"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

[indyleftist]

I support leaks

[fredfep]

If I'd wanted Machiavelli, I would have voted for McCain-Palin

[Shake-A-Spear]

Have faith in Obama to do the right thing, leaks or no leaks. Remember how during the campaign he was urged to act this way, act that way, show more aggressiveness, more passion, more anger, more empathy, yada, yada, yada -- all grist for the chatterers, the talking heads, the professional bloviators, pundits, media leeches, know-it-alls. They're like dogs who run after cars Let Obama be Obama. If he was smart enough to win the best campaign ever, give him the chance to prove he knows how to assemble a top notch cabinet. No nipping at the heels as he strides ahead in full command.

[peggyleg]

I am sure BO will start actng like BO....and the love affair that the American people have with him will be over, and fast!1

[Sabreen60]

Do you also get paid for being a prophet? Or are you an unpaid tr0//?

[hjfraser2002]

So you are unpatriotic but not lending your support to your new president.

You must be unamerican.

Everybody needs to stand behind him during these tough times.

Shoes on the other foot now, huh!

[PATina]

Junior Bush was smart enough to win two elections... but having faith in him wouldn't have been smart.

Just because Obama was smart enough to win the election... doesn't mean I or anyone else should blindly trust him. It is imperative that the American people become CRITICALLY SUPPORTIVE of their leaders. We can no longer afford thinking that just because someone is President (or any other elected official) that they will do what's best for America. If the last 8 years taught us anything... it should have taught us that.

Before anyone yells about Obama not being Bush... correct. But I bet if you asked the millions who voted for Bush in 2000 and even in 2004 if they expected his presidency to come to this... over 3/4 of them would respond w/ a resounding NO !

[peggyleg]

Exactly what I hae been saying...

[BatedBreath]

Sorry, Obama has used up all his faith chips in my bank. We might as well have voted for theclintons again for all the good it's done so far. Not only is he using clinton retreads, he's trying to use a clinton.

[truth2008]

As if you voted for Obama in the first place, shoo dittohead!

[CheshireCat2]

Who would be left? This whole thing is like a piece of cheese cloth.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Washington always leaks people. Obama supporters are just spoiled because he ran such a tight campaign but that was because only a few people ran the show. Now you literally have dozens of people in his transition team alone. Leaks are part of Washington and don't do any damage unless they are national security leaks. More much ado about nothing in the 24/7 media and blog worlds.

[peggyleg]

We'll see,won't we?

[Cloball]

Yes we will piggyleg. Go to your repug blog now.

Shoo piggyleg.

[Sabreen60]

You are exactly right. Folks need to grow up and get a life. I was born in DC and believe me nothing is kept secret for very long.

[jedonspring]

Is it the Clintons' team who are leaking? It's tough watching the strictly disciplined Obama team suffer the scrutiny.....it's just not like them to talk. I sincerely hope that if she gets the job there won't be DRAMA. I think she'd be great at it, but 'great' may come with a price tag.

[peggyleg]

Hillary wil do what it takes to take BO down...she has her eye on the POTUS office for 2012....never forge this...I'll bet she voted for John McCain, she and Bill both!

[Sabreen60]

Did you forget to take your meds today?

[hjfraser2002]

remember stand with us or you are unamerican.

[CinciKid]

i totally agree. i have wondered for the last 14 days what would the clintons' voting form looked like. they probably went rethug down the line.

[Cloball]

Forget to eat your chicken leg today, piggyleg?

[truth2008]

Blah, blah, blah! Run away to freeperland little troll!

[AllenD]

I don't think the Clinton leak was a *bad* thing if she is Obama's pick. Now the media is chasing their tail tracking down every Clinton story leaving the transition team in peace while they put together their economic team.

[Mildmannered]

Mr. Obama, I hear that Hillary leaked info.

[changeishere08]

Of course Clinton did. She's pulling the same junk during the primaries with the veep. It's all about pressuring and shaming Obama into choosing Clinton. The Clintons overplayed their hand again, playing the games of the 80s/90s.

