Obama Transition Team Courts Clinton Aide Doyle

NEW YORK — Democratic officials say President-elect Obama's transition aides have approached Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's former campaign manager about taking a senior White House post.

These officials say Patti Solis Doyle is considering taking the job, although she worries about the effect it would have on her two young children. She was contacted about possibly becoming Cabinet secretary, a job that involves coordinating the efforts of the White House and cabinet-level agencies.

The officials who described the developments did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to disclose them.

Doyle has worked for Clinton in a number of capacities, first in the White House and most recently when she made her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Comments

[wm1066]

Didn't the Clintons throw her under the bus BEFORE Super Tuesday?
The big mistakes by the Clinton campaign happened after she was gone.
And I thought I heard that sometime this summer there was talk of her joining the Obama team.
I think the headline is misleading.

[dmsdzinr]

We should all CHILL! There will be a PLETHORA of names bantered around for many, many, many positions (some will be real, many will be rumors). I rely on the fact that Barack and his administration will be going after THE MOST QUALIFIED people for each & EVERY position.

[NationalTreasure]

Presiden-Elect Obama please do not hire these Clinton people they ran an inept campaign and there was nothing but leaks, in-fighting and back stabbing by Clinton White House staffers.

Please, President-elect Obama steer clear of as many of the former Clinton staffers and appointees as possible.

President-Elect Obama needs eight years to get things done and with the former Clinton staffers he will have a difficult time just managing to stay in office for four years.

The former Clinton staffers are already causing problems and acting like it is they whom are in charge with all of their "unnamed source" leaks that they have been doing over the past few weeks.

It is time for fresh blood and not people who have alterior motives of self-aggrandizment or undermining the Obama presidency because they still are loyal to the Clintons.

It needs to be made clear that this is the Obama/Biden presidency and that the Clintons are not puppet masters controlling things. A third of the financial mess our nation is facing is directly attributable to the Clinton administration and Greenspan, Volcker, Rubin and Summers were all a part of the morass.

[Londonboy30]

What was Clinton thinking? She is waaayyyy hotter than Lewinsky!

[circles]

Sexist much?

[iamasocialist]

You are right

[amond1]

I'm sorry, but I don't trust her at all. I think Obama needs to really think this thing through.
Could she really be the top pick??

[piper1233]

At this point do you honestly believe that there is any issue no matter how small that Team Obama has not given the upmost and thorough going over before making a decision

[Ginger5]

chicago connection

[JiminNC]

You're right. O has proven time and again that he is incapable of thinking anything through without constant reminders from anonymous bloggers. Great post.

[JJ30]

Am I wrong to question the leaks that is currently going on? When Obama was campaigning, no on in that cam said a word about anything now all of a sudden there are leaks everywhere? What Gives?!

Also, please let this man select his cabinet in peace and allow him the time to think things through. Geez!

[Dustee]

I too question the leaks that, all of a sudden, seem to be coming out. What's up with that?! Maybe it's from Solis-Doyle herself.

After she was discharged from the Clinton camp - we soon heard about her being offered a post with Obama's camp. I wouldn't be surprised if the leaks were coming from her.

[Ginger5]

An Obama leak is no leak at all its just playing the media

[NationalTreasure]

What gives is all of the Clinton people have been leaking like sieves, they are the worst back bitting, back stabbing bunch of incompetent political hacks around.

President-Elect Obama needs to stay away from those people or his administration will get off to the same dreadful start as the Clinton administration.

[musselmanm]

You know, a fine and smart person is just that.
I do not think of ethnicity or gender or even the Clintons.
This lady obviously has shown promise everywhere she has been.
Give her a chance or even a choice.
I believe President Obama is picking the very best people he can find. Lets just see what his cabinet looks like in the end. He has been right on most of what he has done.

[Opt1musPr1me]

Wasn't she Joe Biden's chief of staff during the campaign? I really hope Obama doesn't Clintonize his administration. Obama should hire Jamie Dimon from JP Morgan Chase for Treasury. Too bad Dimon is loving his current job too much to leave it for Washington.

[thankulord13]

It's good he is getting some experienced people... because to many inexperience will only lead to mismanagement of the government.

[grumpygranny66]

I don't see how hiring her would Clintonize his administration. She was released by Hillary as her Campaign Mgr., and went to work for Barack's campaign. So, it's only fair if there is a position that she is qualified for, she should be given it.

