Janet Hook, Noam Levey and Frank James, revised
President-elect Barack Obama has asked former Sen. Tom Daschle to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the South Dakota Democrat has accepted the offer to head the agency that will handle the new administration's signature initiatve to expand health insurance coverage, a Democrat familiar with the process said.
The source said that Obama is expected to officially name Daschle and other Cabinet nominees early next week, although that timetable may be accelerated.
Daschle, who published a book on the health care system early this year, was an early supporter of Obama's bid for the presidency. Obama's campaign and transition staff has been heavily staffed by former Daschle aides. One of Obama's key Senate and transition staffers, Peter Rouse, was also Daschle's chief of staff. Rouse was appointed a senior adviser in the incoming Obama White House.
Daschle served in the Senate from 1986 after eight years in the House of Representatives. He was Senate Majority Leader in 2001-03 while Democrats controlled the chamber. But he was defeated in his 2004 bid for reelection after Republicans ran a bitter campaign targeting him as a national Democrat out of step with his home state.
But Daschle remains popular among his former colleagues and would be likely to face little challenge to his qualifications and character. However, Daschle had expressed some concern about going through the confirmation process because of questions likely to be raised about his wife, who is a registered lobbyist.
Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant pounced on the Daschle selection to criticize Obama for allegedly not living up to his campaign promise to bring change to Washington:
"Barack Obama is filling his Administration with long-time Washington insiders. Since losing his Senate seat, Tom Daschle has worked for a major lobbying firm. For voters hoping to see new faces and fewer lobbyist-connections in government, Daschle's nomination will be another disappointment. Obama promised to change America's health care system, but his nominee to be secretary is no change agent."
Comments
What exactly does Tom Daschle know about health care? I may not like the guy nor agree with him on most things, but at least Howard Dean would have a good frame of reference when it comes to health care. Daschle is just a political hack,
Posted by: John D | November 19, 2008 2:22 PM
What did President Bush know about our Presidency? That didn't stop the Republicans from picking an Incompetent, not once, but twice.
As for President-elect Obama picking former Senator Dachle as Secretary of Health and Human Services, I think it was a thoughtful and solid choice. Senator Daschle has only been involved in the financing of the Department for almost 20 years as a U.S. Senator. He oversaw its function and performance as a Senator, long enough to know what he has to do, in order for it to begin the job, that the Bush administration had work to prevent it from doing ! It is great to have a hard-working, individual back working in our government. Unlike President Bush, President-elect Obama has already changed the criteria for a post in his cabinet !! Anybody offered a job in his cabinet, must be a competent and proven performer, before they are offered a cabinet-level position !! In other words, no more Browns and no more Chertoffs !! Just to name two of the Incompetents, in the last 2 administrations !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | November 19, 2008 3:52 PM
I thought change was coming to Washington. Instead, we get the Democratic party losers who couldn't even hold their seats four years ago when Bush was re-elected! The only reason he is now an "expert" on health care is because he couldn't hold his job.
Posted by: Barney Smith | November 19, 2008 6:24 PM
First, I wonder how much the media will go after Daschle because his wife is a LOBBYIST. She was lobbyist while he was Senate leader and, of course, the media covered it all up.
I guess this is more of Obama's change that that we are to believe in. What a joke.
Second, Mr. Don Fitzgerald, the way to support the troops is to allow them to win - which they have about done.
How does UNDERMINING the troops help them? And, how does hurting Iraq help us or the world?
It should be "Support the US and the World, Win the War".
Posted by: Alz | November 19, 2008 6:32 PM
Less than six degrees of Barak Obama.
Daschle's wife Linda works for Baker, Donelson, Beaman, Calwell & Berkowitz. According to that site, her specialty is aviation.
According to Wikkipedia other lawyers for the firm, are or have been:
.
David S. Addington, current chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
James C. Duff, current director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
Lawrence Eagleburger, former U.S. Secretary of State under George H.W. Bush, served as a foreign policy advisor to the firm.[4]
Robb LaKritz, real estate developer and former Special Assistant and Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of the United States Treasury.
Howard Baker, Jr., former U.S. Senator and United States Ambassador to Japan, is currently Senior Counsel to the firm.[5]
Posted by: John | November 19, 2008 6:42 PM
We are really getting the change in Washington that Obama promised. Reminds me of someone saying " He will say anything or do anything to get elected." How many more promises will he keep? Will he keep any?
