Gregg Issues Conditions For Joining Obama Cabinet

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama plans to nominate Sen. Judd Gregg as commerce secretary on Tuesday, the White House confirmed on the eve of the announcement as the New Hampshire Republican disclosed an apparent deal that would keep his seat out of Democratic hands.

"I have made it clear to the Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle and to the governor that I would not leave the Senate if I felt my departure would cause a change in the makeup of the Senate," Gregg said Monday in a statement. The White House confirmed the Gregg choice on the condition of anonimity because the announcement had not yet been made.

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch confirmed the "understanding," stopping just short of promising to appoint a Republican or an independent to serve out the remaining two years of Gregg's term.

The deal would give Obama his top choice for a team tasked with steering the nation out of recession. Republicans get to keep Gregg's seat for two more years, retaining the crucial 41 Senate seats they need to filibuster majority Democrats.

And Democrats, who control 56 seats and caucus with two independents, stand a better chance of flipping Gregg's seat into their ranks in two years by running a candidate against his rookie replacement or an empty seat than Gregg himself.

The White House tried to stay out of the back and forth. But officials there did nothing to squelch the expectation that Gregg would be nominated to the post.

"Obviously, the president has great respect for Senator Gregg," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday. "I'm not going to get into personnel announcements before we are there."

Getting to a deal took days of negotiating after it became known last week that Obama was considering appointing the former Budget Committee chairman from New Hampshire to his Cabinet.

Gregg would become the third Republican in the Cabinet, if confirmed. The others are Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood.

The deal spares Gregg blame for delivering Democrats complete control of the Senate and a re-election campaign in Democratic-leaning New Hampshire.

Lynch's agreement, meanwhile, shores up his bipartisan credentials at a time when he's confronting a decades-old budget crisis at home.

The Republican expected to be named to Gregg's seat is Bonnie Newman, who served as Gregg's chief of staff during his time in the House. Newman is a veteran of the Reagan White House. Under the deal, she would not run in the 2010 election.

___

Associated Press writers Liz Sidoti, Philip Elliott and Ben Feller in Washington and Norma Love and Holly Ramer in Concord, N.H., contributed to this report.

Comments

[Caramba]

10:26 AM on 02/08/2009

CONDITIONS Unacceptable!
Mr. Greg, just decline your nomination and let Sen. Specter or Collins audacity to make such offer!!
Mr. Obama is too soft with Republicans!!!

WE NEED A NEW PARTY "of those who disagree with republicans and democrats"

[Sparty1]

03:39 PM on 02/04/2009

Time for President Obama to stop kissing Rethug arse and move on. If they choose to stay on the wrong side of issue to help this country, then sayonara. Why is he kissing this guy's butt? Leave him right where he is. He's not going to go along with Pres. Obama's views on commerce, so why nominate him?

[Solja]

09:58 PM on 02/03/2009

Gov. Blagojevich did the same thing and they impeached him. What's the difference here?

[Gladys1963]

04:24 PM on 02/04/2009

I was thinking the exact same thing!

[DaveC19]

01:59 PM on 02/03/2009

So Gregg cares more about his party retaining the fillibuster power than working in Obama's cabinet.

In that case I say screw him. Let him stay right where he is. No more appeasement.

[The 13 Colonies]

07:22 PM on 02/03/2009

Forget Him!!!!!!!!!!!I agree, let him stay where he is................................................................................

[wilray]

01:43 PM on 02/03/2009

It's a done deal. If Governor Lynch appoints Bonnie Newman as replacement, she's appointed as a lame duck. She won't run in 2010. This is how the game is played. Go Bama.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hXucyd-OL6DWZU60JZoZ9stZJSZgD9646NHO0

[Golfer59]

10:52 AM on 02/03/2009

The great "COMPROMISER" is staking his whole presidency on trying to change the politics of Washington. Republicans don't want to play ball with you Obama don't you get it? They want you to FAIL!!!! The republican party only cares about one thing, getting power. They don't care who they destroy in the process and that includes you President Obama and Me. SCREW THEM!!!!

