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

[colleen2]

while I am no fan of Bill Clinton or Clintonism in general, this is a smart move on Obama's part. Certainly smarter than expanding the 'faith-based' corruption schemes or his enthusiastic embrace of the Federalist Society's more dubious positions.

[iswideopen]

"Team of Rivals" is the operative phrase. Obama has a brilliant agenda for this country, however, he will need to be surronded by those who have the political "know how" to make these changes into reality. The good news is that unlike McBush, McPuppet, Obama is his own man. He has the required temperment and judgement to deal with a variety of personalities, he is a "people" person, and most important, he is willing to listen to others with different views. If McBush, McPuppet, who we know is not his own man, but very highly influenced by the GOP, wins this election, we are doomed. I would not like to see scraming and cussing at collegues, nor see them being grabbed by the collar because many oppose the war in Iraq, for where McSame wants to stay until the war is won. Win? They never even planned an exit strategy, per recent intelligence reports and have the gall to lie about Obama's stance. It was George Bush &Co. along with John McBush who took their eyes off the true attacker on 911. This is their murderous mess which now has to be cleaned up by someone else.

[doctorwang]

Well put!

[bosshogg]

as long obama don't hire penn,ickie­s,mcauliff­e.........­..........­..

[politicojunkie]

I concur.

[lapdogs]

That would make Barr or Ralphie look great if he ever did that

[soithoni]

I agree that this is a good move. Obama is going to win, and he needs good people helping him hit the ground running. He's got a lot to do, and only 8 years to do it in.

Podesta is a good guy. Read up on him. Read up on his articles he's written. Get informed. Just because somebody used to work in Washington doesn't make them bad.
Start with this:
http://www.americanprogress.org/experts/PodestaJohn.html
At the end of the article it has links to stuff he's written about global warming, and the end of the war.
(Don't ya just love the sound of that....)

[Squalish]

Re-election:
8 years is not a certainty.

Election:
4 years is not a certainty, though it's looking likely.

Filibuster-proof Senate:
2 years is not a certainty - 4 years is looking unlikely.

Breaking the country only takes simple majorities, a Court appointment or two, and a willingness to trash the Constitution. The presidency, a strong majority in the House, and 60 (+ 1 ind) Democratic votes in the Senate is what's necessary to fix the country. Accomplishing this last one is looking like the most important/difficult part of the 2008 elections, and may have to wait until the 2010 elections. As soon as that happens, we need a President willing to pull an FDR and be bolder in his policies than any politician is used to.

[NickNas]

WOW there sure are a BUNCH of Armchair experts here. I am sure glad no one who actually makes decisions listens to most of you.

The Concept of building a winning team seems to be beyond simple comprehension. Let me try to help SOME of you.

Picture having a chance to make the BEST Football team out of ALL of the Players in the NFL.....Well you Don't say "I don't want the number one quarterback because I think his head coach is a jerk" or would you?

They way you answer this question directly reflects on your grasp of this concept and your ability ( read that maturity) to seperate your emotions from your decisions.

[doctorwang]

"Well you Don't say "I don't want the number one quarterback because I think his head coach is a jerk" "

Perhaps. But I think that "I don't want the number one quarterback because he's going out with Jessica Simpson" IS valid.

[bikerdude]

In that case, you would be wrong again. Jessica didn't make him the number 1 QB, so your point is definitely NOT valid.

[lainey]

Nice to hear a thoughtful and reasoned voice.

[lotuslike]

What an absolutely sensible post, nick! Thanks....

[nypoet22]

for those who know anything about sports, a winning team isn't always made up of the best players, it's made up of the players who play best TOGETHER. if we're drafting based solely on the best players in the game, it's Obama/Clinton all the way in November. if not, then let's all keep an eye on putting together the best TEAM.

this is why it is vital for clinton and obama people to bury the hatchet and move forward together. i've heard a lot of grumbling from both sides about his people acting arrogant or hers acting entitled. it's time to shut up on both sides and draft the best team to go to battle together.

[Marrigan]

...and your opinion is different from all of the other "armchair experts" because.....??

[DaOne]

Yes good move to get Podesta in. Get Sen. Obama back on message and hammer away on the economy. It's issue number one and an obvious weak link for McCain. Stop being on the defense and don't get pulled into the foreign policy tug of war.

It's the economy stupid!!!!

Obama 08

[Marrigan]

Three men that Obama should avoid are Ickes, Lindsey and Podesta. Please, Barack, say it ain't so!

[dana94591]

Good move, John! But where is Leon????

[sustainable]

bad move for Obama, best to start with a clean slate otherwise it just looks like the same team is running the show regardless of the front man.

[MaryinMontcoPA]

It's called inclusiveness and unifying the party.

Much stronger strategy than an only-newbie team.

[aztecdiva]

Bill Clinton was the best president enacting major reform, balancing budgets, and providing economic surpluses. Bill Clinton is not a stupid man and built a team to push his agenda and move a more prosperous America forward. I don't care if the cabinet and staff Obama hires are Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, or of the Green party. The purpose is to HIRE the best candidate to turn this Titanic around before it hits the iceberg. And for the Clinton supporters who voted for Hilary because her husband was a great president who lead the country out of the "it's the economy stupid" to middle class American citizens of every racial composition was able to prosper, I am all for it.

[ebanks84]

Go for it Barack. Get all the best people together to make this change the best change America has ever seen. Nothing to it but to do it!!!

[harriscrl3]

Please if Hilary was going to be VP Bill Clinton would be buttering up Obama morning noon and night. Obama is staying true to his word. He is looking for competence regardless of party or ideology. I bet thats something else many didnt hear when they were so in love. I guess love really is blind.

Carol

[Gma11]

Good move. I think highly of Podesta.

[theone718]

Something tells me this was a Daschle led move, it is a very good idea.

[NoahVail]

Podesta is ok. He is no rookie.

[marquitin]

Another guy he would do well to get on board is Leon Panetta. He's a class act and very smart.

[PKSSK]

Ditto!!!

[bosshogg]

true..............

[AdamND]

If Obama refused to hire anyone from the Clintion era or that has clinton ties then he wouldnt have many experienced people on his staff.

[mistlesuede]

I liked and admired Mr. Podesta. He is very thoughtful and intelligent and yet very soft spoken. I think he would be one of the best additions from the Clinton side of things.

[neesy08]

change we can believe in? obama will be the boss. he has his own ideas. he needs people who can see them through