COMMENTARY | Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Darrell Issa, R-Calif., is questioning President Barack Obama's administration over its definition of "green jobs," according to Fox News. It has come to light how the president and his administration use a very lenient definition when qualifying green jobs. As someone who studies politics, I see this as becoming a major thorn in the president's side.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Acting Commissioner John Galvin admitted school bus drivers, oil lobbyists and workers at bicycle shops can be considered as having green jobs. I see this as padding to make it appear there have been more green jobs created in the U.S. during Obama's term.
It is easy to picture President Obama and Mitt Romney discussing job creation at a debate. How is the president going to respond when Romney points out how the administration labels the person who puts gas in a school bus as having a green job? I can see Romney having a long list of questionable green jobs to reference before the first debate is even scheduled.
Another can of worms opened by Issa's epiphany about the definition of green jobs comes in the form of having ammunition to question all other numbers coming from the White House. As the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it is Issa's job to question numbers and by giving him a standing example, the White House sets itself up for an uphill battle in Congress going into the election. The White House should prepare for a public audit of the books.
I can't help but be reminded of President Bill Clinton's statement questioning what the definition of "is" is. Outside of money, President Obama and the White House are sure to be questioned about other definitions in the upcoming weeks. It should be interesting to see how far the president's personal definitions are from those of the public.
