Obama Waives Own Executive Order for Defense Lobbyist

President Obama's much trumpeted ethics rules did not last very long from the time he signed them into existence in an Executive Order. Just two days after establishing the rules, which were touted as the most sweeping ethics reforms in history, President Obama waived the rules to allow William Lynn to take a position as Deputy Secretary of Defense. Up until last fall, Lynn was a lobbyist for the defense contractor Raytheon. In his new position in the Pentagon, Lynn will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Defense Department, as well as handle budget and procurement issues.

The ethics rules that Obama waived were aimed at preventing former lobbyists from taking positions in government in which they could influence policy in favor of their former employers. Specifically, Obama waived paragraphs 2 and 3 of Lynn's ethics pledge. Those paragraphs would have prevented Lynn from taking the deputy's post.

? "I will not for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts" and

? "If I was a registered lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of 2 years after the date of my appointment: (a) participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment; (b) participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter falls; or (c) seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment."

The waiver means that Lynn will be in a position to steer valuable defense contracts to Raytheon, without regard to his former employment with the firm. It is exactly the kind of "revolving door" of lobbyists in federal government that Obama campaigned against. The White House released a statement explaining the move. "I have determined that it is in the public interest to grant the waiver given Mr. Lynn's qualifications for his position and the current national security situation," Director of Management and Budget Peter Orszag said. But the waiver is an embarrassing reversal so early in the Administration. President Obama promised to change the culture of the way business is done in Washington. But at the Defense Department, it appears that it will be business as usual.