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November 14, 2008

Got a secret?

Posted: 05:51 AM ET

News Correspondent Richard Lui

Got a secret? If you want to work in the Obama White House those doing the hiring want to know about it.

“Tell me about your past live-in lovers, what are their names and phone numbers?”

“Have you hired a house cleaner, what are their names, are they legal US citizens?”

“Who owns a gun in your family, how’s their health, do they have any enemies?”

Those questions just scrape the surface of 63 essay questions each high level candidate is being asked to answer. It’s a far cry from the 11 blank fields like name and address one needs to fill out on change.gov to be considered for the new Obama administration. Not all candidates for the 7000 jobs listed in the new Plum Book will have to answer theses questions, just cabinet and high level advisor positions.

As you have seen in recent times, this data is important to know not only to assess the strength of one’s candidacy but also to determine how one will be perceived by the public and press under scrutiny. Tax returns can expose one’s financial and business dealings. Lovers could reveal salacious details. And family members’ actions could reflect the candidate’s character.

This is no online McDonald’s application which will take you about 30 minutes to fill out (I just looked at it online). But running the U.S. is not even close to running a fast food restaurant (although I hear they serve french fries with the West Wing Burger at the White House Mess—the eatery under the Oval House).

So here’s the list if you want to see all the questions.

Since these leaders will be running the U.S. during a very fragile time of its history, many of you are probably concerned about whether these job candidates have what it takes—the X factor in running the largest economy in the world.

So what do you want to know? What would be your questions for the next Treasury Secretary or White House Press Secretary? Blog below and don’t hold back. As you can see, neither did the Obama Transition Team.

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Filed under: Election Connection


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Dave Mendoza Tulsa Ok   November 14th, 2008 6:36 am ET

One question i did not see-What can you do for the American People and our country?

JW   November 14th, 2008 7:22 am ET

I have a suggestion for the auto dealers money problems--let the gas companies use their enormous profits to help them over this down turn-after all this is the vehicle which needs the product.

dale   November 14th, 2008 7:32 am ET

They should ask for their credit score. After all if they can't mange their own finances, Why should they make decisions with taxpayers money?

Savannah   November 14th, 2008 7:34 am ET

Have any of your close, distant, or step relatives EVER been convicted as a registered sex offender?

UAWmikey   November 14th, 2008 7:50 am ET

Why should an applicant have more stringent requirements than the president-elect (ie: college thesis) hmmm?

ingrid   November 14th, 2008 8:24 am ET

I find this creepy. Does anyone have a copy of the old application, for legitimate comparison?

I won't even talk to prospective employers about my current relationship status, let alone past lovers and friends. (I don't think it is any of their business). Then again, I have absolutely no interest in working in government.

Kyle   November 14th, 2008 8:37 am ET

What they left out was, How good is your fist pound?

Matt Overstreet Newton, NC   November 14th, 2008 9:45 pm ET

Is it legal for a potential employer to ask these questions? I thought there were laws against questions about race, sex, age, belief, and creed. Didn't the Democrats make that law? I would hope that Homeland Security, the FBI, or some other government agency (NSA) could answer all of those questions for Obama.

Matt Overstreet Newton, NC   November 14th, 2008 9:47 pm ET

I take all that back. I have only one question: Can I borrow some money for my overpriced mortgage?

Tomasz   November 15th, 2008 5:41 am ET

People cannot talk about policy and laws in this country, because either one side has good ideas or both sides don't have any good ideas. So things get personal and about the history or interactions of the person. They divert attention from the real matter onto something superficial.

c cat   November 16th, 2008 9:06 am ET

i could not believe that was all there was to it i thought for sure there would be at least something of importance in those /////?//?/?////////????? WHY SO LITTLE INFORMATION IS NEEDED anyone could get a job quicker in the white house than a regular job. i dont get it////////////??/// maybe they would give me a job i have no problems with those questions. good job richard.

mel   November 17th, 2008 3:58 pm ET

I would bet, that all the gas companies profits, in the billions of course are stocked away in foreign banks, more than likely some world bank.

Mona H.   November 20th, 2008 9:18 am ET

Is this a standard questionnaire for Democrat and Republican job candidates? is the questionnaire surfacing because of President Elect Obama, or has it been used for past presidents and our current president? If this is the standard essay form used to filter out those who will be working anywhere close to the presidential cabinet and their family, then there is no question that is too personal for two reasons. One, because the security of the nation depends on it, and two, because they will be on the nation's payroll and need to be held accountable.

Steve   November 29th, 2008 9:56 am ET

If you have to give "accurate" information to these questions and the answers are verified how in the world would Hillary even be considered, or any of the others for that matter.

Allen   December 3rd, 2008 8:57 am ET

I wish they would have made the banks and financial institutions provide a restructuring plan before giving them the money they got! I have a feeling most of that money will just disappear!

Chris Moore   December 17th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Great article. Love the show.

Barbara Dourrieu   February 6th, 2009 5:37 pm ET

My comment has to do with the credentials (and questions which should have been/should be asked of them) of people to hold positions in the White House. I.e., I would like to know more about David Ogden (I believe I have the name correct) and the position he will be in charge of. Some of the things I heard have my alarm system going off VERY loudly, and I would like to know about this person who supposedly will have everything to do with "protecting" our children from porn. Is it possible that the fox could be watching the hen house in this particular case? I need to know MUCH more and I would think/ hope/ pray that President Obama would be extremely careful with the questions he asks, and the things that are already known about, his appointees.

Thank you,
Barbara

Richard from Bay City, MI   February 11th, 2009 4:48 pm ET

I find it hard to understand about the CEO's getting these Millions for helping their company go under?? Now the goverment is just going to say be careful. If I took the taxpayers money I would be seeing time in the slammer. Where can I get some of this money?

baz   April 4th, 2009 3:49 am ET

I won’t even talk to prospective employers about my current relationship status, let alone past lovers and friends. (I "don’t think it is any of their business). Then again, I have absolutely no interest in working in government.

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