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Post | 11/19/2008 3:40 pm

Tom Daschle Said to Have Accepted HHS Position

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© AP

Barack Obama’s administration seems to be taking shape!

Yesterday it was reported that the president-elect tapped Eric Holder as his attorney general, and now Democratic officials are claiming that Tom Daschle has signed on to be secretary of Health and Human Services.

Daschle, a former senator from South Dakota, recently wrote a book on reforming our nation’s health-care system, and insiders are celebrating the move as evidence President-elect Obama means business when he says he’ll improve clunky institutions. The New Republic’s Jonathan Cohn described the position as "perfect" for Daschle, while American Prospect journalist Ezra Klein could barely contain his excitement:

You don’t tap the former Senate Majority Leader to run your health-care bureaucracy. That’s not his skill set. You tap him to get your health-care plan through Congress. You tap him because he understands the parliamentary tricks and has a deep knowledge of the ideologies and incentives of the relevant players. You tap him because you understand that health-care reform runs through the Senate. And he accepts because he has been assured that you mean to attempt health-care reform.

Ron Pollack, who’s executive director of Families USA, also lauded the rumors, saying that Daschle’s pick "confirms that the incoming Obama administration has made health-care reform a top and early priority for action in 2009."

Though Daschle’s said to have accepted the position, Obama’s transition team must now review his background before giving him the green light. Well, not so much Mr. Daschle’s background, but his wife, Linda Hall Daschle, who has lobbied for a number of companies, but mostly in the airline industry, an industry that could definitely use its own overhaul!

Read more about: Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Health and Human Services, health care, News, Politics, Tom Daschle
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15 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Delete This

Another brilliantly strategic move.

By Delete This on 11/19/2008 4:30 pm
Diana T

This is a wonderful choice! Daschle is a hardworking smart team mate,and will be an asset to the Obama Cabinet.

By Diana T on 11/19/2008 4:43 pm
Diana T

In Daschle’s own words from March, 2008, this is essential reading of his view of our health care system and woes.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-tom-daschle/progressive-solutions-to-_…

By Diana T on 11/19/2008 6:02 pm
Belinda .

I love Tom Daschle and have always respected him as a man and politician. Great choice!

By Belinda . on 11/19/2008 4:45 pm
CYNTHIA NEIL

Wow! Rahm Emanuel… Hillary Clinton…. Eric Holder… and Tom Daschle … now that’s change from the old Washington way of doing things.

Is this really the change you had in mind?

By CYNTHIA NEIL on 11/19/2008 5:08 pm
Diana T

Yes it is! Change from Bush’s habit of choosing unqualified political hacks. At least Obama is choosing the intellectual Gold Standard in this country for problem solving. There is not one thing wrong with it; we have forgotten what it is like to have such a high caliber in our West Wings, and I absolutely am ready to support their efforts!

By Diana T on 11/19/2008 6:16 pm
DeBúrca obj

It absolutely IS the change Obama promised. He promised to put the best minds into his administration, he promised it would be a diverse group who would question him and help him in his decision making. There is no way a Democrat is going to put the most experienced and best people into these positions and not tap into the previous Democratic administration. That would just be stupid. We’ve had 8 years of stupid, we need a change.

By DeBúrca obj on 11/19/2008 6:45 pm
newzie snoozie

HEY FELLOW AMERICANS WAY TO GO OR WHAT?

WE ARE GOING TO BE SITTING HIGH ON THAT THRONE- IS THE FUTURE IT SOUNDS LIKE .TO ME. - I HOPE OBAMA GETS IN THERE AND WE SEE SUCH A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINGS WE HAVE TO STAND UP AGAIN AND SALUTE HIM WITH OUR LAPEL FLAGS JUST A FLYING.
WELL THAT’S WHAT I THINK. THAT IS A GOOD THING AND WHAT A TEAM- WHAT A TEAM- WHAT A TEAM. - . I AM REALLY EXCITED I FEEL REALLY HAPPY FOR OUR COUNTRY!!! AGAIN! IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!

By newzie snoozie on 11/19/2008 6:49 pm
Emcye Edwards

Newzie - thinking about your vision. Have you seen Wagwire? It allows you to speak into your computer if you have a built-in mike, and send email via your voice. No typing!
http://www.wagwire.com/

wOw can post voice with this too, if they aren’t already.

By Emcye Edwards on 11/19/2008 7:24 pm
CYNTHIA NEIL

Seems like the same old hacks to me. I was really hoping for new faces and NEW ideas. Without the same old loyalties and debts to lobbyists.

How in the world can you expect integrity from the guy who was instrumental in Mark Rich’s pardon. Or the guy who is married to a lobbyist for the airlines. Or the woman who tolerates serial (in your face) infidelities to preserve her political viability. How is that a recipe for meaningful change? Read John Kass of Chicago about where Rahm Emanuel’s loyalties lie.
I am an independent thinker who thought that Mr. Obama’s words meant something.
These are not names which inspire trust based on their past actions, I didn’t expect that he was going to hire politicos from the same old Democratic institutions that ran things before the Bushies stole the election, although frankly, I became suspicious as soon as he announced Biden as his choice for VP. There was totally nothing new and honorable about a 36 year veteran of the Senate with a talent for plagiarism.

By CYNTHIA NEIL on 11/19/2008 7:43 pm
Brooklyn Gal

We have an economic crisis and are still fighting 2 wars. Obama is bringing two major elements into the WH. First, he is hiring those that know the positions (unlike Palin who fired those with experience to hire her high school buds) and Second, those that know how to work with the Congress. That’s a win-win situation!!!

Now those on this site who are blasting all of Obama’s decisions are the same people who didn’t vote for him. Meanwhile Republican leaders are admiring the choices.

By Brooklyn Gal on 11/19/2008 8:15 pm
starry Nite

Obama is selecting the most qualified people. Every qualified person has been around washington.
Everyone in Washington is not corrupt. A “new” face with fresh ideas and can’t get things done is of no value.
Call them old “hacks” but they are experienced and know what they are doing. But of course some people would be prefer fresh new faces like Joe the plumber.

By starry Nite on 11/19/2008 9:20 pm
CYNTHIA NEIL

Come on, the fact that the Republicans are “admiring” the choices says it all.

By CYNTHIA NEIL on 11/19/2008 10:12 pm
Brooklyn Gal

Yes it does say it all. These choices are good people who are respected.
But you can’t see beyond your own despicable hatred of the outcome of this election.

By Brooklyn Gal on 11/20/2008 2:08 am
Ms. Dee

And “old guard” with a new leader can become an impressive force. Trust me. Obama is not George Bush. He will have more influence over the members of his cabinet than any of these individuals will have over him.

By Ms. Dee on 11/20/2008 9:00 am