in government" essential to bringing about a major transformation. He was determined "to make government trustworthy in the eyes of the American people" again.

Former President George W. Bush's Republican party was plagued by scandals involving lobbyists and influence peddling during the past eight years while Mr Obama's own Democratic party has also been implicated in corruption schemes.

"Public service is a privilege," Mr Obama told members of his staff at a swearing in ceremony. "It's not about advantaging yourself. It's not about advancing your friends or your corporate clients. It's not about advancing an ideological agenda or the special interests of any organisation."

The new rules will ban aides from trying to influence the Obama administration for two years after they leave his staff. New officials will also be banned from working on subjects they have previously lobbied on.

Mr Obama said he would also ban lobbyists from giving presents to any members of his administration. All his staff will be required to attend an ethics briefing as part of the new rules he described as tighter "than under any other administration in history".

The new president also pledged to uphold "a new standard of openness" in government.

"For a long time now there's been too much secrecy in this city. The old rules said that if there was a defensible argument for not disclosing something to the American people, then it should not be disclosed. That era is now over."

Mr Obama, who is taking office during the gravest economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, said that all his staff who earned more than $100,000 (£73,000) would have their pay frozen.

"During this period of economic emergency, families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington. That's why I am instituting a pay freeze on the salaries of my senior White House staff.

"Some of the people in this room will be affected by the pay freeze, and I want you to know that I appreciate your willingness to agree to it."

In the afternoon, the new president and first lady Michelle Obama welcomed 100 local people for an “open house” at the White House, shaking the hands of guests in the blue room.

The president thanked people for coming to visit and told them enjoy themselves. He even joked that they should roam around, but just be careful not to break anything.

Vice-President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, received children from 10 local schools to their official residence.

**dienekes96**

Fantastic. A good first day. I recognize the importance of lobbying, but the intent had morphed into something anathema to it's original intent and good governance. This was long needed, and President Obama should be praised for making that hard decision. Congress will have no choice but to accept it.

Bravo, Mr. President!

**reds8n**

I wonder if his staff knew about the pay freezes before they took the jobs ?

Seems a good move though-- wish our swould do something similar

.

He IS hitting the ground running isn't he ?

**dietrich**

It's statements like these that give me hope that Obama's presidency will be a significant one in American history and there will be dramatic improvements both at home and abroad.

And I also think that with statements like this, he could become like Jimmy Carter. Trying to force change upon DC, and all the other politicans and bureacrats will freeze him out. Like Carter, Obama was the 'other party' candidate at a bad time in political history. Unlike Carter, Obama came from inside the beltway. I think the Dems have realized that while they may not like all of his policies, they have to support Obama at this time.

Obama seems to be a very unique person, and I hope for the best under his presidencey.

**Frazzled**

He is moving forward. I disagree with the Federal lands thing and freezing expansion of offshore drilling (and Podesta as CIA and Holder for AG thats just stupid) but other things have been good. On the whole B+ so far.

**malfred**

He took the oath of office twice. So either he's THAT AWESOME. Or he totally sucks.

**dietrich**

Or Judge Roberts made a mistake and Obama didn't correct him. Go Supreme Court!

**dienekes96**

It's Panetta as CIA, and I think that was a mistake. BUT then President Obama made Brennan (the guy he wanted that the far left whined about) his Counter-Terrorism Czar and gave him power and access, so he essentially got what he wanted anyway. He continues to impress.

I also don't like the drilling freeze or the reticence to embrace nuclear power (which generates far more power than wind or solar or geothermal right now), but we'll wait and see.

And something I detected well after the Inaugural Address was over...you cannot put a price on inspiration. Reagan was sometimes a great president even with some suspect policies. He inspired the citizens, and that makes a difference. It's a fickle gift, but so far so good. You can't put a price tag on optimism.

**Frazzled**

Very true.

**dienekes96**

dietrich wrote:Or Judge Roberts made a mistake and Obama didn't correct him. Go Supreme Court!

It's actually Chief Justice Roberts, and he's never been in front of 1.8 million people before. He got nervous. He's also probably one of the smartest men in the country, and one of the few who could easily go toe to toe with the President on any number of issues and win more often than not (whether he is right or not).

Let's give him a break.

**dietrich**

I wasn't trying to attack Roberts, just point out that it wasn't Obama's mistake as was implied.

**dienekes96**

The media has already assumed it was completely C.J. Roberts', even though the President claimed otherwise. I know you weren't attacking him, but I did want to remind folks why he might have been nervous.

**Chrysaor686**

A very admirable thing to pull on your first day in office.

So far so good.

Though it makes me wonder if he dropped his ridiculously high salary down a notch as well. Probably, but you can't help but think.

**reds8n**

I thought the President didn't actuallyget paid that much ?

A fair few perks of the job I'll grant you, but I'd imagine it, you know, must be quite stressful at times.

**Frazzled**

Elect me. I'll take the pay! I promise I will make the trains run on time.

**dietrich**

I forget the exact number, but the 'fringe' benefits are a few million a year. Own airplane(s), helicopter(s), residence(s), security, chef, and all the office supplies you want!

**Chrysaor686**

The President of the United States makes $400,000 dollars a year (on top of nearly an extra $200,000 of automatically paid commodities on things like Travel and Entertainment). Considering that before 2001, the president made only $200,000 a year, nearly half a million seems pretty hefty (especially considering all of those pay rate freezes by Obama on anyone making over $100,000).

