Senator Gregg's Nomination Requires Close Scrutiny

As Congress and the Obama administration work together to move our nation toward economic recovery, the president's selection of Sen. Judd Gregg to lead to Commerce Department calls for thorough scrutiny.

With sweeping jurisdiction over a host of agencies charged with incubating American businesses at home and abroad, Sen. Gregg would play vital role in our nation's future economic health.

Two of the most important responsibilities of the Commerce Department are to ensure that minority-owned businesses are fully integrated in our nation's economic recovery and to conduct the decennial census.

In this light, Sen. Gregg's record of previously voting to abolish the Commerce Department and his attempts to block President Bill Clinton's efforts to secure adequate funding for the 2000 census raise troubling concerns.

As the Census Bureau prepares for the 2010 census it is important to ensure that this effort is fully funded in order to guarantee a thorough and fair counting of all Americans.

I look forward to hearing Sen. Gregg fully and completely explain his past positions and future commitment to the mission of the Commerce Department.

Comments

[PoliticalAnimal]

There is no excuse for including this Bush enabler to continue sabotaging our government for another eight years. He has already demonstrated his loyalty to those who helped destroy our economy and our national security.
Keep his fingers out of the till! He can't be trusted.

[montemalone]

Forest, trees.

This guy just needs to be confirmed. Then, when he screws up, he'll be booted out.

This is the game of politics played properly.

[mozeovr]

Don't just complain, people......let the Obama team know....directly. Go to their website.
http://my.barackobama.com/modules/votercontact/login_signup.php

[tedmore123]

I think that all of what Obama is doing is setting the Repubs up for failure so he can provide plenty of
fodder for the Dem party in 2010 when they'll sweep and have an absolute majority and a mandate from the people to do what ever it takes to fix what we all know was the Repub's fault (economy, wars, etc) after 2010, they'll never be in power again.

[wheresthebeef]

We lose Daschle but get Judd Gregg as a consolation prize? WTF?

[steamboat]

Probably because he paid his taxes.

[steamboat]

Hey, I'm happy all the energies are directed at Gregg now....Because since the liberals took power in '06, while they slept on the banking industry, whether or not our housing market is stable, if our pensions are safe, and I can go on, they put all their energies into televised hearings to see if Barry Bonds did steroids and catch Rafael Palmeiro in a lie. Way to go congress.

[SouthernBlueBelle]

It is a bit worrisome. This is the BEST he can come up with? Gee, maybe he will do away with the department and get himself out of a job. This is getting scarey!!

I agree that the prez needs to get over this one way bi-partisan crap. We are getting spanked and he doesn't seem to realize it.

[MomfromTexas]

Serena1313 explained Gregg's nomination for commerce--his interest in NOAA. Still, I hope someone asks him serious questions about the census. In Texas, the upcoming census is very important because of gerrymandering. We've had major shifts in our minority populations, which could greatly influence elections. In 2008, every major city in Texas (Dallas, Houston, San Antonia, El Paso, and Austin) went blue, as did many areas along the Texas/Mexico border. The Republicans, who control this state, and the Democrats, who would like to take it back, are watching this closely.

[dmb]

At least he pays his taxes

[InLosAngeles]

lol

[SouthernBlueBelle]

Are we sure about that? It's still a little early to be sure.

[salmo]

Who looks at Gregg's record and sees a competent Democratic Administration Secretary? What part of that makes Obama want to give this guy authority over vital government functions? One of the lessons of the Bush Administration is that one shouldn't trust people to run government if their record demonstrates opposition to the purpose that part of government serves.

[MocksNix]

Obama is wise to choose experienced managers for his cabinet. Experience should always supercede ordinary Democrat politics.

[hortonhearsawho2]

After eight years of ordinary Rep. politics, oh u betcha...

[jimrs6]

This of course is after his political buddy Daschle got exposed. Now he gets wise.

[djk20042]

If experience should supercede politics, then why did hillary lose?

[gisellestwocents]

Shouldn't that be why did Biden lose?

[SEQUOIABISON]

Nobody had more experience than Cheney and where did that get the country, war and economic collapse.

[nancytheragingliberal]

Paleeeeze! Enough of this dancing with the devil(s) routine. Rebubs. slammed the door on Dems for eight years, banning them from meetings, and shoving them in the cellar of the WH to hold their meetings. O. is getting on my nerves, with all of this smoozing, with the nasty, out of power, repubs. In addition, I do not appreciate having all of these repubs. in my WH. They need to be cast aside, like the vermin they are. O. are you listening?

[vippy]

To me the choosing of Carol Browner is a huge mistake. She has nothing but lied in the past and
thanks to her we now have MTBE in our drinking water supply, something she said will never happen.
Can we afford her?

[Zenzelae]

The Obama Administration has just handed out another rope. The contract Gregg will have to sign at the beginning of his nomination and taking office will make him do the will of the people at the bidding of the administration. If he does not, then he can easily be replaced. But first he has to get through the nomination and confirmation process and the senate vote. His interference with the Governor's appointment of his seat was the first thing out of line. If you give a republican a rope long enough he will hang himself.

[jollyelle]

But the wimpy governor of the State of NH didn't miss a beat and followed his orders from Sen. Gregg. It was to be his appointment but instead of pausing, he did as he was told without the least bit of hesitation and replaced him with a Republican.

Talk about Blago............... a "deal"......an "agreement" what's the dif ???

The kicker is, if the situation were reversed do you think a Republican would agree to preconditions?

[SEQUOIABISON]

Bi-Partisanship is not working, the House vote on the Stimulus Bill is a testament to this observation, not a single Republican supported the Bill.

The Republicans will Nit-Pick us Democrats to death like Vultures feeding at a carcass, over minor tax problems encountered by our nominees, these are the same bunch of Hypocrites who detest paying taxes and will do whatever it takes to avoid paying taxes, including Offshore Tax Havens and shipping our jobs overseas.

Time to respect the results of the last election and start implementing what the people voted for, CHANGE.

These Partisan Republicans never had any intention of cooperating with someone who is trying to undermine the very core of their political philosophy, which is Tax Cuts for the Rich and let the free market rein, even if we the tax paying middle class, who never got any preferential treatment, must pay for the bailout of their mistakes, and continue supplementing their failed policies.

Time to abide by the results of the election and take our case directly to the people, if the Republicans refuse to cooperate, than voters should further marginalize them in the next round of elections, we do not have time to try and get them to change their stripes, when so many people are struggling to stay afloat.