Reports: Emails Indicate White House Was Worried About Solyndra

"A White House official fretted privately that the Obama administration could suffer serious political damage if it gave additional taxpayer support to the beleaguered solar-panel company Solyndra, according to newly released emails," The Washington Post writes this morning.

Politico puts the news this way: "A White House official worried that the political fallout from pumping more money into solar panel manufacturer Solyndra could pummel President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, according to new emails."

In a Jan. 31, 2011 email, which was released last night by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, an official from the Office of Management and Budget writes:

"The optics of a Solyndra default will be bad. ... The timing will likely coincide with the 2012 campaign season heating up." (CBS News)

This morning's stories add to the focus being put on why the administration followed through on plans to give the company $535 million in federal loans — money that's now been lost because of Solyndra's collapse last month.

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