Axelrod On Obama Transition Leaks: 'No One Is Frustrated' (VIDEO)

Barack Obama's chief campaign strategist and soon to be White House senior advisor David Axelrod said the transition team is not upset over the increasing number of leaks about potential cabinet appointments, a stark contrast to the tight-lipped campaign.

"No one is frustrated, no one is anguished," Axelrod told CBS 2 political editor Mike Flannery. He blamed the leaks on the expansion of the team beyond the tight campaign core and a scoop-hungry news media operating in "a vacuum":

"Any time you involve large numbers of people in something like this, there's gonna be leaks. And there's a fanaticism almost among the news media to break the big story."

Of Hillary Clinton's likely appointment as Secretary of State, Axelrod said only that "she's obviously a talented public servant and someone who would enhance any team."

The longtime Chicagoan said he is not moving to Washington permanently and sees his White House stint as a "Chicagoan on assignment."

Watch the interview:

Comments

[krischly]

What about the rumors of Rep. Raul Grijalva for Secretary of Interior? What a change to have the House of Reps biggest national parks supporter running interior...

[walktothelight]

They are probably just pissed about the Hillary pick...I personally think it 's a good idea and predicted this would happen. Hillary did have a lot of folks who she convinced to vote for Obama even if they stayed home McCain maybe wearing $4 million shoes.

[kshawNCvoter]

such a great assembly of minds. i could not be happier.

[Tobiasism]

Obama transition team are doing it correctly and appointing people that they can trust to do the job well for the USA.

[crossoverwriter]

Is it only me who thinks this guy is sexy?
Smart is sexy.

[Fongenie]

No, you're not. I also like that mustache.

[Shanvan]

I also think majority of these people that are bashing Obama on huffpo claiming they are liberals are actually undercover rethugs. Obama has got this, do not worry. When you spot undercover rethugs on huffpo, just ignore them. They do not ever have constructive ctiticism, all they want to do is just be bitter, whine whine... and complain it's more of the same... Clintonites etc, and not change we can believe in. They will keep coming to huffpo for the next 4 yrs and claim how they supported Obama, and donated money etc and are now disappointed with him. Majority of these people are rethugs, trust me you can spot a true Obama supporter's constructive criticism , and one that is an undercover Fox news kool aid drinker.

[backhandpath]

By your own description and logic I would say you are an undercover rethug.
And of course in your world you will see me as one too.
Soooo everyone should ignore each of us, since ya'jus never know how many aliens ain't out there in space.
I could be a repug plant pushing to get Clinton on the cabinet to enjoy can watching such an appointment completely destroy any aura of Change Obama promised.
I could say it is just great that it appears that Obama will be appointing most of the upper Democratic Leadership cronies. Gobama. Yes. Give us the people who stood down and gave us George Bush in 2000, give us Hillary and another War. Give us Lawrence Summers since over half the population is women and you know how they can get, just ask Lawrence!
Yes, we need Bill Clinton.

Axelrod is wrong.
I am very upset, very frustrated with you and Obama and the leaks.
Here we are doing the same thing again.
Spinning leaks.
Too bad, too sad.

[bassopro]

I spent a lifetime in October 1962, off Cuba maintaining the fragile communication that prevented the landing triggering WWIII, and the Nuclear Holocaust destroying us all.. I lived in Russia from 2003 - 2004" Russians then respected Americans. Now one easily buys104 F***K Bush T-shirt varieties. Soon Russian woman will wear "т??хнитесь Clinton" Pantsuits. WHY! Barack Obama named a Secretary of State so stupid that she told Vladimir Putin "He had no Soul". There's no conceivable Russian insult more deeply offensive! Bubbette Clinton still believes she's Goldwater's cheerleader and Pole-Polisher?for the YAF.?? Change: does NOT include Bubba and Buttette Clinton- to call them Change is not only an oxymoron. It is an insult to the credibility of the American people. I voted for Barack Obama because he promised a Change from the Divisive and Mendacious politics of the Bush"s and Clinton administrations!. Barack, If you haven't the courage to say NO to the unending dramas, lies, and underhanded dealings of the Clintons, how can we expect you to deal with an Achminajad, a Putin, a Kim Jung Il?, let alone lead the American people? There are choices:: Bill Richardson is a true native.(not a red-necked carpetbagger) . His ethics are untainted, he's truly experienced in foreign affairs and has had the courage to support Obama @ a critical time despite the Clinton-thug attacks. Richardson is a true proponent of Change, not Walmart blue-light treason! Make a sensible choice for Secretary of State.

