Project Fast and Furious: ATF Pushed US Gun Shops to Sell Guns to Mexican Cartels

[mrstickball]

badgenome said:

Vetteman94 said:

badgenome said:

Vetteman94 said:
I am curious as to why they mention the Obama Administration. I didnt think the ATF answered to the President.

Of course they do. They are a part of the DOJ, and the President nominates the director of the ATF.

So the President directs their actions or the President is just responsibile for their actions despite not having influence on the decisions made?

He doesn't direct their actions, no. That's why he appoints a director. But the director serves at the pleasure of the president, so if the director institutes a certain policy like this and doesn't get shitcanned for it, it's necessarily the president's policy as well. While Obama claims not to have been in the know, he also doesn't seem too concerned given the fact that his Attorney General has been obstructing the investigation of the matter to the point that he is or was facing contempt charges over it.

That, and appointing people to such major cabinet positions is an endorsement of their style of leadership and management. Therefore it reflects positively or poorly on the president based on the apointee's performance.