Former domestic policy adviser Claude Allen and President Bush

“Claude Allen” is already one of the top search terms at Technorati.

He’s the former White House domestic policy adviser who was arrested on Thursday for allegedly engaging in a shameful scam at retail stores in my home county, Montgomery County, Md. I shop regularly at the Target store in Gaithersburg, where Allen is accused of having fraudulently tried to get a refund for items he did not buy on Jan. 2.

It’s all very bizarre and sad given Allen’s cushy job and $161,000 yearly salary; he was one of the top-paid staff members in the White House.

John Gizzi at Human Events reports:

[J]ust two days before the story broke, on Wednesday, March 8, Allen and I had lunch and a long discussion of professional and personal matters at the “America” restaurant in Washington’s Union Station. At no time did the former Bush staffer bring up or even hint at the serious charge that would confront him 48 hours later.

He seems to have fooled his closest friends and family, not to mention the White House. President Bush is “shocked” by the arrest, as are Allen’s fellow churchgoers.

As usual, Bush Derangement Syndrome is setting in on the Left and in the media. Gleeful minority conservative-bashing and hysterical accusations of a “cover-up” are already underway.

Byron York predicts:

It seems guaranteed that Monday’s press briefing will bring lots of questions about not only the shoplifting charges against Allen — which White House officials will no doubt deflect to the local police — but about the White House’s public statements in the case.

My prediction: Look for lead clowns David Gregory and Dana Milbank to try and turn this into the next Watergate. These fools can’t help themselves.

There’s no question this is a legitimate news story. The question is why the MSM go bananas over the embarrassing fall of one presidential aide, while pooh-poohing the falls of many others.

Barrett Report, anyone?

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Josh Trevino worked under Allen at HHS. He shares his thoughts here.