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Obama's TSA Nominee Pulls Out Under Fire

Says he was being used by those with a 'political agenda'

By the Associated Press

Posted Jan 20, 2010 8:09 AM CST
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(AP) – Erroll Southers, Barack Obama's choice to lead the Transportation Security Administration, withdrew his name today, saying his nomination had become a lightning rod for those with a political agenda. Southers' confirmation has been blocked by Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, who says he was worried Southers would allow TSA employees to engage in collective bargaining with the government.

Questions have also been raised about a reprimand that Southers received for running background checks on his then-estranged wife's boyfriend two decades ago. Southers wrote a letter to lawmakers earlier this month acknowledging that he had given inconsistent answers to Congress on that issue. The White House says it has accepted Southers' withdrawal with great sadness, and still believes he would have been an excellent leader for the TSA.

Erroll Southers, Obama's pick to run the TSA, is seen in this photo from LA's World Airports Police Department.
Erroll Southers, Obama's pick to run the TSA, is seen in this photo from LA's World Airports Police Department.   (AP Photo/Los Angeles World Airports Police Department, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
SilenceDogood
Feb 12, 2010 12:32 PM CST
you are a sick dude.
SilenceDogood
Feb 12, 2010 12:26 PM CST
Actually I was hoping for a transgender, purple haired, high heal toting, bearded freak for the TSA post. I mean WTF, shouldn’t we Americans be more open minded about out government officials?
bromius
Jan 22, 2010 10:20 AM CST
The man had been thoroughly vetted and both sides of the aisle agree he was well qualified. Chertoff said he was a good choice for goodness sake. The only point of contention is that the man has said he wouldn't prevent the TSA from unionizing if the white-house legal council said it was legal for them to do so. This is just another of many examples of the GOP intentionally doing everything they can to ensure a terrorist attack on Obama's watch. Something GOP leadership have said would be "America's best hope" and others within the party have been heard to say that they need a body count higher than 9-11. It sounds like paranoid conspiracy, but there are a lot of credible reports to support it.

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TSA • Obama administration • Transportation Security Administration • Jim DeMint • Erroll Southers

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