How Reliable Is Brown's Resume? Time Magazine Reveals

[im10ashus]

Discrepancies in the FEMA chief's official biographies

When President Bush nominated Michael Brown to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2003, Brown's boss at the time, Joe Allbaugh, declared, "the President couldn't have chosen a better man to help...prepare and protect the nation." But how well was he prepared for the job? Since Hurricane Katrina, the FEMA director has come under heavy criticism for his performance and scrutiny of his background. Now, an investigation by TIME has found discrepancies in his online legal profile and official bio, including a description of Brown released by the White House at the time of his nomination in 2001 to the job as deputy chief of FEMA. (Brown became Director of FEMA, succeeding Allbaugh, in 2003.)

Before joining FEMA, his only previous stint in emergency management, according to his bio posted on FEMA's website, was "serving as an assistant city manager with emergency services oversight." The White House press release from 2001 stated that Brown worked for the city of Edmond, Okla., from 1975 to 1978 "overseeing the emergency services division." In fact, according to Claudia Deakins, head of public relations for the city of Edmond, Brown was an "assistant to the city manager" from 1977 to 1980, not a manager himself, and had no authority over other employees. "The assistant is more like an intern," she told TIME. "Department heads did not report to him." Brown did do a good job at his humble position, however, according to his boss. "Yes. Mike Brown worked for me. He was my administrative assistant. He was a student at Central State University," recalls former city manager Bill Dashner. "Mike used to handle a lot of details. Every now and again I'd ask him to write me a speech. He was very loyal. He was always on time. He always had on a suit and a starched white shirt."



In response, Nicol Andrews, deputy strategic director in FEMA's office of public affairs, insists that while Brown began as an intern, he became an "assistant city manager" with a distinguished record of service. "According to Mike Brown," she says, "a large portion is very inaccurate."

Brown's lack of experience in emergency management isn't the only apparent bit of padding on his resume, which raises questions about how rigorously the White House vetted him before putting him in charge of FEMA. Under the "honors and awards" section of his profile at FindLaw.com — which is information on the legal website provided by lawyers or their offices—he lists "Outstanding Political Science Professor, Central State University". However, Brown "wasn't a professor here, he was only a student here," says Charles Johnson, News Bureau Director in the University Relations office at the University of Central Oklahoma (formerly named Central State University). "He may have been an adjunct instructor," says Johnson, but that title is very different from that of "professor." Carl Reherman, a former political science professor at the University through the '70s and '80s, says that Brown "was not on the faculty." As for the honor of "Outstanding Political Science Professor," Johnson says, "I spoke with the department chair yesterday and he's not aware of it." Johnson could not confirm that Brown made the Dean's list or was an "Outstanding Political Science Senior," as is stated on his online profile.

cont'd...
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1103003,00.html

[goclark]

1. Get Trump to Fire BROWNIE!

[cry baby]

2. It infuriates me that these people work for us and we can't fire them!!!

I'd love to give * his pink slip!

[BlueJac]

3. What is he pointing at?

The winning horse, certainly not disaster relief plans. :kick:

[Turbineguy]

5. He's

more like a Racetrack Tout.

Trust Bush to pick one.

[MercutioATC]

8. "See, the flooding's down at the bottom of the map. You should be HERE."

:P

[im10ashus]

10. Well, now he's being fired.

I guess the White House can' deny the truth on this one.

[MercutioATC]

11. Actually, just "reassigned" so far...

After Bush's comments about him doing a good job, he can't just fire him now.

I'm betting on a resignation in the next 60 days.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. A real media would have checked his resume BEFORE he was

appointed to one of the most important posts in the nation. THis is the result of tabloid media.

[im10ashus]

6. A very good point.

Wouldn't the Democrats have checked his experience a little more closely? I know Lieberman said he was qualified.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. They checked Bolton's past. What difference did that make?

[oc2002]

9. Bolton was never approved by senate vote, recess appointment.

but if the press had found this out and made an issue of it before this dissaster, who would of realy cared?

the righties would of called it a witchhunt.