Obama's White House Hires Show Respect For Congress

Among the small number of White House staff announcements made so far by President-elect Barack Obama , most of the top spots have gone to recent Capitol Hill veterans.

The latest wave, announced early Sunday morning, includes Senior Adviser Pete Rouse, who served as Senate chief of staff to Obama and former Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina, who was the chief of staff to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus .

They join incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel , a Chicago congressman who is the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House leadership, and White House lobbyist Phil Schiliro, who worked as Daschle's policy director and was House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman 's top aide before joining the Obama campaign as a liaison to Capitol Hill.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[XME]

Obama is very smart, and his picks so far reflect it. He's picking people who will be able to help make sure they do things in a way that help to get them through Congress and the Senate.

Most administrations think only about their rolls...Obama is thinking beyond that, to the entire process, and to how he can be most sucessful at getting his ideas to actually be approved, so we're not just stuck with ideas that the other parts of Gov continually squash.

[osalover]

People, people.... please at least give the man a chance. Trust his judgement, while still keeping watch on the things he does. I, for one, am withholding judgement until he is at LEAST inaugurated!

[osalover]

Today, I actually was naive enough to believe that I would no longer see Palin's face on this board.

Imagine my disappointment. Will she EVER go away?

Someone please give me some hope. I promise, if she goes away by tomorrow, it will be one of my fervent prayer of thanks come this Thanksgiving!

[plages]

and we the people?

[iPolitics]

He wants to actually get things done unlike Dubya or even Clinton

[nikky]

I AGREE I WAS SO WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT DASCHLE

[marinade]

His staff shows respect for Congress. That's nice.

Maybe they can respectfully show Congress to show the American people some respect.

My fear is that the vigorous hope and change idea is being replaced with caution and modesty.

We need new ideas and new minds in government.

[ThunderclapNewman]

We also need experienced hands who are familiar with how Congress works, and how to get things done.

I trust Obama to balance those elements.

Do You?

[marinade]

Is experience all that great? Look at Palin. She has experience but she wasn't particularly good at what she did.

Maybe success and achievement are the qualities that the new administration should be looking for.

Trust and respect must be earned. I trusted Obama enough to support him generously during the campaign. We'll see what the future holds.

[patianneb]

In MY humble opinion, RESPECT and CONSIDERATION for how governance works and for people who do it DOES represent HOPE and CHANGE!
Remember Obama is working his way from the "bottom" ('freshman' senator) UP...

[jdw1981]

When government fails the people it should be dismantled and reassembled, not "respected". And reverting to the status quo does not represent change, no matter how hard anyone tries to spin it.

[jdw1981]

Let's see Obama show some respect for the members of Congress who actually care about the great injustices that are being perpetrated on the American people by the banking industry. I doubt Dennis Kucinich will get an appointment, and though I'm withholding judgment until after Obama's first 100 days in office, I'm beginning to wonder how much REAL change will happen regarding the grave economic situation this country is in..

[IssyWise]

I wouldn't call it "respect" of Congress to staff the White House with people who understand how to work with it. One doesn't "respect" the gluttonous giant drunk living next door when one avoids being stepped on by him.

Clinton and Carter both failed to understand that, in spite of its self-inflicted positive relevance, Congress is the strongest arm of the government. Working with it--messaging the giant so he'll fall and pass out in the yard rather than on the roof, is not showing "respect," just a healthy recognition of reality.

[aubrey8]

And the people he picked up who broke in under Clinton were tested thoroughly by an extremist and hostile republican party led by newt ginrich. ginrich ended up getting it cramed up his arse. that led to the end of his political career.

[rockyersocksoff]

Listen, if Obama keeps acting this way, I might actually have to get my Optimism out of mothballs.

Despite all the folks who want to complain that there are too many Clintonites or whatever, and I'm no big fan of just re-hiring everybody from the 90s, Obama really DOES appear to be doing things differently.

The tone he is setting is remarkable. And such a change from GWB.

Arrogance, pettiness, and partisan know-it-all-ism is on its way out, seemingly replaced by the dignified, inclusive open-mindedness of a truly confident , as opposed to insecurely cocky, man (and his partner.)

A change in "feelings" by itself ain't gonna fix the economy or reduce our war-mongering, but without it we are lost.

[JMBrodie]

Thank you. Let's keep in mind that Obama ran against the Bush record, not the Clinton record.

[allonfla]

Some of you are soooooo stupid and ridiculously ideological and rigid minded. He ran against Bush policies, not against Clinton staff. It will be HIS IDEAS that they will be implementing and he needs people who know how to do it. So shut your faces and wait until he actually does something. You know, you are no different from Rush who is calling this an Obama Recession even though Bush has been in charge for 8 years. You are no different that Hannity and BillO who spit their venom on a nightly basis about what Obama is going to do with no actual evidence.

[amistad]

Exactly.

