Did FEMA's Michael Brown lie on his resume?

[nelms]

I'm surprised and shocked that are liberal friends on this board haven't posted this yet. From Time Magazine's online edition:

How Reliable Is Brown's Resume?

Thursday, Sep. 08, 2005

How Reliable Is Brown's Resume?

A TIME investigation reveals discrepancies in the FEMA chief's official biographies

By DAREN FONDA AND RITA HEALY

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 [of the points raised by TIME] 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.

Speaking for Brown, Andrews says that Brown has never claimed to be a political science professor, in spite of what his profile in FindLaw indicates. "He was named the outstanding political science senior at Central State, and was an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City School of Law."

Under the heading of "Professional Associations and Memberships" on FindLaw, Brown states that from 1983 to the present he has been director of the Oklahoma Christian Home, a nursing home in Edmond. But an administrator with the Home told TIME that Brown is "not a person that anyone here is familiar with." She says there was a board of directors until a couple of years ago, but she couldn't find anyone who recalled him being on it. According to FEMA's Andrews, Brown said "he's never claimed to be the director of the home. He was on the board of directors, or governors of the nursing home." However, a veteran employee at the center since 1981 says Brown "was never director here, was never on the board of directors, was never executive director. He was never here in any capacity. I never heard his name mentioned here."

The FindLaw profile for Brown was amended on Thursday to remove a reference to his tenure at the International Arabian Horse Association, which has become a contested point.

Brown's FindLaw profile lists a wide range of areas of legal practice, from estate planning to family law to sports. However, one former colleague does not remember Brown's work as sterling. Stephen Jones, a prominent Oklahoma lawyer who was lead defense attorney on the Timothy McVeigh case, was Brown's boss for two-and-a-half years in the early '80s. "He did mainly transactional work, not litigation," says Jones. "There was a feeling that he was not serious and somewhat shallow." Jones says when his law firm split, Brown was one of two staffers who was let go.

— With reporting by Jeremy Caplan and Carolina A. Miranda/New York; Nathan Thornburgh/Baton Rouge; Levi Clark/Edmond; Massimo Calabresi and Mark Thompson/Washington

_________________________________________________________________

If these allegations turn out to be true, then Michael Brown needs to be fired immediately. He shouldn't be fired just based on this article by Time, it needs to be independently investigated.

As much as people say we shouldn't be playing the blame game at this point, that is a load of crap. The media, the politicians, the public itself is playing this game. So, let's get it all out on the table now. The president should appoint someone today to head up an independent investigation. I would personally appoint Rudolf Giuliani to head the invesigation. This guy is universally respected and he has the added bonus of managing a massive crisis. Just to be fair and balanced, the President should make this a joint effort and nominate someone from across the aisle. Giuliani is after all a Republican, so this investigation should be beyond reproach. Someone like Governor Bill Richardson from New Mexico has a reputation of being a fair and independent thinking person.

This country is tearing itself apart over the Katrina disaster. It only seems to get worse as each day passes. This board is a great example of this. I have been involved in many heated discussions and I honestly regret some of the things I have posted. Sometimes emotions get the best of all of us. There isn't any reason why the invesigation cannot start today. There are no lives that are in immediate danger now, except for those that are voluntarily staying. Now is the time to find out what happened and what we can do to avoid some of the mistakes in the future. Nobody should be immune from this investigation, from the President to Homeland Security/FEMA on down to the Mayor and the Governor.

[Kilmer17]

Actually, if true, he should go to jail.

Isnt lying on a Fed Document a crime?

[@DCGoldPants]

Your Liberal Friends aren't suprised.....they're worried..... about who actually knew his bio wasn't legit.

If he lied and this admin had no idea, then we're worried about their process of picking people for important leadership roles.

If he lied and the admin knew. Then.... that's a whole other problem.

Right now, its just good that they got him out of there....and hopefully somebody else can take over, and get things done. He can be dealt with when this New Orleans situation is under control.

[nelms]

Actually, if true, he should go to jail.

Isnt lying on a Fed Document a crime?

I was thinking that too.

If what Time is reporting is true, these weren't just embellishments, these were outright lies. Unfortunately, the Bush administration will be at fault too because of the lack of a vetting process. Political cronyism, in the end, is just never good.

[jbooma]

I was thinking that too.

If what Time is reporting is true, these weren't just embellishments, these were outright lies. Unfortunately, the Bush administration will be at fault too because of the lack of a vetting process. Political cronyism, in the end, is just never good.

I agree 100% and if Buff is right this should get interesting to say the least.

[rdsknbill]

There is a certain individual that is a member of ES that works at Fema in Emmitsburg MD. He tells me that Homeland Security has crippled FEMA's ability to react to these situations the way that they used to. He also told me that he and many of the other people at FEMA feel that MIchael Brown has no clue reagrding what FEMA's job is.

sad but true.

[Leonard Washington]

Actually, if true, he should go to jail.

Isnt lying on a Fed Document a crime?

probably an urban legend like drawing on money is illegal.

[chomerics]

I was thinking that too.

If what Time is reporting is true, these weren't just embellishments, these were outright lies. Unfortunately, the Bush administration will be at fault too because of the lack of a vetting process. Political cronyism, in the end, is just never good.

First time I've agreed with you.

[Goodlifer]

Unfortunately, the Bush administration will be at fault too because of the lack of a vetting process. Political cronyism, in the end, is just never good.

Why is it unfortunate? Due diligence, particularly for a leadership position, is not a luxury it's a necessity.

If the guy got the job because he is well connected and not because he is well credentialed, you may have a reason why so many were left out in the cold. But, in the end, it won’t be his fault if he's incompetent.

[wskin44]

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."

I suspect the operative word here is LOYAL. I agree with Nelms. This requires a very quick investigation and if any of this is substantially true he needs to be removed from office. The next hurricane is already sitting off the coast. This should have nothing to do with politics and everything to do with getting a qualified, competent public servant into that post.

[nelms]

Why is it unfortunate? Due diligence, particularly for a leadership position, is not a luxury it's a necessity.

You missed my point. That's exactly what I was saying.

I should have said it was disappointing, not unfortunate, because you expect better from your national leadership. Being a Bush supporter, it pisses my off to see this cronyism, especially in a position of such importance. There needs to be a top-down review of every leadership position at Homeland Security. This is serious sh!t and it irks me to see this dude get this position because he was someone's college roommate. Even if his resume was true on every point, he was still unqualified to head up FEMA. This isn't about Republican versus Democrat. This is about the saftey and security of this country.

[codeorama]

Well, we know he's not going to get a job coaching football at Notre Dame...

[nelms]

Well, we know he's not going to get a job coaching football at Notre Dame...

He's probably more qualified for that job than he is for the FEMA job.

[Kilmer17]

I heard the NY Times offered him a job.

[Goodlifer]

This is serious sh!t and it irks me to see this dude get this position because he was someone's college roommate. Even if his resume was true on every point, he was still unqualified to head up FEMA. This isn't about Republican versus Democrat. This is about the saftey and security of this country.

Great post, and thanks for the diplomatic clarification.

Most of us have to earn our jobs and be qualified to keep them, that doesn't seem to be the case here.

Thanks again for the diplomacy.

[codeorama]

I bet he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

[Joe Sick]

"You're doing a hell of a job, Brownie!"

[Guest Gichin13]

I heard the NY Times offered him a job.

Naw, they just cook stories, not CVs