Posted by: Budswisr | November 19, 2008 6:58 PM
Less than six degrees of Barak Obama.
Daschle's wife Linda works for Baker, Donelson, Beaman, Calwell & Berkowitz. According to that site, her specialty is aviation.
According to Wikkipedia other lawyers for the firm, are or have been:
.
David S. Addington, current chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
James C. Duff, current director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
Lawrence Eagleburger, former U.S. Secretary of State under George H.W. Bush, served as a foreign policy advisor to the firm.[4]
Robb LaKritz, real estate developer and former Special Assistant and Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of the United States Treasury.
Howard Baker, Jr., former U.S. Senator and United States Ambassador to Japan, is currently Senior Counsel to the firm.[5]
Posted by: John | November 19, 2008 7:21 PM
Come January, 2009, I know all of you that are looking for change, will certainly see it, on that date. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I and 65,000,000 other Americans will !! Change is a coming, just hold on to your horses !!
The only thing you got from President Bush and his gang was that different kind of change, he kept the folding money. Thank God we got rid of that mentality !! Now, if we could just get rid of these petty snipers, I know they mean well, but they are so impatient for change. Don't worry, the nation has spoken and change won !! So, all of you, Bush-McCain Republicans, put down your pettiness and join with the rest of America and wish our new President, well. It will not cost you anything and, do know what, you may enjoy it !! Try it !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | November 19, 2008 7:57 PM
Daschle is just about as 'slimy' as a politician can get. In 1994 and 1995, although biased towards Democrats, the New York Times ran a series and editorials decrying his conduct. Here is one of the most comprehensive:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DD123CF935A25753C1A962958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3
Posted by: Neil Cunningham | November 19, 2008 8:04 PM
Well, this guy is the king of drug company lobbyists, and his wife is the undisputed queen. Great. So we can expect presecription drugs to continue its reign as the leading killer of Americans. Thanks, H!
Posted by: truthurts | November 19, 2008 8:11 PM
Obama is bringing in people who he knows will help him push his agendas. If you going to hate on the man than hate on how much will be coming in the blink of an eye.
Posted by: Maximillion | November 19, 2008 8:59 PM
This is turning into change allright....Change into A Clinton Era Nightmare team.
I Hope he puts compitent people in these posts, jessie jackson JR isint qualified to race bait like his father so why should we trust him with any kind of ACTUAL position of power?
Posted by: JSIII | November 19, 2008 9:19 PM
Why do some people equate Sen. Obama's assurances of change only with people's names and not with their ideas and policy proposals?
I'm interested in a change of direction, in new and different ways of dealing with the problems that confront the country and the world. If Sen. Obama thinks these are the best people to help achieve that goal, then I fully support him in his choices.
If you want superficial change, then all you'll pay attention to is the name on the office door. If you want real change, you'll wait to see what happens once these people start performing in office. Give it the man a chance!
Posted by: Gregory Fillar | November 19, 2008 9:28 PM
Mr. OBAMA , I VOTED FOR YOU , BECAUSE I THOUGH YOU WILL BRING CHANGE, new faces., but i can see now you are just a fraud, more of the same old bull crap, the only change we are having is a white president out and a half white and half black new president in.Mr, OBAMA all does people you are hiring for you administration are have been politician from the CLINTON era ,they all are wash up politician .MR. OBAMA when all does people were in the administration .it was easy , the economy was well, because they collected the REAGAN economy years, but, now you have to be a good manager, and you have to know what the heck you are doing.Mr. Bush most be laughing all the way to TEXAS with all the bull crap you were saying about him so you could get elected , just wait after jan. 20 you will find out , what this job is all about,24 hours a day 7 days of the week after four years you will look 70 years old
Posted by: anthony williams | November 19, 2008 10:41 PM
As the article says, John D, he "published a book on the health care system early this year," so I recommend seeking that out. Beyond his work in the Senate, Daschle was senior policy advisor with Alston & Bird; the firm had CVS Caremark, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, Abbott Labs and HealthSouth as clients, but I'm not sure what work Daschle has done for any of them. I believe former GOP Senator Bob Dole (who won the GOP presidential nomination in 1996) was the one who roped Daschle into the firm, which makes the RNC spokesman's criticism of Daschle's job there fairly amusing.
Posted by: Louis C | November 20, 2008 12:10 AM
Daschle is no CHANGE for Obama-,
Posted by: Inky | November 20, 2008 9:53 AM