[Cville2008]

There's a difference between 20 close lipped people not saying anything- but when you add hundreds of people it's a completely different story. Of course many of these people are either Washington people or Clinton people they do talk to each other and the media.

[mergina]

Before Obama's people got to washington, keeping things secret was a whole lot easier. Washington has a way of sucking leaks out of even the most dedicated people. Are they leaks, REALLY, or SURVEILLANCE. Somebody is ALWAYS listening in on EVERYONE.

[denver]

Ya the DC media is still the same old players that have been there for decades now.They are salavating at any inside info they can run with and put on the 24 hr cycle and run the same story over and over with 20 deifferent headlines and bring the same pundits on every other hr to say the same thing with different wording.
Like the SOS story I really love HRC but give me abreak it was a one day story until O has made his final decision and formally rolls her out then it is a story again.That is why I use the internet more for my news sources than the cable news programs,they really are maddening most of the time.Like Obama is basing his whole cabinet on the Doris Goowin book team of rivals.Like he had no other thoughts or considerations that are going into the whole selecting a cabinet process.
And Rahm is great he is not the Clintonite people are making him out to be,I love HRC that is know secret here with my posts but they did not get along at all in the Clinton administration,rumor has it she pushed and pushed to have him fired.Which is one thing I find wierd,like i said I'm a huge fan of hers but that was a horrible call on her part I know she is not perfect,but not to see Rahms potential was baffeling to me.

[orangepetal]

Chicago is such a fabulous city, I look forward to some Chicago intellect and culture on the national scene.

[mcantwell]

Really? Who would the 62 million plus people who voted for Obama have preferred, Rush and Hannity's favorite person Joe the Plumber?

[junieb]

TVL

You cannot use what you don't have. He's the shoot 'emup cowboy.

[kburlz]

OH NO OH NO! The press is finding out who's in line for the cabinet! This is terrible! The country is falling apart!

[GOP-Hater]

People need to get a life, don't you think they probably intentionally leak the names to test the waters!

[DeniseD]

Yes.

[POTUS2008]

no

[0emissions]

Obama supporters are already disappointed with Rahm Emmanuel.
Summers is a no no too.
People who respect America's great farming community and all those who are in support of organic crops as opposed to industrial chemical farming are very worried about who will represent them on Agriculture.
Anyone in favour of GE crops and seeds ,if they were appointed ,would face a worldwide protest, and it will be BIG!

[Bonny9]

I have been supporting Obama since before he announced. Since 2004. So speak for yourself, I like Rahm. I think that people ought to give Barack some respect. He ran a fantastic campaign. People were always second guessing him and he was always right where he wanted to be. I think Hilary is a fine choice, this President wants to unite, and we should be thinking that way too.

[DeniseD]

I really liked Rahm during the campaign. He was a great advocate for Obama and deserves the position in the White House. Plus, he is capable and experienced. I don't know if he is a hard-nose, but you probably need to be if you are Chief of Staff.

[Laffy]

I'm a huge Obama supporter and I think Rahm was an awesome choice.

[doctorwang]

I like Rahm's noodles, too. Sometimes Safeway has them on sale for 8 for a dollar. The 'Oriental Chicken Flavor' ones are my favorites.

[POTUS2008]

absolutely he is a great choice.

[bygollymissmolly]

So, would you care to tell us what Rahm Emmanuel has done as Obama's Chief of Staff to disappoint people? What, you can't come up with anything?

Why don't people just hold their criticism until Obama has done something to criticize, rather than criticizing him for things you "think" he may do down the road?

[IntExec]

They HAVEN'T taken office. No one -- including the president-elect -- has an official position. Please grow up.

[Horus45]

I am a huge Obama supporter and have donated time AND money to his campaign and I have no problem with the way he is filling his cabinet.

When you say "Obama supporters are already disappointed with Rahm Emmanuel.", just who are you speaking for?

Rahm was a great choice, he will get things done!