Is there no backbone in the Obama Administration? I know there’s a lot of heart. This administration is obviously committed to the welfare of the American people. But where is its spine?

I am not talking about the President’s shilly-shallying over the health care “public option.” There may be some slight excuse for that: the administration is being sabotaged by Blue Dog Democrats who take millions from the insurance industry. And getting a “public option” through the Senate might be impossible. President Obama might be hoping for the proverbial “half-a-loaf” because it looks as if he could get nothing at all.

I am talking about a pattern of … well, cowardice. I’m sorry but I have no other word for it.

From the beginning, the administration has run for cover at the slightest breath of criticism. One after another, it has thrown hand-picked cabinet members “under the bus.” I know, I know, filing incorrect tax returns is a Bad Thing. It happens to be what most American individuals and corporations do as a matter of course, but they shouldn’t do it. Still, is that enough of a detriment to outweigh all the Good Things someone like Tom Daschle (photo at right) could have brought to the table?

Now, another sacrificial lamb has fallen. Environmental adviser Van Jones (photo below) has resigned his White House job after administration opponents waged a smear campaign against him. They dug up some wild-hair remarks he made back in the dim, distant past and used them to scare the Obama inner circle.

According to the Associated Press, Jones was “linked to efforts suggesting a government role in the 2001 terror attacks and to derogatory comments about Republicans.” The smear campaign was triggered by revelations that his name appeared on a petition seeking congressional hearings into whether high-level government officials had allowed the Nine-Eleven attacks to occur.

Really? Well, guess what? I myself could be “linked” to those very same things. Some people have wondered at the fortuitous “terror” attacks that came at such a politically opportune time for the Bush Administration. I have listened to these conspiracy theorists with an open mind: I certainly wouldn’t go to court and swear that W had nothing to do with Nine-Eleven. Besides, it’s a fact that the Bush Administration was warned about the attacks and failed to act on the warning.

And when it comes to derogatory remarks about Republican politicians, I am only restrained by my vocabulary. If there’s a derogatory word I haven’t used to describe those creeps, it’s only because I haven’t thought of it – yet.

Jones issued an apology on Thursday for his past statements. When asked the next day whether Obama still had confidence in him, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said only that Jones “continues to work in the administration.”

You the man, Robert! Way to stand up for your colleague! One for all and all for one, Good Buddy!

You guys need to take loyalty pills.