New Solyndra-Gate Emails: White House Ignored Risk to Taxpayers
- Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:34pm by
Buck Sexton
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White House officials knew that the now-bankrupt Solyndra green energy company was a huge risk to the taxpayer, but the loan was pushed along anyway, according to newly obtained emails.
Despite Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concerns raised in the emails from 2009 about Solyndra’s faulty business model, and the fact that Solyndra told the White House earlier this year it would fail without a massive infusion of taxpayer dollars, the Obama administration moved the deal along.
The Washington Post reported today on the new e-mails released by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Investigations that show some eyebrow-raising calculations behind a large chunk of the $500 million taxpayer dollar loan guarantee that was handed to the failing solar company.
While the Department of Energy was deciding on a $67 million installment of the Solyndra loan, one politically astute civil servant wrote on January 31 that:
“The optics of a Solyndra default will be bad… if Solyndra defaults down the road, the optics will be arguably worse later than they would be today.. . . in addition, the timing will likely coincide with the 2012 campaign season heating up.”
The OMB aide also thought that senior administration figures should be warned about Solyndra and wrote in another email to a co-worker that “although [political] optics are generally out of our lane, it may be worthwhile for the Director to privately make this point to the Secretary.”
So an OMB civil servant knew Solyndra could become a major political liability because it was almost certain to fail. But did the rest of the White House know?
(Credit: Lawrence Jackson/White House
Damien LaVera, an Energy Department spokesman, has defended the administration’s handling of Solyndra despite the emails released by Congressional investigators.
LaVera said that “If anything, this e-mail is yet another piece of evidence that political or optical considerations took a back seat to putting the company and its workers in a better position to succeed and repay the loan.”
The White House has admitted its officials pushed for an expedited decision on the loan guarantee, but still claim that the date of a White House press event “did not drive” the process.
It has become clear the White House was probably warned of the Solyndra loan risks at senior levels and went ahead anyway. GOP Representatives Fred Upton of Michigan and Cliff Stearns of Florida summarized the Solyndra scandal in a joint statement published yesterday: ‘We’ve smelled a rat from the outset.’
Given the current criminal FBI investigation underway and Congressional scrutiny, the evidence is already mounting. Earlier in the week, the Blaze reported on emails ABC News obtained from White House budget analysts that show the West Wing closely monitored the Solyndra loan and was well-aware of the flawed numbers behind it.
Watch this ABC News video for more details on those emails:
On Solyndra-gate, it appears more with each passing day we may be left with only two options left to explain the White House’s actions: gross negligence or rank corruption.
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Comments (124)
harumph
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:29pm(follow the money)
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:15pmNo heads will roll on this Holder will look at evidence of duplicity or complicity, announce “nothing here” and close case shred files. Socialist media will erase any trace of wrong doing in the news sector. It never happened. “Pass that bill”!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:19pmIMPEACH and IMPRISON!
TEA!
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:29pmI am not a crook….
Report Post »RabidPatriot
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:37pmThis is what happens when someone is not qualified to do a job and they feel like they have unlimited power to do that job. For the first two years he had lots of grandiose ideas and did everything he could to make them happen. Now, everything is starting to fail. As the dominoes start to fall even the most brain-dead supporters know that he is out of his depth. In the end, Obama will do decades worth of damage to the Democratic Party brand. In 2013, Obama will be starting his post-presidential book signing blame tour. Where he will travel the planet trying to undermine America just like Carter.
Report Post »True American66
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 3:28pmThis just takes me back to wondering…WHAT EXACTLY IS ON OBAMA’S PRIVATE BLACKBERRY?…or should I say WHO!
Report Post »ACLUHater
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 4:59pmDumbo-in-chief has been shady from day 1
Report Post »ccr
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 7:31pmhttp://www.rightspeak.net/2011/09/rick-perrys-solyndras.html Check out Perry’s Solyndra!
I know, I know…..it’s DIFFERENT when Ricky does it!! Actually, it‘s all part of Rick Perry’s crony capitalism that is NOT an isolated case. Merck, TX Emerging Technology Fund that COULD have excellent outcomes IF NOT corrupted w/crony business……which it has been.