[oscartucker]

HEAR! HEAR!

[JMBrodie]

Thank You!

[AnalyzeIT]

Well stated, thank you 'allonfla'.

kUDOS!!!

[Francis 3]

Well, pardon my pessimism but after 8 years, I think as a tax payer, I"m a little entitled to question President Elect Obama and his choices. As much as I loathe the Bush administration, I have to admit that the economic crisis did not start with his administration. And as much as I loved President Bill Clinton, his house wasn"t void of questionable (if not outright corrupt) officials.

President Elect Obama ran on the campaign of change, not just anti-Bush, but change. Yes, he needs to populate his administration with experienced men and women. But for my taste, I would like him to reach farther back and possibly in other pockets. Aren"t there experienced, honest, political heavies NOT formerly in the Clinton administration? Are there people at the state level that would breathe fresh air and bring new ideas?

But to lump me and others who politely question President Elect Obama"s choices in with the likes of Rush and Hannity is mean spirited. I take offense to the label "koolaid drinker" no matter which side it"s coming from.

"Shut my face" until he actually does something? Same to you, friend, same to you!

[bygollymissmolly]

Well, fortunately for us YOU were not elected President of the United States. YOU are entitled to your opinion and you are entitled to grip about something that hasn't happened yet. But WE are not required to listen to you.

[SanderO]

continued...

We must be patient and believe that he has a long term progressive strategy. He needs to be supported and reap some success in the first moves. The world out there is pulling for him so he will not have to convince them that American is about to change its foreign policy. With less pressure from outside he will be able to address domestic issues and restoring the constitution will be numero uno.

Let's see if he begins to slowly dismantle the national security state which not only consumes enormous resources, but it's not producing positive results, and may be doing the reverse... and has resulted in the loss of our rights. If he is honest with his first appointees they know that they are helping him (us) with HIS ultimate agenda and lending their experience and imprimatur to that effort and that if they are not with the program, they will be replaced down the road.

[DrDemon]

I see your logic...let's hope you are right!

Good job!

[SanderO]

continued...

The same for cabinet posts. By putting some respected "place sitters" from "across the political spectrum" in place at first he can appear to be bipartisan, can possibly get more support from ALL of congress and all of the nation, including the 45% that voted republican. And if his initial policies bear fruit, those from the other side will be less resistant as he moves left and there will be more momentum.

To move the entire apparatus and mindset of the nation, to find a new paradigm he must begin from what he was left and look at into the future with both tactics and strategy to get there. If he installed a very progressive team from the get go, he might please the progressives (small portion of the total population) but frighten the middle and terrify the right side of the spectrum. There would be resistance and failure more likely.

He will pick off the very unpopular W policies and reverse them right away.. and pledge to work at the others and have things going on below the surface to bring them out when the time is right.

[SanderO]

Here's the deal with what he may be doing. To change direct think of a pendulum. It was swung off to the right and though it is way off on the right side, if it is to move to the left it needs to start slowly gaining energy, pass with maximum momentum through the center and continue moving left.

To get a rather traditional establishment (right leaning) to turn around he need to find some who know the game, and direct them to change course. The proof will be in what policy initiatives he directs these cabinet officers to follow.

I suspect once things are moving in the correct direction he may begin more bold initiatives and some of his seconds will be replaced because they either are not with the program.

[ivillage]

==================
Barack Obama's Favorite Book: 'Team of Rivals': http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/11/barack-obamas-favorite-book-team-of-rivals.html

Obama interview a big `get' for CBS' Steve Kroft: http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/11/obama-interview-a-big-get-for-cbs-steve-kroft.html
==================

[manicallday]

I understand that his message of change was vague and meant for campaign purposes, but I would like to see some real attempt at it. Of course it's easy to petition change for the failed policies of GWB, but how about the mistakes of the Clinton administration that often go overlooked? I don't believe, from his voting record and cabinet selections that he is willing bring the change that America needs. Things like the drug war and the assault on civil liberties look like they still remain with us.

It is also evident that Obama will benefit from overwhelming support from his supporters and held to a lower level of scrutiny. I still fail to understand how Biden received such favorable support from Obama supporters expecting change. Or why Obama's support for the Patriot Act, FISA and the bailout are not relevant. I think that if he ran on change that we should expect just that. Being apologetic for the man will not help any of us.

[DrDemon]

--- > E*X*A*C*T*L*Y !

Although I wholeheartedly support the Biden decision, I just don't want to see a mirror image of the Clinton administration. If that's the case, then Obama SHOULD HAVE just selected Hillary for VP...or better yet, maybe he should have just voted for her HIMSELF!

[amistad]

NOT!
Again, you don't know what Obama is planning. Obama is a very smart man and you would do well to remember that.

[amistad]

You don't know what Obama is planning. You are on the outside looking in; would you even understand what you are looking at? No. Because Obama knows what he is doing or he wouldn't have even become Presidnent Elect.
So, arm chair quarterback, be still and let Obama do his work. His way.

