Gregory Craig To Be Obama's White House Counsel: Reports

UPDATE on November 16 at 12:27 PM EST:

The Washington Post also reports that Craig has been chosen for the post:

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Washington lawyer Greg Craig, who served as President Bill Clinton's lead attorney during his impeachment proceedings, to be his White House counsel, according to an individual involved with the transition.

Craig has been a longtime adviser to Bill and Sen. Hillary Clinton, but became a close adviser to Obama during the campaign, reportedly serving as the stand-in for Sen. John McCain during debate preparations.

Transition officials declined to comment. And Craig did not return calls left on his machine.

Politico reports that Barack Obama will name Gregory Craig has White House counsel:

Gregory B. Craig, a well-known Washington lawyer who quarterbacked President Bill Clinton's impeachment defense, has been chosen White House counsel by President-elect Barack Obama, according to Democratic officials.

Craig is intimately familiar with the president-elect's record because he played the role of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in debate preparations.

CNN also has a source saying Craig will be named to the post:

Prominent Washington lawyer Greg Craig will be named White House counsel for the Obama administration, a Democratic source tells CNN. The source added that it is unclear when the appointment will be made public.

Craig first gained prominence representing President Clinton in the Senate impeachment trial, but he endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries and later played a key role in Obama's vice presidential vetting process.

Read more at HuffPost's Obama Transition BigNews Page.

Comments

[DeadHorse]

People..th­e only democrats with experience in the White House...th­at are vigorous enough to help Obama, are by necessity Clinton folks. Please, don't start freaking out already. It is very unbecoming.

[ilovemycat]

I agree. Remember you're only as good as your leader. These people may actually be able to do their jobs now that they are under Obama. Before, they had to play the political games that have been in Washington for years and years. Give Obama credit. He's doing the right thing for all of us!

[k6007]

Yeah, not only another corporate WH.....the very SAME corporate white house. That's change I can believe in, you betcha!

[Matt7]

Difference: who'll be LEADING this time? (i.e. Does a new CEO come in and all the old people in the company, and refuse to hire anyone who's ever been there?)

America has been inspired to begin to live up to her potential by voting in Obama; perhaps his team will be similarly inspired to play to their "best" side.

Who do YOU think he should be putting into office? You and your cousins? If he chose, untried, untested, brand new people, then the complaint would be about the CHANGE to inexperienced government.

Or, is the point simply to gripe about whomever he selects, or whatever he does?

Either way, the CHANGE is that he's going to, with our help, lead the country on the road to restoration and health. And it's a better course than that proposed by the mavericks. You can believe THAT, you bet'cha!

[rollingdivision]

Then what was all the change you can believe in stuff from him during the election?

[Fenianheart]

OBAMA is the change. Quite frankly, any Democrats are a huge change. It seems like many people are quickly forgetting the misery of the last 8 years, and the relative bliss (in comparison) that we experienced during the Clinton administration. I suggest we wait and see what happens when the President-elect takes office instead of criticizing every choice he makes. Let us not forget that this man is brilliant. After what the reps did to the Clintons, I find it somewhat karmic that members of Bill's team are reappearing.

[chevyval]

great choice.

[criquet]

Just because someone worked in the Clinton administration should not bar them from serving now or saying they are not part of change. Change is not a past action but the now and future dah...
Once that person is competent and willing to follow and institute the new paradigm that's all that is necessary.
After all many of us were following the old ways in many things eg gas guzzlers, not using energy saving bulbs, separating garbage etc and will have to change as well.
Business people were following an unfettered system of exploitation.
We will all have to change to survive so President-Elect Obama needs to choose the best and brightest wherever they work or worked as they should be able to not only envision change but implement it .

[huffposeur]

don't forget: CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN went by the wayside long ago. just shut up and listen: this is THE CHANGE WE NEED.

now don't complain. we know better than you. emmanuel. podesta. richardson. kerry. etc, etc.


i'm laughing all the way to the poorhouse.