[Pupadup4oBama]

do you know this for a fact? Do you have sources? if so, please provide them to us. Inquiring minds want to know.

[Chaucea]

It shows a level or professionalism when a team can keep confidential information confidential, and quite a lack of professionalism when a team keeps leaking information.

These leaks, if they really are coming from Obama's transition team, really don't bode well for retaining the confidence of his supporters. :-(

And if these leaks are coming from potential appointees' teams, that is a strong indicator of potential instability and lack of trustworthiness of that potential appointee.

[Dynamohum]

Who appointed you the judge and jury? Furthermore, what makes you an expert to be critical of Obama's administration? There are many factors involved. Remember the fact that NSA and CIA are listening? Domestic and International. That is just one example.

[peggyleg]

It's called an opinion, and just because you happen to not agree with this opinion doesn't make it wrong......

BO can't control our opinions...yet, anyway!

[BatedBreath]

==These leaks, if they really are coming from Obama's transition team, really don't bode well for retaining the confidence of his supporters.==

Agree.

[SurrealPumpkin]

So far every source I've heard of has been "a democratic source", "someone close to both campaigns", "senior democratic source" . . I'm a senior democrat, so I guess that means I can leak stuff to the press to. Never once has the leak been sourced to Transition Team without several steps in between. Not necessarily the news, in other words.

[LeeCalif]

Good !! Need discipline.

[peggyleg]

What a shock..."loose lips sink ships".....uh, oh....

[Suny]

It is noteworthy that it was "Clinton advisers" who leaked the Clinton for State story to Andrea Mitchell, the reporter who broke the news on MSNBC . How on God;s good earth did the press suddenly know that Mrs. Clinton was on a flight to Chicago for a high level meeting? How did the press know to watch for a Clinton motorcade making its way in all its pomp and show to the Obama Transition HQ?

Hitchens was right! This is certainly, NOT the CHANGE I CAN BELIEVE IN. There were concrete reasons why Clinton was an imperfect vessel of CHANGE. Andrea Mitchell, "Mourning Joe," and the rest of the MSNBC crowd may OWE Hillary something but not the people's campaign that did all the leg work to reclaim our Democracy by supporting Obama's campaign. This is definitely NOT why we invested money, and a whole year (and more) making calls, canvassing, and rallying for Obama all through the campaign!

[metalpipe]

There is obviously still a strong and well funded drive from the right wing controlled MS media to degrade Obama's image. Nothing more.

[peggyleg]

Right wing media? Who are you talking about?

The only network that is close to "right-wing" is Fox, all of the rest are in the tank for BO!!!

Do not already stat re-writing history, it was just 2 weeks ago that the election took place...

[Pupadup4oBama]

But you invested money, calls, canvasing and rallying because you believed in him....right???
So let him do his job, let him keep it under wraps until he can provide us with the full information that he can give us.
This is the problem with 24/hour news - they have to fill it up.

[truth2008]

Mitchell admitted that the leak was from the Clinton advisors.

[Suny]

Clearly the media noise generated here + the endorsements for Clinton from Kissinger (and other big wig Republicans) + Bill Clinton's positive feedback for the idea while on a foreign stage + "conservatives" who fervently tried to make her be the Dem nominee that they could ravage against and win are the ones making Clinton's case (while NOT retracting pretty outrageous accusations linking Clintons to all kinds of illegal actions) -- in other words, the same camps that pushed hard against Obama during the primaries are behind these latest machinations to pressure Obama.

He MUST not start off allowing the Clintons & Co to blackmail him...can you imagine how they would operate if she was controlling things in State? Remember the mismanagement and turmoil within her own campaign? Add the leaks as part of that same old game of jockeying for power and playing politics that is the familiar Clinton modus operandi and you have the CHANGE YOU CANNOT BELIEVE IN!!!
We have glimpsed since last week machinations that ensure that Obama WILL lose his brand, which is definitely the perfect game plan for the familiar 2008 Democratic Primaries allies -- the Clinton machine and the Republicans in 2012.

