Obama Taps Daschle For HHS Secretary
President-Elect Obama has tapped former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of
South Dakota to serve as his Secretary of Health and Human Services and as his
point man on healthcare reform. The
AP
reports Obama "is enlisting" Daschle "as his health secretary, embracing a
third Washington insider in the early stages of Cabinet-building by the
president-elect who promised change." It is "still early in the building of an
administration by the candidate who built his campaign on promises of change.
But so far fresh faces have been few."
ABC World News reported Daschle
"has accepted the post."
NBC Nightly News reported, "Daschle comes
closest to being the President-Elect's Washington mentor and 'wiseman' and
all-around political
booster."
USA
Today reports Daschle "was tapped" "even though he works for a
Washington lobbying firm that represents health care interests." Similarly, the
New
York Times reports Obama's selection of Daschle "posed new questions on
Wednesday about how broadly the new administration would apply Mr. Obama's
campaign promises to limit potential conflicts of interest among his appointees.
At issue is Mr. Daschle's work since leaving the Senate four years ago as a
board member of the Mayo Clinic and a highly paid adviser to health care clients
at the law and lobbying firm Alston &
Bird."
The
Los
Angeles Times reports Daschle, "who this year published a book on the
healthcare system, was an early supporter of Obama's bid for the presidency."
The
Washington
Post reports the "early selection of Daschle, who until recently was
not known as an expert on health policy, is recognition of the central role he
played in Obama's political ascendancy and a signal that the incoming president
wants an experienced Washington insider to shepherd comprehensive health
legislation through Congress." The
Chicago
Tribune reports 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." The
New
York Daily News says the move is a "blow" to outgoing DNC chair Howard
Dean.
Obama Said To Pick Napolitano For DHS
The
Washington
Post reports Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, "a border-state governor
whose handling of immigration and homeland security issues brought her accolades
from fellow governors, is President-Elect Obama's choice to serve as secretary
of homeland security, Democratic sources said late Wednesday."
CNN's Larry
King Live reported, "Multiple Democratic sources close to the transition
told CNN on condition of anonymity. One source said he believed the final
decision depends on the vetting of the Democratic
governor."
