To the Editor:
It's natural for Dartmouth students, faculty and alumni to be proud of President-elect Barack Obama's selection of two Dartmouth grads for top jobs in the new administration. But these particular choices leave me dismayed about Obama's professed dedication to ethical change in Washington.
At first, Tim Geithner '83 seemed a wise choice for the critical post of secretary of the Treasury. But his failure to pay thousands of dollars in federal income taxes until an Internal Revenue Service audit caught him -- and his negligent failure to correct earlier tax returns containing the same mistakes -- should disqualify him from supervising the IRS.
William Lynn '76, lobbyist for a major defense contractor (Raytheon), is Obama's choice for the number two job in the Pentagon. This is a befuddling decision, especially when Obama the candidate told voters that he would curb the power of corporate lobbyists in Washington, not appoint them to top government jobs.
Make no mistake. I'm no disgruntled Bush backer. On the contrary. I contributed to Obama, voted for Obama and volunteered for Obama. I had high hopes. I still do. But I'm beginning to sniff business as usual in Washington. I hope I'm wrong.
Obama can help restore my confidence by dumping two candidates who don't meet his (and my) high ethical standards.
Aaron Epstein '53
Washington, D.C.