[Sabreen60]

Oh pleezzz! Grow up !!!

[peggyleg]

I am grown up, I just happen to have a sense of humor...you know, kind of like the libs do when they are talking about a conservative....hehehehe

[peggyleg]

Another left-wing conspiracy...dag gum those republicans...poor BO,

If I remember correctly, he is the one who asked her to be SOS....so he has NO ONE ato blame for the back-lash except hmself.......sorry!!! hahahaha

[Cloball]

dag gum!!

What part of the country are you from anyway?

[Pupadup4oBama]

he MUST not start off allowing the Clintons to blackmail him.

Um, last time I checked HE was the POTUS elect...not them. They must do what HE says. There is no blackmail - if anything - they are the ones that COULD be blackmailed.
The man is brilliant. He was president of the Harvard Law Review...correct?
Well this is the most prestigious appointment a lawyer can have.
Let him think for himself.

[unfiltered]

the guy went 21 months under the most intense scrutiny of his career and had no leaks, but now most of you are quick to believe that under the pressure of his transition team, the one you have after you WIN the presidency, he's now all of a sudden vulnerable and his force field has been pierced.

seriously?

[Bozwellian]

...the "leaks" have come more since MORE CLINTON folks are incorporated into the OBama administration team......WHY none mentioning that factor ?
(one of THE highlights of the Obama cmapaign and win, it was highly organzied and quite well administered all along with THE ORIDINARY people feeling THEY were THE prime supporters..It has been toutted in essence he would not be beholding to ANY SPECIAL INTERESTS...unfortunately, seems the Clinton tenacles have long reaches and breaches too and is disconcerting to many as we watch the "transition" ...WE WANTED CHANGE NOT MORE OF THE SAME and getting quesy...Hey, they did NOT even oust Lieberman, NOT A GOOD SIGN OF THINGS TO COME , certainly does NOT indicate CHANGE !!!

[Pupadup4oBama]

Ok, when you learn how to spell correctly - MAYBE we'll take you a little more seriously.
Sorry.

[Suny]

The Transition Team is highly suspect because it is no longer comprised of just Obama people! Didn't you hear, the majority are Clintonians! Remember how the Clinton campaign was run?

[peggyleg]

It definitley looks like a Clinton re-tread administration, so far...

[changeishere08]

Agreed! These leaks are not coming from the Obama camp, but from the manipulative and power hungry Clinton and Clintonistas. Obama is playing Chess, while the Clintons are playing Chinese checkers.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Um no....the leaks are coming from the media - who are hungry for ratings. As you recall Clinton did not admit to her meeting with Obama in Chicago, she said it was personal business.

[1lalady]

If you leak it you are gone, I agree with OBAMA .These cable news outlets just nipping at the bit for anything to make some news story so they can stay on the air 24/7.Look what they are saying now, OBAMA taps Hillary for Sec. of state, now the news media are reporting that some democrats are unhappy that OBAMA has spoke to Hillary for Sec. of state job, after the things she said in the primary.
How do they know democratics are unhappy? I am a democrat and know lots of democratics and they are over joyed if this happens. The media needs something to say for 24/7. So if you leak you should be gone.

[StarMarine]

If I was Obama, I would check any office or conference rooms for electronic bugs; his staff might not be the ones leaking it could be this administration or Republicans spying. It would not take much to sweep any room and screen all that attend any meeting for bugs they either are aware of having on their persons or those that are just being used without their knowledge. I would also check to see if windows are close at hand that could be used to listen through via directional mics.

[stgadt]

don't they have sophisticated equipment - "satellite" surveillance on your location and conversations????

[peggyleg]

Can you spell republican c-o-n-s-p-i-r-ac-y??? Yea, right...sure...

I hope you are seeing someone for that paranoia of yours...shesh!!

[Pupadup4oBama]

Ok...Mel Gibson - whatever you say.
I think you've been watching too many movies.