Obama Wants Top Bill Clinton Staffer Podesta

Obama is hoping to make another Clinton hire, according to the Washington Post:

The Clinton and Obama worlds continue to collide.

Patti Solis Doyle, fired as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign manager, started her job last week as chief of staff to Obama's yet-to-be-named vice presidential pick. And Neera Tanden, Clinton's policy czar, is joining the Obama campaign as the head of domestic policy.

Now the presumptive nominee hopes to snag John Podesta, Bill Clinton's former White House chief of staff and founding head of the Center for American Progress. According to several Obama sources, the campaign wants Podesta to run the transition operation if Obama wins in November.

Podesta kept a low profile during the primary season, although he was a staunch Clinton supporter. He is one of the most seasoned Democratic operatives in Washington, a quintessential insider with a rare grasp of both politics and policy. Before his White House years, when he weathered the impeachment scandal and many other crises, Podesta served as a staff counsel in the Senate, and one of his bosses was then-Sen. Tom Daschle, now a key member of Obama's inner circle.

Comments

[kellygrrrl]

so everyone who complained that 0bama might be "inexperienced"

is now complaining if he hires someone who is "experienced"

that's rich!

[XME]

Damned if he does...damned if he doesn't.

[Stew118]

Good news.

[DrDemon]

COOL !

[rosal]

Its very encouraging he does not surround himself with yes men. He looks for competence. That is the way to run things.He will make a great president. Meanwhile, McTemper has Lieberman.

[95flhtcu]

This is a good choice. The guy's been vetted and he's even handed. Of course Obama is going to have to bring in seasoned professionals, someone is going to have to run the country while he's walking on water. As much as everyone wants to ignore it, Obama has precious little experience. He will flounder if he doesn't surround himself with experienced people.

[readyfornewleadership]

Which is true for all presidents. It is when they think they know everything ("the decider") that the country gets into trouble. No one knows everything.

[barackobama4prez]

I think we all recognize that he has less experience than HRC or Gramps, but we recognize also that more experience doesn't mean being a better president. BHO has been in politics for 20 years. That's enough experience for the avg. voter.

[genia]

I continue being impressed . He knows exactly what and who he wants...he's informed, he's confident....
This man will surrond himself with the best of what's around.....;-) ...because I have no doubt that he will know just who the best. are. We can all take comfort in that.

[JackND]

Apparently change has gone out of style. Obama loses a little more luster every day.

""Going into 2009 without experienced operatives would be stupid.""

Yeah...Bush resurrecting fossils like Cheney and Rumsfeld went really well.

[jeg]

Yeah... I mean, you should appoint someone to head HUD because, well, they own a house. And are a friend. Or you should try an appoint someone like Harriet Miers to... well... anything. Or how about a FEMA chief who lied on his resume? Oh sorry, that was lied about HAVING a resume.

I have no problem with Sen. Obama listening to some of the most experienced Washington insiders-- anyone who survived the Carter era, or the Clinton era, KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

At the end of the day, though, I expect Sen. Obama to make his own decisions.

[kevenseven]

God forbid he should hire anybody competent and experienced.

Perhaps he should just hire posters from huffpo?

You fool.

[JackND]

There has to be something between competent and experienced and former Clinton operatives.

Where did the Clinton operatives get their experience before the Clinton administration?

[AxelDC]

Bush didn't hire Cheney and Rumsfeld. Rove hired them to manage Bush.

[barackobama4prez]

It's ridiculous for people to believe change must mean that Senator does everything differently and changes EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE. This is ridiculous. He will hire and retain the best staff, even if they have years of Washington experience. The fact that BHO is governing means that things will change enough in Washington to get things done. He's been very clear about making decisions while listening to the thoughts and opinions of others.

[harriscrl3]

One of the things that intrigue me about Obama is that he knows who he wants its almost like he knows people's history what they've been doing where they stand and he just picks them. I have never seen anyone really study politics like that he knows History of campaigns of the US and he is able to work things in. Very interesting. THey say those who ignore history is doom to repreat it I dont think he will have that problem.

Carol

[kevenseven]

It is a simple matter of competence as a manager.

[DRaymond]

I am appreciating the fact that Obama is going for competence and experience first and dogmatic loyalty second.

With Bush/Cheney it was exactly the opposite: neocon purity trumped qualifications every time. That was how come you wound up with a Arabian show horse judge administrator runnig FEMA and how come a new graduate from a fourth-tier law school run by a televangelist was put in charge of hiring top positions in the Justice department.

[charon]

Yeah, Bush's selections were so stupid they would be funny if the results weren't so tragic. And don't forget he put Harriet Myers up for Supreme Court Justice as well.

[kevenseven]

That WAS breath taking in its stupidity!

[Plus15]

Ex- Senator Tom Daschle as Senate Majority leader when George W. Bush took office is to be acknowledged as the highest level Democrat to lay the founation for how the Democrats dealt with Bush and his administration these last eight years. Rather then a high level advisor to Obama espousing his pathetic theory of roll over and play dead, don't volunteer, token resistance to the GOP and their attack on America and the Constitution, Daschle should be treated as a pariah.

[lafrance]

It was said Obama would need to take on some former Clintonistas into his fold. With former ones he is not pressed to take on a Clinton into the campaign, thank goodness.

[barackobama4prez]

I think BHO is smart enough to realize that Slick willy had a great staff...and that THAT'S what made him a good president.

[longislandlol]

No one has ever uttered or printed a bad word about Podesta-- he's the antithesis of rove-- the angel- not the devil- the saint- not the sinner

[macbabe]

Thank Gen Clark for his clarity and honesty on what it takes to lead this nation"s military and veterans.
http://ga3.org/campaign/petitionclark

[SwingVoter]

Does Clark have a point? Well, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afawZWEtCKc

[orangepetal]

What happened, Obama no longer thinks the Clintons are racists and neo-cons. Welcome Obama, we think they are great and have tremendous confidence in their judgement to take America forward into a better tomorrow.
PUMA

[Brillig]

Come on, Obama never did - they behaved like that and the rest of US gave them that label - Leave Obama out of the cass-cass!

[mypov123]

Typo, I meant Obama did NOT say the Clintons were racists.

[oscartucker]

So sick and tired of the PUMA's, who really and truly are not Democrats. Stop using excuses and just say why you are not going to vote for Obama. Stop spreading mess. It's time for you to get real, especially with yourselves.

[Dandrea]

Puma =Operation Chaos

[JackND]

Obama levelled criticism at the Clinton administration during the primary season and now seems to be stacking his team with officials from it is not impressing me. From Solis Doyle to Panetta...who's next?

I supported Obama during the primaries and still do, but I'm starting to see the reason the likes of PUMA is so irate.

[lotuslike]

Great choice...Podesta is a competent, decent guy.

[aubrey8]

I agree, great Washington insider to have.

[nancytheragingliberal]

Yes, I think Mr. Podesta is a great choice and a plus to the Center for American Progress. We need more liberal/progressive think tanks. I am impressed withObama's choices, so far.