Via Jake Tapper, Obama Offers Rahm Emanuel Job of White House Chief of Staff
ABC News has learned that President-elect Obama has offered the White House chief of staff job to Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.Emanuel, a knowledgeable source tells ABC News, has not yet given his answer. The sharp-tongued, sharp-elbowed, keenly intelligent veteran of the Clinton White House is said to have ambitions to some day be Speaker of the House. But he also has a keen sense of “duty.”
This has been rumored for about a week, so no surprise. Emanuel has both legislative and executive branch experience as well as Illinois ties. As such, the choice makes some sense.
On the other hand, his is considered a fairly fierce partisan, and so the choice will, no doubt, draw criticism from the rightward side of things for not being a good example of “change.” Along those lines there is a legitimate question as to whether someone who is known to have both a sharp tongue and elbows is best suited for the managerial position of Chief of Staff.
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November 5th, 2008 at 11:28 am
This should not be a surprise to anyone; Obama has been a very strict party man from day one. The people he appoints - at least in all the meaningful places - will be partisan democracts.
November 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
From USA Today on Josh Bolten’s appointment:
Bolten must work in sync with Vice President Dick Cheney and Bush political strategist Karl Rove, masters of the power centers at the White House.
Cheney is the real chief of staff in the White House, said Paul Light, presidential historian at New York University. “I think his first question should be, ‘How do I get Dick Cheney to return my phone calls?’”
Regards, C
November 5th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Cernig,
I think I may be missing your point–what are you driving at?
I assuming you aren’t suggesting this as a model?
S
November 6th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Who do you think he will tap for Sec of State? I have been hearing that he might even consider Hilary Clinton.
November 6th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Sheri,
I would be utterly shocked if Clinton were offered anything, to be honest.
The only speculation that I have heard (on NPR this morning) was John Kerry. I personally wouldn’t much care for that selection, to be honest, but we’ll see.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
There are now reports that Rahm Emanuel was on Freddie Mac’s board while they were cooking the books. I wonder if that revelation will have Obama reconsider his pick.
It appears that just about anybody of importance in the Democratic Party has some tie to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
In fairness, everybody of any imporantance in the government, regardless of party, seems to have some tie to Freddie/Fannie. These were pseudo-government entities that existed through both republican and democratic presidencies and republican and democratic congresses. Just about everyone had reason to deal with them at some point, and if we go out to crucify everyone who touched them, we’ll need to fire the entire government. I don’t think that’s going to happen.
I don’t think Emmanuel is a good choice but it’s Obama’s call and I can’t see that a loose connection to Fannie/Freddie disqualifies him in any way.