[oneCTvoter]

Who do you want him to pick - a local lawyer or someone that has knowledge of law, politics, and the White House?

[huffposeur]

someone, anyone, withot the clinton brand on their hindquarters. this is supposed to be the obama administration. everyone expected a hillary presidency would be clinton redux. i thought obama had tapped into the best and the brightest in this country and wouldn't be dependent upon a bunch of '90s retreads who clearly have stopped thinking about tomorrow..­..

[titantom]

If George Bush were still going to be in power you better go pick up your check over in Dubai. Let everyone not forget who caused this whole mess. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. He has always had a history of bankrupting everything he has ever touched. Great job once again George.

Barack with all of our help will put us back on the road of Peace and Prosperity like it was during the Clinton Administration.

[TakingBackTheUSA]

So let's see here....

You demonize Obama for picking someone from Chicago because they're part of the machine.
You demonize Obama for picking someone you don't know about because he/they lack experience.
You demonize Obama for picking someone from Clinton's admin because it isn't change.
You demonize Obama for picking ANY Democrat it would seem.

That pretty much leaves only Repubs and Bush's admin as options for the new admin. But that is what you were wanting was it not?

You're logic is circular, like Palin's, and equally flawed. McCain lost, so own it and move on. You'll appreciate Obama's victory soon enough, when your job is secure again and you can afford gas and groceries. Unless you actually like the idea of our country being sold to the middle east kings by the pound or you like the idea of the middle class being absorbed into the poverty class. Of course that would assume that you can display some degree of rational thinking, which your comment above obviously proves you can not.

[infinity]

If these reports are correct, then where is the CHANGE? This guy is not only a Clintonista, but advised then Sen. Obama to vote FOR FISA. Asked why he so advised, he claimed FISA would expire, which of course it wouldn't. Four more years of the DLC and the Democrat neocons (warmongers) in power. I'm experiencing voter remorse,,,

[Jacqattack]

Now there's an oxymoron if I ever heard one: Democrat neocon. People, take a chill pill!

[DeadHorse]

Ed Begley Jr. will play this guy in the movie.

[NotGuilty]

Or Larry 'Lumpy' Rutherford!

[exotic]

Great choice

[exotic]

Grat choice.

[Pulemerci]

Is change synonomous with Clinton?

[rollingdivision]

They're in love, and love is blind.

[titantom]

YOU ARE SUCH A SAD REPUBLICAN VICTIM

GET A LIFE.

[titantom]

Change is Barack and Baracks way of doing business.

Competence, Peace, Prosperity and Great economy was The Clinton Administration. Why wouldn't he pick people that were in that administration. Remember the Clinton years were good years. Don't forget.

Barack keep picking the best and the brightest and bring about the change from the great leader you are.

[infinity]

Yea, like the health care fiasco, Bosnia, NAFTA, the dot com bubble. Ah those golden years...

[Bozwellian]

(one needs to remember..­Clinton did draw many great minds to his administration and they seeved willingly a they THOUGHT there indeed was a higher purpose with the Clintons that would evolve. Many bright minded and qualified folks joined the Clinton ranks, many were DISSPPOINTED when personal isuses got in the way of what could have been a greater, more succesful time for Dems in general and the principles belived in. BC ha great abilities, but he has great fault lines as well. Many of the names/figures/etc are indeed from the Clinton era..THEY were nt the caue for the failures, they too were greatly disappointed but do see great, possible greater potential in Obama and will be an asset to him . We need to recognize the difference and defferences in the appointments )

[Okieborn]

WHER ARE ALL THE NEW CHANGE PEOPLE ??
I worked as a volunteer from the git go as millions more, with the hope of a new look in the Whitehouse !!
What is going on ?????>

[Elderlady]

Every time I read "Politico" as a source -- until I see a confirmation on www.change.gov.

I shrug away the story.

Same with CNN.

These kinds of things are announced by Valerie jarret, not by "Politico" or "CNN."