HOW is that Beck promotes the principles and honor of this Perry guy???????
Report Post »Revere2
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:54amAmen
Report Post »JMorcan
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:28pmOba-Mao is outta here!
Report Post »dynaflow
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:20pmO’Dumbo is the worst POS we ever had for a President. He needs to be impeached!!!!!!!
Report Post »georgiavietvet
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:20pmwe need IMPEACHMENT and PROSECUTION of all of this corrupt bunch…………………….
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:35pm~^~v~~^~~v~^~
Report Post »I dont understand how we are not there by now. Between this, the other 5 that got money and the Fast & Furious failure “you’re” telling me none of this is tied directly to Emperor Obama? There isnt enough to nail him and start impeachment proceedings? What more do we need to get this socialist progressive marxist out of the WH?! Everything this guy comes in contact with turns to crap, he defines bad karma. I hope you learned your lesson America, next time you have people warning saying “no no dont vote for this guy something is wrong” you fracking listen! And please do not allow hate to dictate how you vote either as it did in 08 its how we got this joe.
Judge a man or woman by their actions not their empty promises on the pulpit! http://SavingtheRepublic.com
CatB
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:20pmWhere is the Congress? Impeachment starts in the House of Representatives .. contact your House member today!
TEA!
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:28pmSome presidents have had an unfortunate major scandal, but this man’s presidential record is nothing but scandals. He and his wife hate America, that’s why. Barack’s agenda is to bankrupt the nation to the point of no return. Unfortunately, those two know all our national security secrets. Even if Barack is defeated in 2012, they will continue to do this country harm.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:16pmPlease, send a note of encouraging thanks to Sen. Grassley, Rep. Issa, and Rep. Stearns for their continuing investigative work into this corrupt admininistration.
Report Post »seanscythe
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:13pmWait if it’s only a half a billion invested Obama should be able to write a check from his campaign funds to cover the mistake he got us into….. not holding my breath
Report Post »OkieMandy
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 2:33pmI agree.. He has the money to pay us back.
Report Post »HuckleberryFriend
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:13pmThis is what happens when the government thinks it can pick winners and losers with the taxpayer’s money: Everyone loses.
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:12pmThe objective of the Global Warming Scam:http://commonsense21c.com/images/GLOBAL_WARMING_SCAM.jpg
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:12pmSure, what do they care, it‘s not their money they’re p***ing away. I loathe the lot of them and can’t wait to kick them to the curb!
Report Post »Sumrknght
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:05pmHere’s the real kicker – Solyndra was a KNOWN ‘sure to fail’ before loans were passed out – before the plant was built. China had developed a cheaper & better way to manufacture the photo-voltaic panels. Yet OUR tax dollars – half a billion of them… was poured into Solyndra. Why? Just so Obama could tout ‘green jobs’???? And you wonder why all the ‘jobs created’ cost so much per job. Why at this rate he can have the entire nation at work… we’ll only be 50 trillion in debt! (better make that 75 with the way Obama spends!)
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:01pmWhy of course they did. It isn’t their money. So what if it went down the tubes. Why would they care. They will just get some more somehow. Taxes or pull it out of military spending. If they would be require to pay back that money the might, just might be more careful with it. Agenda’s and Political favors outweigh the good of the masses. It is all about power, wanting it and doing whatever to keep it. DIP WADS!
Report Post »Sharon Rose
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:59pmBHO, has got to go~~~
Report Post »Bill Wallace
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:55pmFollow the money and see exactly how much of that $500 million went back into the coffers of the DNC and Obama for his upcoming election, estimated to be spent around $1billion all told.
Report Post »knockered
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:04pmThe freakin gvernment is so slow , in the private sector this bum would of been fired already. What the helll are they waiting for, start impeaching him now we’re running out of time.
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:55pmall of these so-called bail-outs are just a way to pay back the unions for getting him elected .. obama knows they are was going to bankrupt anyway letting the unions steal billions of tax dollars ,
if you think am wrong just watch how the unions will come out to help him get re-elected again , the corrupt always protects the corrupt
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:53pmThe bad judgement is on par for government spending…NO BIG EFFING SUPRISE.
