It’s Not All Cronyism!

by Paul on September 21, 2005

There is news with important insight into Bush administration hiring practices. Contrary to the impression left by the appointment of Bolton to the UN or the FEMA debacle, it is not all about cronyism. Some of it is nepotism.

The Bush administration is seeking to appoint a lawyer with little immigration or customs experience to head the troubled law enforcement agency that handles those issues, prompting sharp criticism from some employee groups, immigration advocates and homeland security experts.

Julie Myers, age 36, has a resume that features a number of short-term gigs doing things that don’t have to do with immigration.

After working as a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, N.Y., for two years, Myers held a variety of jobs over the past four years at the White House and at the departments of Commerce, Justice and Treasury, though none involved managing a large bureaucracy. Myers worked briefly as chief of staff to Michael Chertoff when he led the Justice Department’s criminal division before he became Homeland Security secretary.

Myers also was an associate under independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr for about 16 months and has most recently served as a special assistant to President Bush handling personnel issues.

What possible reasons could there be for giving this woman a job heading an important agency that is deeply involved in some of the most divisive issues in our society and our national security?

Her uncle is Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, the departing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She married Chertoff’s current chief of staff, John F. Wood, on Saturday.

I wish I was making that up.

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