[JiminNC]

After Doyle's trip under the bus during the election, I expect her loyalties can be divined.

[iamasocialist]

Lord have mercy. She's fine. Obama might get hooked, you know... just sayin'

[cyndeewi]

I thought she was already working for them?

[iamasocialist]

nonono, in bed i mean

[AnAmericanWoman]

WHY all the leaks? I don't like it - it isn't Obamaesque. Whoever is doing it - needs to STOP. First Rahm and now Doyle. It isn't professional.
And who cares what heritage she is from - open the floodagtes to everyone without thought to thier ethnicity or gender. Bring on the MLK Dream - Be qualified, a team player, loyal, and that 's all that matters.
She's not advising Barack on anything - she's just coordinating. is she trustworthy? We LOVE Barack and want NO barracudas to be disloyal to him.

[mumrock]

I'm a little peeved at the people who worry about the effect taking a job will have on their young children, a sentiment also voiced by Rahm Emanuel. What, like Barack isn't worried about the effect his job will have on his daughters? Barack is calling for sacrifice across the board, not just from a few. For some, that will mean spending less time with the kids if you're deemed the best for the position.

But, I suppose it's better to deliberate over the offer rather than to take it without blinking.

[elcojonu]

That's just a way some folks use to feel important; of course she'll take it in a New York minute.
When the President calls, you drop what you're doing.

[NOLAMoCity]

I agree. They don't want to seem too overzealous. These people live for this. To think Patti only wants to work on campaigns and not in the White House would be naive at best. The kids are just something "American" to say.

[Daly]

the loose lips are injecting their own words here; O will need to be very careful in his selections because somebodies are talking too much. I like the selection and no doube it was discussed way before now - he has had a tranisition team in place for quite a while.

Dispatch W to the history he has earned - NO deals; these times can be used to put your house in order; et your selections in place and not get into any deals like the AIG cluster.

trade deal; if we can wait so can they.

[MadIndependentVoter]

Looks like we are about to get a repeat of the Clinton White House. Hillary fired Solis Doyle from her Campaign and brought back Maggie Williams. Now, Barak sees the need to hire her for an upstanding position along with the remainder of the entire Clinton staff. And if it'snot the Clintonites, it's Chicago Cronies! Looks like he is not as a Change We Can Believe In man of his words at all. I want my vote back!

[cheforacle]

Your comment is flawed. The fact they want to hire her is not proof that he wants to hire all Clintonites. All it proves is that the press has reported on their desire to hire her. Just because someone is from Chicago does not mean there is something wrong with them. Wait until he fills his entire administration then make your judgments. Plus things were generally good in the Clinton years: unemployment was low and growth was good. We were at peace.

[MadIndependentVoter]

Unfortunately, things may have been good in the Clinton years, but his Presidency remains flawed along with those who were part of the inner circle. Obama ran on CHANGE, he WON on change. It's highly unlikely the utilization of cronies and Clintonies is going to bring about change. Clinton never inherited an economy this much in the tank! Furthermore, this country is blessed with the most talented people in the entire world. He needs to tap the pool to show he means to be that change agent. What he is showing is that his foundation is WEAK!

[Kerris]

All this leaking and "floating of balloons" reminds me of the Clinton years in the US and the Blair years in the UK -- enough already. It's childish and lacks a sense of seriouness of purpose. We "hire" our politicians and expect them to do their jobs properly -- like hiring the correct people for the correct jobs using their best judgement and following appropriate procedures. That is part and parcel of leadership; and leadership is part and parcel of heading up a Democracy, as a opposed to a state of anarchy.

In a company or corporation, is it ever deemed appropriate to leak info to the mail room staff or the steno pool (yes, showing my age here) to see if they like the idea of who the next CEO or Director of Operations will be? I'm interested in the people We the People elected to show leadership and good judgement -- not to constantly pester the public with what-ifs and how-about-this.

[BigBen]

This is a Democracy not a business Company.Look where business has gotten us.

[Kerris]

Irrelevant. Leaks are not the way to lead.

[NoToGOP08]

The anonymous source probably belongs to Solis Doyle. Obama's team would never 'leak' info unless it benefited them

[DWiseman]

That's what Kennedy did and it was his undoing - remember? All the best and the brightest of the day were no substitute for experience.