How Will Obama Build His Administration?
President-elect looks for Washington experience and established reputations
Advisers and associates of President-elect Barack Obama are pushing away concerns the Chicago politician will hire local aides from back home as Bill Clinton did. They anticipate that he will form a government with deep roots in Washington and with names that many people know.
"The difference is that while people like Clinton and Carter were governors and brought their team here, Obama has only Washington experiences, and he'll hire from here," says one adviser.
While it is unclear if that model will work, another insider says it will lessen the possibilities of cronies from back home stumbling once they hit the national stage.
A Bush insider agrees, saying that Obama has indicated that he will bring in established names and experts to top jobs and as cabinet secretaries and that will build confidence in his new administration. "He may be an unknown, but Obama's shown that he likes to rely on the old guard and people with lots of knowledge in their area. I don't think that his appointments will shock us," says the Bush associate.
An Obama adviser, meanwhile, says that the early goal in picking his government will be to reinforce his "calm" approach to the current economic and world crises shown during his presidential campaign.
Key Democratic advisers to Obama say they expect the president-elect to move fast in announcing top staff, cabinet secretaries, and policy changes.
"Obama knows that he has to move quickly to capitalize on the election. And we are ready to help him," says a Senate aide.
Already there are expectations that Obama may name Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois as his chief of staff, Sen. John Kerry or Republican Sen. Richard Lugar as secretary of state, and a key economic official currently involved in fixing the financial crisis as treasury secretary.
Emanuel is favored as top White House boss for two reasons, say Obama associates. First, he is devoted to the new president and was a visible surrogate for the campaign. Second, Emanuel was a close Clinton adviser in the former president's White House and is credited with fixing many of the problems when he served.
Reader Comments
Rahm 'Emanual's Israel Citizenship
Am I correct in believing that the chief of staff provides the President with, and interprets, the news of the day?
Will Obama hear only the jewish side of the news with all sympathies directed toward Israel and no understanding of the Palestinian plight. When I hear the predominitly Republican radio show-talk-hosts take calls, 99.95% of the jewish calls constantly talk about the Israels killed by the Palestinians but nothing about the hundreds of Palestinians killed by the Israels in retribution. Nor the attocities by the Israels, nor the demolition of Palestinien homes by Israel tanks in the middle of the night, nor the cut-off of food and medical supplies by the Israels to the desparite needs of the Palesinians.
Wake up America. End this "God's chosen people" idoletry and see both sides of the issues. Write, e-mail your senators and representatives to vote against this appointment of Emanuel as chief of staff particularly because of his Israel citizenship.
Bush didn't want to hear any unpleasantries, particulary in regard to criticisms oF him and his administration. Let's not make this "change" IN POLICIES a change for the much worse, and a policy which can lead to World War III and the destruction of all life.
Unable to govern
If Barack Obama is unable to provide clear proof of his birthplace, before he is sworn-in as president of the United States, he will not have a political mandate, and his newly minted administration will lack legitimacy, and therefore, the executive branch of government will be susceptible to control and manipulation by ominous outside forces.
NOT ANTI-SEMIST, JUST ANTI-ZIONIST
To ? of GA
Does birth on America’s soil automatically award US citizenship? To be honest I’m not familiar with the intricacies of US laws & regulations. Whether this administrative digression is proven true or not, the fact is that Mr. Emanuel has also an Israel citizenship which enabled him to join the IDF during the first Gulf war in 1991. Unlike with kibbutzs, IDF does not welcome non-Israelis. Don’t they? He was stationed at a base near Kiryat Shmona.
To be definitely clear about his real origins, it should not be difficult for any conscientious US reporter to get Mr. Emanuel records from the USCIS, although I’m quite disillusioned with the mainstream medias standards since the 9/11. Private records of people in high places are not classified, aren’t they?
In labeling me “anti-Semite”, you are using the same old tactics that has been useful in killing off debates and discredit people who expose inconvenient facts or dare asking tough question.
No, I’m not “anti-Semite”! Only wary of Zionist zealots. I bet with your blurred & blinkered world vision you cannot distinguish between “anti-Semitism” & “anti-Zionism”, neither you can see all shades of grey between black & white. Don’t you? I don’t blame you. After nearly 8 years of “You are with US” or “You are against US” brainwash, I believe you had lost the grasp of world complexities.
Actually, I have the greatest admiration and utmost respect for Jewish personalities like late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by an Israeli fascist Zionist, and whose commemoration on November 4 was completely forgotten amid Barak Obama historic win. There are numerous other “Jews” persons that I admire & respect for their achievements in arts and sciences or just for their selfless contribution to humankind and peace.
Uri Avnery and his Gush Shalom movement, who advocate a just & fair settlement for Palestinians and Israelis (a two states within the 1967 borders and Jerusalem as capital for both nation); or Israel peace activist Mordechai Vanunu for his disclosure of Israel’s nuke capabilities, come to mind.
In addition, my half brother & sister are Jews, although secular ones. My stepfather (my mum second husband) was previously married to a Jewish woman. Her family was persecuted during the Tsarist pogroms of Nicholas II at the turn of the 20th century and migrated to France a decade before the October Revolution. Later they joined the French Resistance in its fight against the Nazis occupation.
So, if you want to stay ignorant, it’s up to you. But don’t come complaining that like Coke & Pepsi, there is no big difference between Dems & GOP.
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