"If You Leak, You're Gone": Obama Transition Team

Marc Ambinder reports on the Obama team's somewhat unsuccessful attempt to run a tight ship:

Several Obama transition staffers have put a version of that quotation in transition co-chief John Podesta's mouth.

Many of the major staff appointments so far - Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff, Greg Craig as White House counsel, the fact of the Clinton meeting, along with details about internal thinking on Gitmo and other subjects - have escaped whatever barriers the Obama team has set in place.

Every transition staffer and adviser has signed a non-disclosure agreement, and staff members are regularly warned by their superiors not to talk to the press.

My guess is that the sheer size of the universe that Obama's now dealing with - huge agency teams, reams of outside advisers being asked for their opinions - renders silence virtually impossible.

Read more about Obama's transition team here.

Comments

[abby4ever]

'If you leak, you're gone.' There goes Hillary.

[Mudge]

We heard that before with Valarie Plame.

[Madmac]

Those are Chicago Rules. Open Your Mouth out of turn and you're gone. Thank You for remembering that you're from the City of Chicago...

[MouthFountain]

But the meaning of "gone" has changed!

[LiberalProfessor]

Maybe, but maybe not!

[VitoCorleone]

No, it hasn't.

V.C.

[hamchunk]

Everyone on here who is fully supportive of PE Obama's "no leak" policy and desires the quick removal of all who breech it are seemingly a bit hipocritcal. We need transparency in government, and sometimes the only way that is accomplished is through the leaking of information to whatever outlet can get published. Because, if your short term memory serves you well, lack of transparency is what caused the United States to be in the mess it is in today.

[Pupadup4oBama]

agreed we need transparency in government, and I think Obama has proven that he will provide that. However, as we are witnessing the discourse over the Hillary nod and the Lieberman event, well, it's just too much all at once. Obama has a lot of pressure going on (not that he can't handle it) but there are people coming from all sides on these issues and it's better to just keep it on the DL. until a definitive answer is reached. It's not transparency, it's just common sense.

[papapj]

..So what happened to the time honored trial balloon..?

.Of course, Obama will avail himself of that tool, and probably already has...?

[LesserOf2Evils]

Yes he has. Today. His senior (?) advisers leaked that he will probably not pursue charges against any Bush administration criminals for their role in torture.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081117/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/obama_interrogators

[ejazzed1059]

handle your business MR.PRESIDENT ELECT....

[Pupadup4oBama]

exactly! Do whatcha gotta do.
I wrote him a note from his site saying that I support him 100%.

[ijames]

The team could hire Stephen Jobs.

Apple knows how to handle leakers!

They've even got a leash on the press by inviting them all in and forcing them to sign NDAs before disclosure!

[Cherlesq]

Start firing the leakers and they will get the message right quick. Do it now.

[JICC]

It's like a sieve. A little discipline is in order.

[BatedBreath]

There was the emanuel leak, the clinton leak and now the holder leak. Who's gone, besides me?

[Lion24]

If there are "no leaks," it will be the first time in the 232-year history of the American presidency that there are no leaks.

Get real, Team Obama.

[Lion24]

Correction. 219-year history of the presidency.

[Solja]

The leaks are coming from the transition team folks because there were no leaks during his almost 2 year campaign. We heard leaks from every other campaign, except Obama's. Now all of these "newbies" coming in with big mouths. I hope they get caught, outted publicly, and fired.

[BillMelater]

One man's leak is another man's scoop - LOL.

http://billmel8er.wordpress.com

[PATina]

hahahahahahaha... cute

[DumbDad]

One man's leak is another man' s coup

[betrayus]

Hi,

Only one's doing any "leaking" are the Clintons...Trying to put Obama "in between a rock & hard place.

On another note: "The truth surfaces again...yet people do not care, or hate the truth.

VIDEO: How Smart People Became ‘Morons’ On Election Day 2008

***Note: Make sure you "click" on the link below video...because the Truth does not lie.

http://iraqsinconvenienttruth.com/2008/11/18/how-smart-people-became-morons-on-election-day-2008-because-of-grave-media-bias/

People have to learn what the word "discernment" means...and apply it in their thinking.

Peace,
Dan

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

THE CLASS OF THE NEW GENERATION WONT TELL ANYONE ELSE :) WE PROMISE :)

[Manuel]

Plus Ça Change Ce N'Est Pas La Même Chose.

Manuel

[NationalTreasure]

deja vu the worst of the Clnton administration will be played out in the Obama presidency now that Obama has been co-opted bythe Clintons and all of their former advisors, staffers and Bill and Hillary

the Clinton's played Obama like a deck of cards and flashed the trump card just before election night

President-Elect Obama has now become the Clinton's sock puppet

[Pancake]

Do you reckon we will also get the best of the Clinton years? i.e.; Peace, Prosperity and good standing in the world.........
What does your crystal ball say Oh Nationaltreasurenanda?

[peggyleg]

English, please...

[MrsPeel]

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Just like you don't know any gays, don't you learn second languages there in Texas?

(I'm not going to say, "Oh, wait, speaking Texan IS a second language.")