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US News Political Bulletin
       
  US News
POLITICAL BULLETIN
All the Day's Political News From Newspapers, TV, Radio, and Magazines
US News and World Report
 
BulletinNews
MEMORANDUM FOR SUBSCRIBERS

SUBJECT: TODAY'S POLITICAL NEWS

DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008 - 8:00 AM
INSIDE
 

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."