Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Fat Fox Guards the Henhouse

Michael E. Baroody must be a man of remarkable integrity. The Bush Administration has just nominated him to head the Consumer Products Safety Commission, where he will deal with complaints against members of the National Association of Manufacturers, his current employer, who are rewarding him with a $150,000 going-away gift.

“Mr. Baroody has proven leadership abilities,” a White House spokesperson said, “and we believe he will be a valuable advocate on behalf of American consumers.”

No doubt, but valuable to whom? Senate Democrats, who will have to confirm him, are muttering about foxes and henhouses. But they should not be surprised. This is not the first Bush appointment to lay an egg, but this time it’s a golden one.

I know, I know. It’s not the foxes who lay eggs but, in today’s topsy-turvy Washington world, anything is possible.

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