by Mark Silva
After the Senate confirmed the last of President Barack Obama's Cabinet appointees today, the president immediately swore in Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in the Oval Office this evening.
Then he sent her to work: At a Situation Room meeting on the swine flu outbreak.
The White House had maintained that none of the administration's work on the flu outbreak was hampered by the lack of a confirmed HHS secretary -- that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has been running point on the problem, and she in turn has said that communications with career service officers has been fine, including the acting Centers for Disease Control director, who works for HHS.
But Obama suggested there was no time to waste tonight, with 64 confirmed cases of the flu -- up from 20 Monday morning when he stepped out to say that the flu situation is cause for concern but not alarm -- and the disease spreading to six states.
The president interrupted a closed-door Blue Room reception for his other Cabinet members tonight to swear in the final one, Sebelius, the governor of Kansas who had drawn some controversy for her stances on abortion rights. The Senate had confirmed her hours before, she resigned as governor and flew to Washington.
At 8:02 p.m. EDT in the Oval Office, the president held the Bible as Sebelius took the oath from White House executive clerk Tim Saunders. She headed to the Situation Room to get a briefing on swine flu from White House counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan.
The brief ceremony was held in front of the painting of George Washington, opposite the president's desk. Obama said: "I know something about being sworn in'' -- an allusion to the office oath that he took on Inauguration Day, after Chief Justice John Roberts botched the lines of the oath on the steps of the Capitol.
Obama kissed Sebelius on the cheek said he was "thrilled" to have her on board. "We wanted to swear her in right away because we've got a significant public health challenge that requires her immediate attention,'' the president said. "It is something that we have to monitor very carefully.... We need all hands on deck.''
(Photos: At the top: Kathleen Sebelius is sworn in as HHS secretary. Brendan Smialowski / pool / Bloomberg. And Sebelius, is briefed on swine flu by John Brennan, assistant to the president for Homeland Security, in the Situation Room of the White House . Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, is seated second right, and National Security chief of staff Mark Lippert listens in background. (White House photo by Pete Souza)
Comments
How can this country have the leader of the Health and Human Services Dept. who believes in and supports the abortions of babies even in the ninth month? Course, she also didn't pay taxes for awhile either. The most incompetent administration either. Good think Obama has the media to cover for him.
Posted by: John D | April 28, 2009 11:31 PM
Congratulation Mrs. Sebelius on your confirmation as the HHS Secretary,
A excellent choice, Mr. President.
Posted by: msla56 | April 29, 2009 12:19 AM
America has another winner on her hands and her name is Secretary Sebelius. President Obama has picked a proven winner, a woman with guts and determination. Secretary Sebelius will make America proud, President Obama proud and all reasonably intelligent and honest voters, proud !! Her confirmation was delayed as long as the Republicans weren't found out, obstructing, again, but with the health issue of the swine flu, the Republicans were caught in the headlights, again !! Will these obstructionists ever learn !!?
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | April 29, 2009 3:34 AM
So it takes a crisis for the GOP to stop a fillibuster and do some work? You may not like everything a person believes in but you should do what is right for the country if you were elected to office. I'd like to know what they gained by acting all huffy about her before they voted for her? Off to check the voting records...
Posted by: lochnessmonster | April 29, 2009 6:57 AM
Here is the choice of our President and Congress who would support her to become the head of HHS. Is this the best they could come up with?. someone who supported "Tiller the baby killer", come on people what ever happened to the sanctity of life. Anyone that voted in favor of this far left ex governor should be excoriated.As an American I'm totally ashamed
at the direction of our country,
Posted by: Paul | April 29, 2009 8:44 AM
Is she bringing her contributor Dr. "Baby Killer" Tiller with her?
Posted by: vla | April 29, 2009 8:49 AM
FYI- abortion is legal in this country and has been since the 1970s. Secretary Sibelius seems to be supporting the law of the land.
Posted by: lynn | April 29, 2009 10:23 AM
Single issue voters:
Join me in my crusade to abolish the Federal Reserve System and return to the Gold Standard.
And we can abolish abortion at the same time!!!
Posted by: Milton Friedman | April 29, 2009 12:09 PM
Lynn, darling, Dr. Tiller aborts babies even in the ninth month of pregnancy. All one has to do is give him $5,000 and baby gone, no matter when and no matter the reason. Sibelius covered for him and accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contribuitions. Abortion is the law of the land, but aborting babies in the seventh, eighth and ninth month when they are sustainable on their own is even more akin to murder and genocide than just a simple abortion.
Posted by: John D | April 29, 2009 12:12 PM
Another day, another tax cheat in the Obama cabinet.
Posted by: Party gal | April 29, 2009 2:48 PM
John D,
Did you expect different from BO? This from the guy who voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act
Posted by: Terry | April 29, 2009 5:17 PM