Report Post »However the fact that the Whitehouse allowed the loan to resrtucted in a way so that investor would get their money before tax payers could get theirs back is A BIG EFFING DEAL’
And the facty that one of Obama’s big bundlers who raised over 1/2 million for his campaign was able to get his 75,000,000 investment back a dime of the tax payers 565,000,000 investment could be returned points to GIANT CORRUPTION IN THE WHITEHOUSE.
This on top of Americans getting killed by ATF operations and fast promotions and retirements of the main players at the hands of the Attourney General and possibly the Whitehouse tells a tale of corruption like no other.
Mandors
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:50pmFor someone who railed against “corporate welfare’ for most his academic and political career, Barry sure dolls out a lot of it. What a corrupt hypocrite.
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:50pmFirst it was Fast and Furious, then back door amnesty, now this. WTF.. I’m sure I left more out, but these are the things that immediately came to mind. Corruption is not it, it is something much more darker than that. STEP DOWN YOU POS PREZ………….there is no love in the room.. and take all your croonies with you, you marxist.
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:49pmYou won’t find Barracks lip prints on any email.
Like Hitler, he’s way to smart for that (or he can’t spell).
Look for Barrack’s lip prints on Mr. Kaiser’s a**.
Look for Barrack’s lip prints on the donation check by Mr. Kaiser to the Obama blood money fund.
Limo-Lizard probably kisses more a** than anyone would ever dare to count.
Poor, pitiful, proud Michelle! She thinks he’s a better man than Jesse Jackson.
Report Post »motherof18
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:49pmI haven’t seen this use of the word optics like this before. Is it common? What word is it replacing to make things more obscure?
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:53pm“Press” and/or “public perception.”
Report Post »Brad Wesselmann
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:53pmFrom what I can tell, it means “how something looks to the general public” regardless of what the telescope is actually directed at…tricks with smoke and mirrors.
Report Post »ambrosia
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:48pmOMG….as in OBAMA MUST GO !
Ain’t no surprise….we saw this and more coming.
This is the MOST corrupt administration ever.
Remember Obama’s famous last words-
“Somebody PLUG the DAMN hole” !
Those words will come back to haunt him over & over again….justifiably !
Report Post »He likes to “redistribute” taxpayer’s money to all his friends companies-
as Palin calls it…“Crony Capitalism”….what a revolting lizard !
MIBUGNU2
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:01pmThis POS actually believes he is above prosecution…
We need someone with a spine, to put him in JAIL..
Take MO, Jarred, and Rahm too…
He learned his Chicago lessons well, ie: “The Teflon Don”
Report Post »IowaWoman
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:25pmSheriff Joe, arrest Obama………….please.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:24pm@Iowawoman:
Where’s Gomer Pyle when you really need him?
Report Post »Citizen’s A-ray-est! Citizen’s Arrest!
It’s not going to come from the DOJ or anyone in the government…this guy might be untouchable.
Barrack Hussein Chicagobama.
Restoring Fiscal Sanity
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:47pmSolyndra new they would never make it in the solar panel world. I love how the Government can just pick which side it wants to help. We need a change in this country, but not the kind of hope and change Obummer was talking about. He is killing this country faster then I can keep up. It seems every day I find out new things that just drop my jaw in amazement! Where did our Country go??? I pray one day it will go back to the good ol days, or at least close to it.
Report Post »charles dagwood
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:46pmI found a typo in this article. The last five words state “gross negligence or rank corruption”. I believe they meant to say “gross negligence and rank corruption”.
Report Post »dabbo
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:45pmEric Holder will see to it that no member of congress or the public for that matter ever sees one piece of evidence that was removed by the FBI.
This raid was just a mop up mission to wipe clean any evidence incriminating the obama administration.
Report Post »upyourass
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 3:29pmTerrific comment DABBO! I would agree 1000%!!!!
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:44pmLike he’s ever paid attention to the taxpayers before.
I’m sorry, I should clarify that remark: Like he‘s ever paid attention to the taxpayers when he’s not busy spending all of their hard-earned money and that of several future generations.
Report Post »pap pap
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:38pmOnce again idealogy gets in the way of reason. The Obama world.
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