[nancytheragingliberal]

I thought Pres. Elect O. was going to place new blood in my WH. What is this all about?

[shanester]

You mean Like Bush did with Alberto "shorty" Gonzales??

LOL

[MsDoc]

He needs to surround himself with people who know what are doing and people he trusts.

Even the best General cannot fight a battle alone.

[dtrain51]

What it is about, ask your self,when you go to a doctor, who would you rather have a first year intern or an experience doctor with some know how, that is what he is doing, getting some people with experience and he will fill the sub cabinet with new blood so they can learn the rope and in his second 4 yrs, move the new blood who will have gain experience up the ladder, it only makes a lot of sense.

[rollingdivision]

The very same people who completely supported new people, change and a new politics are now all suddenly concerned about experience.

[infinity]

"Sub Cabinet"? Stop drinking the kool aid

[SammyD]

actually, at times,I'd prefer the intern who mostly likely knows the latest technology and procedures. Sometimes experience brings the "same old"-no change.

[titantom]

What the hell do you want an Arabian Horse trainer?

Barack is picking the best and brightest. I volunteered with my time, money and blood,sweat and tears and I am not complaining. Don't lose your faith in Barack.

Remember we want the most competent people not someone who can't get the job done. Go ahead apply you can at change.gov and if you are more competent you will be hired.

Barack is the change that this country needs. And if you don't want change than I guess you wanted 4 more years of Bush. Who cares if he is picking people from the Clinton Administration and least we had Peace Prosperity a surplus and we were all safe. Can you say the same about the last 8 years. Didn't think so.

[Jacqattack]

LMAO. That was classic

[nbcesq]

No one should worry about the fact that a number of the Obama appointees served in the Clinton White House. By and large, these are people who broke with the Clinton machine to support Obama early on. As noted by others here, it's a mistake to try to staff the White House with neophytes. We need folks knowledgeable about the ways of the Washington and the inner workings of a White House to help get things done.

And in the case of Gregory Craig, this is a fabulous pick! He was outstanding on the impeachment defense team; and then he went on to represent Elian Gonzalez' father. I understand that he knows and cares about international law, as well as US law; and like Obama, he seems to have a remarkably temperate temperament to go along with his first class intellect. I'm delighted to see Mr. Craig named as WH Counsel.

[Wiz]

We'll know how serious this guy is when he names his AG. Hopefully not some tired old hack pol.

[NYNY]

The "new" Obama administration seems to be heading toward a new name, Clinton III. Isn't there anybody else out there, not associated with Clinton, who is qualified to work for Obama? And why no women or minorities? I thought the whole idea of electing Obama was to rid the Democratic party of the Clinton old boy network. Obviously, I was deceived.

[JooJooMan]

Jimmy Carter brought to Washington brand new people to work for him and it was a huge failure.

Change requires transition(not just from Bush to Obama).
Transition means from old to new
"Old to new" needs old to transfer good (not the bad) knowledge to new
Then you have change

[Fzetmptres1]

Valerie Jarret is a triple minority~f­emale~Afri­can American~over 40. There will be more......­.........

[Jacqattack]

Why have you jumped to the conclusion that there are no women or minorities. The only 2 people who I have heard that he has officially named so far are Rahm Emanuel and Valerie Jarrett. I believe this would be a minority and a woman. Calm down my friend. You may want to practice this mantra; "Breath in, breath out, life is good".

[iyamchazz]

SPOT ON!!!

[JJeff88]

If you want to salt your administration with experienced hands (most but not all Democrats) the only available non-Clinton folks would either be a gazillion years old or already dead.

[Wiz]

We all were scammed and they wonder why so many people don't vote. Vote for what? Same old,same old. Lobbyists running the WH and business as usual. All we can do is....list­en up....call your Reps.and Senators and COMPLAIN. Tomorrow morning, get on the phone and start to complain or else just shut up and put up with all this junk.