Capital Commerce

The Obama Economic Team

By James Pethokoukis

Posted: November 22, 2008

Team Obamanomics, courtesy of the WSJ:

"The team is expected to include New York Federal Reserve Bank President Timothy Geithner, who will be nominated as the next Treasury secretary, Mr. [Lawrence] Summers, and incoming budget director Peter Orszag. Jacob Lew, a former White House budget director, is expected to be Mr. Obama's National Economic Council chairman. Jason Furman, who coordinated economic policy for the Obama campaign, is likely to be Mr. Lew's deputy. And Austan Goolsbee, a University of Chicago economist, is expected to be the chairman of Mr. Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.

Me: These guys are not Marxists, protectionists, or believers in a return to 90 percent marginal tax rates. They are believers in free trade bolstered by an expanded government safey net for workers, increased government spending on infrastructure (green and transportation) and education to increase growth and reduce income inequality,and higher taxes (though certainly less than a 70 percent top income tax rate) to help fund it all. But will they support a) the nationalization of our banking system or b) a pricey homeowners bailout? My guess is that they will recommend doing, to use the words of Obama, "whatever it takes" to keep us out of a depression. Other than cut taxes on capital or business of higher incomes.

 

Great Team!

America needs strong leadership in the redevelopment of our economy. We need new partnerships to help our businesses and workers do better as of now and the future. President Obama is getting the best people for the job. The republicans should simply move out of the way and rethink what they represent apposed absolute failure.

All Americans need to get behind this team and make the choices necessary to move forward. Obama is the person we need to follow in terms of making the American dream live on with our best hopes and aspirations.

Jim Lee of IL @ Nov 23, 2008 18:48:33 PM

center left from where?

The definition "center left" depends on where you are centered.

Max of WI @ Nov 23, 2008 18:10:13 PM

Marxist

James wouldn't know a Marxist if he woke up in Siberia after being given a free train ride! This guy is so naive he makes little red riding hood look like a biker- or maybe he is afraid to criticize the Obama nation for fear of the reprisals, in either case you got no courage just recapitulation of rhetoric.

SimonSez of CA @ Nov 23, 2008 17:36:30 PM

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Capital Commerce

Capital Commerce

U.S. News business reporter Matthew Bandyk examines the issues, people, and debates that shape the nexus of political and economic life in the nation's capital.

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