Fired Walpin Slams Obama on Beck

Fired by Obama, Gerald Walpin, former Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees AmeriCorps and other volunteer agencies, appeared on the Glenn Beck show, accusing Obama of firing him because he's too old. I can't believe people watch Glenn Beck. He's so phony. Can't people see that? I can't believe Walpin subjected himself to a senility test (see the video below).
Talk about the dumbing down of America. Geez.  
Beck also accuses Obama of firing Walpin for investigating an Obama friend. ALL of the right wingers have got their heads wrapped around this one. For them, this is gold. 
It's ironic that the right wing media cares because they believe that AmeriCorps is a brainwashing boot camp for radicals.
Anyway, it appears Walpin probably got fired because he's a right wing nut, according to the way he's handling himself. According to this letter, he got fired because he's incompetent. The bipartisan board reviewed him and recommended he be fired. See the board here.
Kenneth Bach is the new acting director.

GLENN BECK, HOST: An update for the story that we brought you earlier this week: Barack Obama fired Gerald Walpin. He is the inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service — that is the federal agency responsible for distributing money to organizations like AmeriCorps, and places like ACORN.

But Walpin was investigating the misuse of federal funds by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, former NBA star and Obama friend and supporter. Well, what happened? You're supposed to fire an inspector general with a 30-day notification. It's required by law, and you're supposed to say exactly what you're firing for.

Well, responding to the critics, like me last night, the White House released a statement explaining that Walpin was "confused and disoriented." And they questioned his capacity to serve.

With me now, fired inspector general, Gerald Walpin. He is speaking out about the letter from the White House for the first time.

Gerald, how are you, sir?

GERALD WALPIN, FMR. INSPECTOR GENEARAL FOR CNCS: Fine. Good to see you again.

BECK: Good to see you. Gee, that's not too veiled of a message that you're maybe a little too old for the job, Gerald. You might be a little senile.

WALPIN: Well, I suggest to you that it's really unfortunate when the government suggests that somebody is too old for public service.

BECK: Well, I mean — only the people that are doing it are just the people that, for instance, Robert Byrd is 91, Senator Ted Kennedy is 77. How old are you?

WALPIN: I will be 78 in September.

BECK: Oh, so you're 77. You're the same age as Ted Kennedy. Speaker Pelosi is 69. Representative Dingell is 82. Senator Specter is 79. Charlie Rangel is older than you are. Read the rest at Fox "News"

Michelle Obama Visits Corporation for National and Community Service

Michelle Obama continues her thank you tour, speaking to the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees AmeriCorps and other volunteer organizations.

Mrs. Obama spoke Tuesday to about 250 employees of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the latest stop on her listening tour of the federal bureaucracy.
The deaths of her father and a close friend made her realize that she needed a change in direction, she said, and led her to quit her job at a law firm and choose a career in public service. She helped to establish Chicago's chapter of Public Allies, an AmeriCorps community service program that trained young people for jobs in the nonprofit world.

Although the first lady worked at Public Allies until 1996, her most recent position was as executive vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals, a job with a six-figure salary.

"National and community service is near and dear to my heart," the first lady said.

"There is nothing more fulfilling," she said. "It's an opportunity to put your faith into action in a way that regular jobs don't allow." MSNBC

Michelle Obama's remarks start at 4:08:

AmeriCorps To Expand

Both the House and Senate have bills to expand AmeriCorps and Obama's ready to sign. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus) includes $201 million in funding to support an expansion of AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps VISTA programs. See the breakdown of the funding here:

MSNBC: The Senate agreed Monday to take up legislation to triple the size of the AmeriCorps program and open up opportunities for more people to serve their communities.

Lawmakers voted 74-14 to move to the legislation that would expand AmeriCorps from its current 75,000 positions to 250,000 over the course of eight years. Sixty votes were needed to bring the bill to the floor. The measure is expected to come up for a final vote in the Senate sometime this week.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who is being treated for brain cancer, made a rare appearance on the Senate floor to vote for the bill that he co-sponsored with Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Another Obama promise fulfilled - money for college in exchange for service:

Both bills would set up a fund to help nonprofit organizations recruit more volunteers and establish a Summer of Service program for middle and high school students, who would earn a $500 education award. Each measure would also create fellowships for older people who get involved in public service. Both would also increase the education awards of AmeriCorps participants, whose work ranges from teaching young people to responding to disasters.

After completing their service, AmeriCorps participants can receive up to $4,725 to help pay for college or pay off student loans. The Senate and House bills would increase that award to $5,350 and require that it match any future increases in Pell Grant scholarships. Unlike the House bill, the Senate version would allow older AmeriCorps members to transfer their education awards to their children or grandchildren.