I just hope he does the right thing, and docks his own pay as well.

EDIT: Also note that retired presidents make a salary that is relative to how much they made while they were in office, per year. George bush will be receiving nearly $200,000 dollars a year for the rest of his life. I have a feeling something should be done about this as well, and something just might be. Also consider that before 1958, this little retirement benefit didn't even exist.

**dienekes96**

The President is paid $400,000 a year. But he is housed, transported, and fed his entire term. The job also owns him 24/7. He will leave the WH with about $400,000 minus taxes per years he was in.

Considering the job has been scientifically proven to age the holder two years for every year he is there, it's fair compensation.

**Frazzled**

Don't forget speaking fees post Presidency. Those can go into the $ millions. And thats not even counting foreign countries donating millions to your "library fund."

**Chrysaor686**

Still, there's not much Barack himself can do about those, short of not accepting them (and the money not accepted would probably go to a worthless cause), or donate whatever he makes post-presidency back into the government.

But he can definetly cut his own wages (and I don't think, if he proposed something like that, that anyone else would contest him). And probably do something about the Former President Act (though he'll probably catch hell from Hillary and the Bush Family).

**reds8n**

It seems an ungodly sum to us mere mortals but that's not too bad, especially when you compare it to sport stars and the like.

.... I take it you guys didn't have the Kaka transfer saga over the past few days ? Unbelievable.

So.... I assume that Congress voted to raise the President's pay back in 2001 then ? Let me guess.... was it about the same time they decided that they too, reluctantly of course, would be requird to take a pay rise too ?

I know Blair et al make a ton of wonga post office, but gven his amazing lack of popularity do you think Bush will get the same chances ? News over here the other day suggested that in fact his Mrs. might stand a better chance of making some serious money.

**Mekniakal**

This is a good first day of a presidency.

If he keeps this up, I might start to get worried that he might actually want to improve America.

There has been far too few people, left and right, that have entered politics without becoming corrupt.

BTW, about Obama giving the oath of office twice, he actually didn't need to do that. There have been presidents in the past who haven't sworn in and president's who never used the bible; He was president at 12:00. I think Obama did it twice for two things:

1) He used to teach Constitutional Law, so he wants to do it perfectly.

and

2) I've already heard complaints on the internet about Obama not "being the real president" because of the flubbed oath. Hell, it was even on the news:

Might as well nip these type of thing in the bud.

**Chrysaor686**

It's not that I don't wholeheartedly disagree with the ridiculous sums of money that some people make, it's just that the President doesn't have any authority to take that away from them, short of raising taxes on the rich. The President has full authority to propose lowering his own salary, and I don't think there will ever be a congress that would oppose that.

It was actually Clinton who proposed raising the Presidential Salary, even though he gained no benefit from it.

The FPA (Former President Act) guarantees that when a United States President retires, he makes a percentage of his former salary (around 50%) every year for the rest of his life. I think Obama could easily get rid of this act, though again, he would catch a lot of Flak from former Presidents who no longer have to worry about earning a wage. Hell, Presidents used to get lifetime protection from the Secret Service, but that ended with Clinton. George Bush only gets ten years worth of protection (and I have a strong feeling that will end up badly for him once his time runs out). If you can shoot that down, you can easily shoot down a Presidential dole.

I feel that insisting that Washington "Tighten it's belt", as Obama put it, and then making no self-sacrifice has very faint echoes of communism.

**Kilkrazy**

Two previous presidents flubbed the oath and both did the rerun thing. It was the Chief Justice rather than Mr. Obama's mistake anyway.

Carping about it is very petty.

**gorgon**

Obviously, the biggest challenge Obama has is getting the rest of the government to put aside its *extreme* self-interest. Congressional Dems are already rattling their sabres and saying they don't answer to the President.

Which is true, because they answer to *us.* And I have a feeling that if Congress (Dems or GOP) continue to act selfishly, Obama will (successfully) make his case to the public and lay any failures at the feet of Congress.

Obama got elected because the public wanted an effective President who can enact changes in the status quo. If Congress behaves in an obstructionist manner, they'll pay for it in the midterm elections, IMO.

**Deadshane1**

Wouldnt it be nice if Obama really IS the type of president that is going to look out for the country first? The only selfish agenda being wanting to go down in the history books as not JUST the first BLACK presidend, but a president that did endless amounts of good and managed to get an ailing country back on track?

Yea, that would be nice.

**Miguelsan**

I wonder if Mr Obama is ready for the mandatory presidential colonoscopy, I don´t know but there must be something in the paint of the WH. Reagan had one, Bush Sr too, not very sure about Clinton but Bush Jr had two colonoscopies during his presidency.

M.

**chaplaingrabthar**

Clinton had other Orifices very thoroughly examined during his time in the Oval Office

**Velsharoon**

Even as a non american I find his ethical approach marvelous and I hope he does make an impact. No such chance of such an approach here...

**sebster**

There are two things when it comes to presidential pay. First up, he’s running an organisation with a revenue base of 3 or 4 trillion dollars. Considering CEOs are regularly paid ten or a hundred times as much to run billion dollar companies, worrying about a $400,000 salary for the president seems ridiculous to me.

The other point is that if you have the connections to make a successful presidential campaign, then you have the resources to earn a hell of a lot more than $400,000.

The pay freeze is a nice gesture, but it’s nothing more than a gesture. On the other hand, if he can actually do something substantial about lobbyists in Washington, that’d be almost a complete legacy by itself.