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Home › Politics

Politics | 02/13/2009 10:55 am

Uncomfortable With Obama's Plans, Judd Gregg Withdraws Commerce Bid

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© Getty Images

President Obama can’t catch a break with his picks to head the Commerce Department.

After Bill Richardson dropped out of the running for the Cabinet job amid an investigation into his affairs, Sen. Judd Gregg, R-NH, who was picked after Bill Richardson dropped out of the running, surprised the administration — and the nation — yesterday when he announced he didn’t want to be considered for the post. He was reportedly the one who had originally approached Obama’s team, but apparently had a change of heart. Click here for audio of Obama’s exclusive interview with the Springfield (IL) State Journal-Register, saying Gregg’s withdrawal comes as "something of a surprise."

If you’re going to be on a football team, "you’ve got to pull out and block on every play, you can’t do it on every other play," Gregg told CNBC Friday morning. "I didn’t feel comfortable going forward because of my individuality, for lack of a better term." Gregg said that for a fiscal conservative to join Obama’s administration — it just wasn’t exactly the right fit.

Gregg took all the blame for his about-face, and made clear the president had not forced his hand in any way, shape or form: "I should have focused sooner and more effectively on the implications of being in the Cabinet versus myself as an individual doing my job." He also said he was concerned about Obama’s economic recovery plan and how the administration took census responsibilities away from the commerce secretary’s job — one of the key tasks of this position.

But the whole thing smells fishy, and no one can quite put their finger on why. Some theories include the Obama administration was miffed that Gregg wasn’t joining the only three Republican senators who supported the stimulus package and made their displeasure known. Others speculated Gregg felt slighted by the White House’s plans to oversee the census.

Obama’s people insist there are "no hard feelings," and the president himself even joked about it during a speech yesterday to commemorate Lincoln’s birthday:

"In 1854, Lincoln was simply a Springfield Lawyer … He’d served just a single term in Congress. Possibly in his law office, his feet on a cluttered desk, his sons playing around him, his clothes a bit too small to fit his uncommon frame … maybe wondering if someone might call him up and offer to be commerce secretary."

Well, at least the president’s keeping a sense of humor about the whole thing — publicly, at least!

Read more about: Barack Administration, Census, Commerce Secretary, Economic Stimulus, Judd Gregg, News, President Obama, senate, U.S.

156 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Sherrie Crews
Paul Abrams February 12, 2009 | 07:23 PM (EST) Do not believe for a moment that Judd Gregg withdrew his nomination because of the stimulus bill, or the firestorm that arose because of his not voting on the stimulus bill. Remember, Gregg approached the White House for the job, not conversely, when the substance of the stimulus package was well-known, especially to Gregg who is ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. Moreover, Gregg supported the basic concept of stimulus on CNBC, but said it was inappropriate for him to cast a vote while he was under consideration for the Commerce Secretary’s post. He flummoxed Larry Kudlow by asserting that the federal government was the consumer-of-last-resort in a contracting economy, and Kudlow came back later pleading with Gregg to remain true to Kudlow’s principles. Gregg also told Kudlow that deficits (for which Gregg maintained his hawkishness) would actually be worse if the stimulus did not pass due to decreased tax revenues and increased unemployment and Medicaid payments than the money they were spending. So, Gregg was fully on-board not just with joining the Administration, but with the stimulus policy. The President had expressed, and Gregg was there to provide in internal councils, a need to reform major entitlement programs. Do not, therefore, believe the baloney that Gregg withdrew because of disagreements on the stimulus or profound differences on other economic matters. He withdrew because control of the Census Bureau was withdrawn. His ploy, on behalf of the Republicans, was foiled. And, these pages began its unraveling. Commerce had the Census Bureau. The Census will occur again in 2010. Republicans want control over the Census, and Gregg’s becoming Commerce Secretary would have provided that control. Historically, Republicans have improved their own legislative percentages after redistricting based upon census information.
By Sherrie Crews on 02/13/2009 11:01 am
Susan B
Excellent post, Sherrie.
By Susan B on 02/13/2009 11:44 am
Patty E
Concur—-an excellent post! this is truly a cat and mouse ‘game’….
By Patty E on 02/13/2009 12:16 pm
Sally K
Oh my goodness, how twisted can they get? Thanks for a real thought provoker.
By Sally K on 02/13/2009 1:18 pm
Wow Trop de classe
Tricky little devils. So much for bi-partianship. Thank you Sherrie for that excellent post.
By Wow Trop de classe on 02/13/2009 1:18 pm
DeBúrca obj
Thank you for that excellent post Sherrie. This is exactly what I have been hearing all day on the radio.
By DeBúrca obj on 02/13/2009 1:50 pm
Maurine H
Right, Sherrie - I think you’ve put your finger on the real reason for Gregg’s sudden departure. What I find peculiar is his announcement that he won’t be running for re-election in 2010. Why announce that now? Is there something yet to uncover about his record or did he make a deal with the Republicans? It’s a conundrum, indeed. I’ll warrant that the truth will surface eventually.
By Maurine H on 02/14/2009 9:09 pm
Steve Douglass
That’s an idiotic argument. Actually, it was the movement and attempted manipulation of the Census by Rahm Emmanuel and his crew that Gregg had the issue with. Throughout it’s history, the census was a function of the Commerce Dept. Both Dem and Rep administrations. Now, these crooks want to move it to the White House Chief of Staff? Sounds to me like Gregg’s pulling out was the way to bring attention to the new administration’s Chicago style crooked politics.
By Steve Douglass on 02/13/2009 2:53 pm
DeBúrca obj
You’ll love this: “Walter Jones, GOP Congressman, Signs On To Investigating Bush” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/13/walter-jones-gop-congress_n_166…
By DeBúrca obj on 02/13/2009 4:12 pm
DeBúrca obj
“I don’t think that Obama will abandon attempts at outreach across the aisle because I think they are helping him. I understand the conventional wisdom is that the process is in disarray. But in the end Obama comes out the winner because he looks open and reasonable. Gregg looked somewhere between goofy and dishonest while the Republicans in Congress look bitter and with no alternative.” - Bob Schrum
By DeBúrca obj on 02/13/2009 4:34 pm
Rena Jean
Thank you Steve! Good gravy WOMEN - get your noses out of your compacts and look at the history of the census…THAT’S what this is about. Structure of a government that has protected us through the years is under attack…and don’t jump on me about the economy…that started in 1977 with the implementation of Democrat ACTS…check out the facts…give everyone a loan…even if they can’t afford it because America is unfair to people who have no money…so let’s make it easier for them to get homes, cars, boats, etc…don’t worry…we’re in America - the land of the Free (Free money)…well - look where it’s brought us! And ALL taxpayers are paying the price…unless you’re Tom Daschle of course…
By Rena Jean on 02/14/2009 6:37 am
Libra Lady
Iva…I too agree with Steve and your post was great! Thank you.
By Libra Lady on 02/14/2009 11:21 am
HA BIBI
LL, Check out this brilliant young man! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNxG0Eo3QtY&feature=channel_page
By HA BIBI on 02/14/2009 6:47 pm
Libra Lady
Elaine…that one I had seen before…but it was fun revisiting!! Very brilliant young man…he gets it!!!
By Libra Lady on 02/14/2009 7:06 pm
starry Nite
The wall street and the fat cat bankers are the ones who made all those bad loans- they had nothing to do with the Dems . These census flap is a smoke and spin screen by the Republicans who are intent on declaring war on this administration. \
By starry Nite on 02/14/2009 1:31 pm
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