[lisakaz2]

10:20 AM on 02/03/2009

What is so great about this guy that he can make demands? Has O ever thought to say "thanks but no thanks"?

[Doofus]

10:11 AM on 02/03/2009

So, which is it? Crazy like a fox' or 'crazy like a loon'? All NH Gov Lynch said was:

“I have had conversations with Sen. Gregg, the White House and U.S. Senate leadership.
Sen. Gregg has said he would not resign his seat in the U.S. Senate if it changed the
balance in the Senate. Based on my discussions, it is clear the White House and
Senate leadership understand this as well.

It is important that President Obama be able to select the advisers he feels are
necessary to help him address the challenges facing our nation.”

'Crazy like a fox' is still possible, if unlikely. Gov Lynch, do what you gotta do.

[ajax2]

10:00 AM on 02/03/2009

Any deal with the Governor should be investigated.

[Doofus]

10:35 AM on 02/03/2009

What Gov Lynch said, basically, was that he would
'do what's right'. Not that he would appoint a Repo
for sure. So there's still some hope, faint maybe.

[Doofus]

10:38 AM on 02/03/2009

It is most definitely the responsibility of
Democrats in NH to make it very clear to
their Demo governor that 'doing what's right'
means replacing Sen Gregg with a Democrat.

[CBPatriot]

09:50 AM on 02/03/2009

conditions on his taking the post??

Take a walk.

Maybe Lynch will take a page from the Re-pug-lican playbook and do what he wants regardless of the "deal" made.

Take gregg out of the senate once and for all, and now, so we don't have to wait another 2 years to send him packing.

[harriscrl3]

09:21 AM on 02/03/2009

A republican in charge of the 2010 Census we are so scr ewed. I dont like this appointment and this guy thinks that he is all that issuing demands and all. No matter in 2010 we will get the seats we need.

But you know Obama is playing this smart no one can say he didnt try and if the republicans continue to spurn his advances when he leaves them out in the cold the American people wont even shed a tear of sympathy for them. The republicans are truly id io ts. They are playing all their high cards in the first coupld of weeks come 3 years from now and they aint gonna have any high card left to play. They are using up their ammunition on this bill knowing that the man came in with a high approval rating. What they should do is to be more accomodating now that his approval rating is high and then wen it starts going down they can give him a hard time. Now they have no choice but to fight him for the next 4 years a fight that he has the advantage of responding in kind without wrecking his image.

Carol

[Rog49Thomas]

06:52 AM on 02/03/2009

Must be allowed to wear jacket in Oval Office.

Will only attend cabinet meetings in tuxedo. Top hat not optional!

Crystal brandy snifter - no plain glass.

[grf67]

05:25 AM on 02/03/2009

If Gregg wants to set preconditions,please tell him to keep his senate job for two more years when he will be out of office. He is not really that good.

[BARRISTER]

05:22 AM on 02/03/2009

Wasn't Blago arrested and Impeached for allegedly doing exactly this? Let us see how Fair we are.

It is ok for a Republican along with the New Hampshire Democratic Governor to "play for pay" with the appointment of Gregg's successor, but it is treasonous for Blago to do so in Ill.


We watch with bated breath !

[LARRYB28]

09:24 AM on 02/03/2009

there is no pay for play here.Judd Gregg is an honest man who wants to make sure his constituants in new hampshire get the representation that they voted for.all he said was that if his appointment would change the balance of power in the senate than he would not accept the position and keep his job in the senate.just because you people hate anything republican doesnt mean there is anything sinister in greggs motive

[Solja]

10:00 PM on 02/03/2009

Oh please. He did the exact same thing that Blago is accused of doing. There is no difference.

[kid5rivers2]

02:43 AM on 02/03/2009

He'd make a better Food Secretary -he know how to eat his cake and still have it.