Former Inspector General Gerald Walpin was fired by President Barack Obama for blowing the whistle on corruption in government. The U.S. Inspector General inspector general is supposed to disclose and report fraudulent activity.

“All HHS and contractor employees have a responsibility to assist in combating fraud, waste and abuse in all departmental programs. As such you are encouraged to report matters involving fraud, waste and mismanagement in any departmental program(s) to OIG. To assist you, OIG maintains a hotline which offers a confidential means for reporting vital information.”

********************************************************************

“Calls are intensifying for an investigation into the firing of the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service otherwise knows as, AmeriCorps. Gerald Walpin the Inspector General was fired last week by President Obama. According to reports the President gave Walpin an hour to resign or be fired. Walpin was investigating a supporter of the President’s for alleged misuse of AmeriCorp funds and personnel. Bill Tucker has our report.” Source Lou Dobb’s Tonight

*************************************************************

What's behind Obama's sudden attempt to fire the AmeriCorps inspector general? By Byron York

“The bigger question is why the president is doing this and why he is attempting to do it so quickly.”  Senate sources now believe Obama is firing Walpin over Walpin's investigation of Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star and a prominent supporter of the president.

Johnson, now the mayor of Sacramento, California, started a non-profit organization called St. Hope. The group's mission, according to its website, is "to revitalize inner-city communities through public education, civic leadership, economic development and the arts."  As part of its work, St. Hope received a grant of about $850,000 from AmeriCorps.

Last year, Walpin began an investigation of how Johnson's group spent the money.  According to the Associated Press, "[Walpin] found that Johnson, a former all-star point guard for the Phoenix Suns, had used AmeriCorps grants to pay volunteers to engage in school-board political activities, run personal errands for Johnson and even wash his car." Walpin asked federal prosecutors to investigate.  In April, the U.S. attorney in Sacramento, a Bush holdover, declined to file any criminal charges in the matter and also criticized Walpin's investigation.

That might suggest that St. HOPE was OK, and it was Walpin who was in the wrong.  But at the same time prosecutors decided not to file any charges against St. HOPE, the U.S. attorney's office also entered into a settlement with St. HOPE in which the group also agreed to pay back about half of the $850,000 it had received from AmeriCorps.

In his letter to the president, Grassley defended Walpin's performance.  "There have been no negative findings against Mr. Walpin by the Integrity Committee of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), and he has identified millions of dollars in AmeriCorps funds either wasted outright or spent in violation of established guidelines," Grassley wrote.  "In other words, it appears he has been doing his job. "

The bottom line is that the AmeriCorps IG accused a prominent Obama supporter of misusing AmeriCorps grant money.  After an investigation, the prominent Obama supporter had to pay back more than $400,000 of that grant money.  And Obama fired the AmeriCorps IG.

***************************

Gerald Walpin speaks: The inside story of the AmeriCorps firing

The White House's decision to fire AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin came amid politically-charged tensions inside the Corporation for National and Community Service, the organization that runs AmeriCorps.  Top executives at the Corporation, Walpin explained in an hour-long interview Saturday, were unhappy with his investigation into the misuse of AmeriCorps funds by Kevin Johnson, the former NBA star who is now mayor of Sacramento, California and a prominent supporter of President Obama. Walpin's investigation also sparked conflict with the acting U.S. attorney in Sacramento amid fears that the probe -- which could have resulted in Johnson being barred from ever winning another federal grant -- might stand in the way of the city receiving its part of billions of dollars in federal stimulus money.  After weeks of standoff, Walpin, whose position as inspector general is supposed to be protected from influence by political appointees and the White House, was fired.

****************************************************

I disagree with anyone who states that President Barack Obama and/or other elected Black leaders do not have the power to serve the Black community, the little guy or gal, the rank and file.

If these individuals can move in a big way in the wrong direction to exercise their power or influence to look out for personal friends, Acorn, illegal immigration advocates, subversive organizations, the affluent, and/or for their own personal gain at the expense of law abiding taxpayer’s interests, then it is a no brainer that on the flip side, such influence or power can be used in a big way in the right direction, to serve the people.

Unfortunately,  as evidenced by this incident of former Inspector General Gerald Walpin being fired by President Barack Obama for blowing the whistle on corruption in government, and/or other treasonous  or "cut throat" acts, President Barack Obama and/or other elected Black leaders choose to use his or her power or influence to be:

1.  Blatantly incompetent

2.  Tyrants or despots.

3.  Sleasy or treasonous.

4.  The right hand person to provide cover for a stealing felonious criminal in a business suit who steals taxpayer's dollars.

......all of which make these individuals a disgrace to what it means to be an elected official.