[manicallday]

And you are exemplifying my point. I would rather not fall into the game of blind support. Further, there is nothing mystifying about analyzing his intentions through his past actions or cabinet picks. You don't have to be willfully ignorant.

[allonfla]

"It is also evident that Obama will benefit from overwhelming support from his supporters and held to a lower level of scrutiny." - Lower level of scrutiny? HAHAHAHAHAHA - yeah I can tell from the posts whenever there is another specualtion of who will be in his cabinet, that Obama supporters are SOOOOOOOO understanding! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! His supporters are some of the most fickle people I have ever come across. He is not even in office yet and you are second-guessing what he ain't done yet. Riddle me this all of you Think-You-Know-Better Know Nothings: How do you bring about change in the Washington machine when you bring on people who have no idea how it works?

[amistad]

Exactly.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Seriously, the criticisms that I have seen on liberal blogs have been disturbing to say the least. I don't even want to venture on the rightwing blogs to see what they think. I have said it time and time again, we need to present an united front against the right. There is a reason why they have been able to bully the Liberals, its because we do not present that united front.

[blaqntelligence]

"Riddle me this all of you Think-You-Know-Better Know Nothings: How do you bring about change in the Washington machine when you bring on people who have no idea how it works?"

Bingo!
I have asked the same questions.
What do they expect change to be? Candidates selected from the want ads?
The corner gas station owner as Secretary of Energy?
The local bus driver as head of the Department of Transportation?
FIckle indeed.....Or maybe neocons.

[manicallday]

I question the intellectual integrity of your rebuttal. Please give me examples, other than FISA, where Obama has gone through any real scrutiny about his policy stances or cabinet choices. What I have found are leagues of apologist that willing and able to rationalize every move that he makes whether right or wrong. If you can show me this I will concede, but for now I don't think that your statement lacks intellectual integrity.

[LollieDotCom]

I'm not apologizing for Obama at all. I'm saying, where were YOU during this interminable race for the white house?

You never got that the biggest change he was going to make was away from cronyism and idiotic hiring practices to hiring the best and the brightest? Really?

That's exactly what I voted for. So unlike you I am thrilled to tears with his choices.

[DrDemon]

I'm sorry, but when I go buy a new car, I don't tell the sales rep to get the tires, wheels, transmission, seats, radio, windshield, etc. out of my old car and install them in MY NEW CAR. It WON'T be a new car!

You can't change the ways of Washington by bringing in the former employees of the Clinton administration and expect real change. They are STILL SET IN THEIR WAYS AND THEIR WAYS ARE SET IN THEM!

Call me crazy! Is it me? I don't get it!

If McCain ran his campaign on change and won; would you really expect a change if he hired Don Rumsfeld, Paul Andy Card, etc... you get the point?

[DrDemon]

EDIT**

If McCain ran his campaign on change and won; would you really expect a change if he hired Don Rumsfeld, Paul Bremer, Andy Card, Karl Rove, etc... you get the point?

[pupbayer]

And they'd be crucifying him...but Obama doing the same is just fine. That's why this country can't win...too much blind partisanship. Party is always more important than country.

[allonfla]

OK. McCain did run his campaign on change, but the biggest tell all that he would continue Bush's White House is that he used Bush's people AND his tactics during the campaign. Obama had form Clintonites on his advisor's list, but the people in his inner circle where brand new to all of us AND his way of running his campaign was different than Clintons (both of them). If you base your opinions on such fluffy and useless evidence, I can't imagine how you judge the people in your life.

[metalpipe]

Just remember who is at the helm. It isn't an ego maniac without enough sence to keep his johnson in his pants (Billo), or an ambitious woman on political steroids (HRC). It is a guy who is clever, quick on his feet, had the good judge and wherewithall to find a wife like Michelle Obama, and ran a pre and post election compaign that absolutely kicked butt. Nuff said. I think we can trust his judgement.

[vippy]

I can see where Obama is following the advice of President Lincoln. Keep your enemies close!
However, we need to be alert in 2012 and vote them all out = all of the old dogs who are so set
in their way and who have done nothing for the middle class EVER! I don't care if they get someone like Sheehan in the office but know one thing, we need change, real change and Obama
alone cannot do it. It is up to us!

[canucklivinginUSA]

So tell me, if you were the general manager of a team, where you have one inexperienced but extremely talented player, would you surround him with a bunch of rookies or with experienced players?

[rockyersocksoff]

Well, before you lean too heavily on THAT arguement, you might want to check the records of the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays last year.

[XME]

Those who think putting people with experience in is a bad idea don't get it.

To use your analogy... Obama is like a GPS system in the car. He sets the course, but to get their he needs a good, tested, engine, etc.

The first two years of Clinton's presidency were a mess because he chose folks who didn't know how to get things done in Washington.