Patrick Gaspard: Obama's Political Director

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Politicians and strategists praise Patrick Gaspard highly, although he stays away from the limelight.

"Patrick is the best political mind of his generation in New York and maybe the nation," says Kevin Sheekey, who as Michael Bloomberg's right-hand-man has frequently worked and battled with Gaspard.

"I wouldn't dispute that," said David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist and Gaspard's cohort on the campaign trail. When reminded that such a title could be bestowed on Axelrod himself, the strategist said he was "happy to cede that" to Gaspard.

The Washington Post, among others, has announced that a longtime labor operative of Barack Obama's, Patrick Gaspard, will be named Obama's White House political director.

Gaspard served as national political director for much of Obama's general election campaign and was named deputy director of personnel for the transition effort. Prior to his work with Obama, Gaspard was the lead political operative for the 1199 branch of the Service Employees International Union, a huge and hugely influential union representing health care workers in New York. He spent the 2004 general election as the national field director for America Coming Together.

Gaspard was featured prominently in Ryan Lizza's recent New Yorker piece detailing how Obama won. Of his job interview with the Illinois Senator, Gaspard recalled Obama saying: "I think that I'm a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I'll tell you right now that I'm gonna think I'm a better political director than my political director."

Comments

[Nommo]

Pretty damn good poet, too.

[sueno]

My family has a long history with 1199
we love our union and its great to see
one of "our" own in the W.H.-
We live in such a beautiful time....

[munki]

I am moved to tear... diversity by qualification - what is America is about...

[tyrdofwaitin]

Gaspard would be an outstanding pick --- by any color measure!

What most of us who are so provincial seem not to get is that there is a mountain of Black talent in America who just haven't had the OPPORTUNITY to be seen and be effective: Keep Black folks in the shadows and you never see or imagine that they are there.

My dad, a Black hotel worker, struggled hard to establish the hotel workers union back in the 1940s. I daresay, that without that union to protect my father's interests as a worker, I don't know where I'd be today.

Folks are fond of blaming unions for just about everything. I urge you to stand inside the shoes of an auto worker, postal worker, UPS carrier, construction worker , transit worker or any other worker who must accomplish the most grueling and uncomfortable work every day and....the­n you'll know the value of a union contract with an employer.

[iceage7]

How about getting interviewed by Obama for a position he is telling you he knows better than you do.. Wow won't it be intimidating when your interviewer tells you.....

I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I'll tell you right now that I'm gonna think I'm a better political director than my political director."

[christianmama4change]

Its a good way to keep them on their toes - they can't pull wool over their Obama's eyes.

[ksjohnso]

This is great given how the Republicans and Big Three are beating up on unionized workers.

My father worked 40 years for Ford, and was a member of the UAW. I am tired of the auto companies blaming the hard workers for the companies' failures to innovate. The UAW ensured that their members had fair wages to advance economically, send their children to college, and save for retirement. The union allowed my parents to send me to doctors and emergency rooms as a child suffering from asmtha, and they gave me momey to pay for my books every semester. These failures of CEOs complaining about the workers ensuring fair wages and health insurance is ridiculous, especially while they fly private jets and their workers cannot pay their bills because of lay offs. If they want a bail out (which I am in favor of because I have a number of family who still work for the auto industry in Detroit), I am with Pelosi. They need viable plan for innovation, but they also need to spend a week working on the assembly line, so they know what real hard work is. They probably could not last a whole day.

For the Republicans blaming the UAW, the union is made those Joe and Jane six packs that you claine to fight for during the election. As usual, it was a pack of lies. Republicans represent the inept heads of failed companies.

[corkonian]

Well said, thanks.

[bubbuh]

Certainly, signals the focus that Obama hopes his Presidency will have...Her­e's hoping it works out.

[Obama4change]

There were so many people that made the Obama win such a success and they were so dedicated and worked so hard including all the supporters and bloggers. You are the best

[truegreen]

Good pick.

[Trebor1]

Sorry. "Common"

[tbone99]

as in the comon man .?

Its about time someone's representing us.

[corkonian]

Trebor1 is correcting his spelling - see below!

[Trebor1]

You mean an acutal UNION GUY at the LABOR Department? Before the Reagan years, that was commin.

[tbone99]

great to see Labor represented . Although Wall Streeters still outnumber him 10 : 1 in the Cabinet , at least labor is receiving recognition.

[oscartucker]

Monday will be a good day; President Obama will make announcements and hold a press conference. We will be able to see his picks and know for sure who he has chosen.

[Bitsko]

A union voice in the white house? What is this, the 1930's? SWEET!

[demfriend]

It is interesting how many people thus far are familliar faces and names from the past that Barack Obama is chosing but also how many have been in positions he and others have seen as the very best for the positions and places Obama wants them to be. He wants the best and strongest in the positions and I think he is doing that but....the old aunt and the multiple people who fear anyone non white in charge of things has reared the ugly heads. Although I support a color-free version of government and Obama's cabinet there are too many who say as one here has "brotha". The freedom to choose who he wants and who is best for the jobs is ultimate for me as it's best for me and our country. But fear is what it is and many had said that Obama would bring in "masses of black people to take over the government" and for everyone added no matter how well known it adds to those fears. Humans are a weird lot and for far too long everywhere in government the very white man has been the norm. When Obama was the only black man in the Senate and now is there one?

[Bitsko]

Ramble much?

[CalexenderJ]

So far we have a black attorney general (Holder), a black senior advisor (Jarret), and a black Political director (Gaspard), along with of course the black president (and first family), only the most xenophobic people would consider that a take over of the the government, especially considering that thousands of appointments a president has to make. It's unfortunate that some people would consider having anything more than the token one or two black appointments as a takeover.

[AsianAfricanAMERICAN]

What??

Who cares what Hannity and Limbaugh are thinking.