Breaking: Obama TSA Pick Withdraws Nomination

Meredith Jessup | January 20, 2010 8:52 AM

Erroll Southers, President Obama's stalled controversial pick to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), has officially withdrawn his nomination today, claiming he had become "a lightning rod for those who have chosen to push a political agenda at the risk of the safety and security of the American people."

You'll remember that Southers' nomination had been held-up by Senator Jim DeMint over worries about Southers' "inconsistent" testimony and fears he would unionize TSA workers--a stated goal of the Obama administration.

Interestingly enough, Southers' statement sounded an awful lot like another Obama appointee who was shown the door: Van Jones. After news surfaced that self-proclaimed communist Jones had affixed his signature to a 9/11 "truther" petition, Jones resigned from his post as White House green jobs czar, blaming a "vicious smear campaign" by "opponents of reform."