Transition co-chair: John Podesta said on Fox News Sunday that 100 people have clearance to be briefed on national security. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP/file)
Obama already holds bully pulpit
He’s moving fast to build his governing team, but wants to avoid endorsing the policies of President Bush, whom he visits Monday.
By Linda Feldmann | Staff writer/ November 9, 2008 edition
Reporter Linda Feldmann discusses Barack Obama's role prior to Inauguration Day.
Reporter Linda Feldmann
Washington
Barack Obama speaks, and the world listens – more intently, at this point, than it does to the actual president of the United States. President-elect Obama can inspire and alarm, calm markets or add to jitters. And with the nation in economic crisis, he seems keenly aware of that.
Obama has made clear that addressing the economy is his top priority. In his first press conference since the election, he urged Congress to pass an economic stimulus package, and if it failed (or if President Bush failed to sign it), he would push for that as soon as he took office.
But he is avoiding doing anything now, either as a sitting senator or as president-elect, that would give him ownership of decisions made between now and Inauguration Day. Obama will not attend the G-20 meeting on Nov. 15, a summit of world leaders to be convened in Washington for crisis economic talks.
When the Obamas make the customary visit to the White House on Monday, for a tour with the Bushes, Obama has indicated he also expects “a substantive conversation” with the outgoing president. But the mantra of Obama’s transition is clear: There’s only one US president at a time.
Still, Obama already enjoys an important tool of the presidency: the bully pulpit. For now, “that’s the one power he has, to inspire and reassure,” says Paul Light, an expert on presidential transitions at New York University.
In general, “presidents-elect need to be careful about not usurping the president’s authority,” he adds. “Moreover, they need to worry about getting entangled in the outgoing president’s policies…. [Obama] could get easily entrapped into policy choices and positions that will haunt him well into the following year.”
Already, though, Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden have been planning for a possible transition since long before Election Day. The Democratic ticket has been receiving national-security briefings, and, since Nov. 4, they are getting the same briefing Bush gets.
Obama’s transition team began work in early August, according to transition co-chair John Podesta. On Sunday, Mr. Podesta said on Fox News that 100 people now have security clearance so they’re able to be briefed at the relevant agencies on national security, under legislation passed in 2004.
On the transition in economic policy, Podesta said, Obama has designated Georgetown professor Daniel Tarullo as one of his senior economic advisers to be fully briefed on what’s happening at the Treasury Department with the $700 billion bailout package. Mr. Tarullo has already been speaking with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and will meet with him on Monday, Podesta says.
More broadly, Podesta stressed that Obama intends to move quickly to fill top positions. Already, Obama has named his chief of staff, top House Democrat Rep. Rahm Emanuel – a longtime friend from Chicago, experienced White House hand from his days in the Clinton administration, and famously abrasive political operative with a record of accomplishment.
Obama is under pressure, in particular, to name a Treasury secretary as soon as possible. On Fox News Sunday, Podesta said, “Across the board, whether it’s national security; the economy; the senior leadership that will manage healthcare, energy, and the environment, [Obama] intends to move very quickly.”
With the exception of the previous President Bush, Podesta noted, no new president has named a cabinet secretary before December, going back through the Kennedy administration. “I think we’re moving aggressively to build out that core economic team,” he said.
Mr. Emanuel, speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” made news by reaffirming that Obama plans to make a middle-class tax cut a top priority after taking office. That was a central campaign promise, but given the financial crisis – which spurred an expensive bailout of Wall Street, which in turn has caused a spike in the federal budget deficit – some questions had remained over whether Obama would stick with that plan.
Obama’s plan “at this juncture is based on giving 95 percent of working Americans a tax cut,” Emanuel said.
“Over the years, the middle class has been squeezed consistently by rising costs on education, healthcare, and energy, as well as a diminishing income,” he said. “You must have an economic program that focuses on them.”
The appointment of Emanuel raised eyebrows, given a brusque style that contrasts sharply with Obama’s cool demeanor and a campaign known for its lack of drama. Many observers say it portends a “good cop, bad cop” routine in the Obama White House. And some raise concerns about his sharp partisan edge. Emanuel ran the Democrats’ successful effort in the 2006 election to retake control of the House, after 12 years in the minority. But he has his Republican admirers.
“I happen to think that Rahm is exceptionally well qualified for that job,” said Ken Duberstein, who served as chief of staff under President Reagan, speaking at a Brookings Institution forum Friday on the transition. “He will run a White House staff that is very disciplined.”
William Galston, who worked with Emanuel in the Clinton White House, spoke highly of his former colleague’s skills. “Rahm is the most focused and persistent person I’ve ever met in my life, and by appointing him, the president-elect has signaled his determination to have his decisions carried out crisply and accurately,” Mr. Galston says. “Rahm, I think, will also be very good at riding herd on the jostling egos of the White House staff. He’s absolutely fearless, absolutely loyal to his leader.”
Comments
2. Zebedee Korie | 11.09.08
The world should not worry about Obama he is God sent pray for him and u will see what will happen
3. kathy | 11.09.08
Personally I have seen a man full of pompous and “slick willy,” rhetoric. But all the studying I have done to try and determine who the man is, and what he has done, I don’t believe he is capable of making a decision.
But I believe that is exactly what the “political machine,” that owns him wants. It will allow them to make the decisions and make policies that they have wanted from the 1960’s.
Because he is our president, though through no vote of mine, I will try to support him. Having said that, may I remind you that all the military, and even the congress takes the same oath of office to “Sustain the Constitution.” Never does it say that they are to “sustain the President of the United States. Since one of Obama’s wishes is to destroy the constition of the United States. (He considers it Old Fashioned and out of date.) I just wonder how many of our former miltary will take sides with the newly elected President against the “Constitution” which they have sworn to up hold.
How long is this president’s popularity really going to last. Populalrity is really a fragile thing. He won the election by being all things to all people. Is he able to keep that going for him now that he is elected? Or is he even going to try? I believe that political machine that controls him, could care less about any of us. Their agenda for the last 50 years has been the destruction of the United States. Just like anyone or anything else they view Obama as expendible.
4. Aycee | 11.09.08
Congratulations to all of us who worked hard at getting Obama elected. Congratulations to America, our new beginning is here!
On the economy: I am wondering why the Wall Street community–fund managers, etc. have not called for meetings with Obama and his staff to discuss their perspective on what could be done to inspire confidence and reinvestment in the stock market???
5. Jim Scott | 11.09.08
Well, I suppose the nation rejected the current policies of the Bush administration by electing Obama, so It makes sense that he moves to solidify his position, cabinet and agenda before taking office. Bush is essentially, a lame duck, thank God. I believe that his two top priorities should be the economy and health care. We can also look for the top Republican scumbags, Limbaugh and Hannity to begin their assault on him and his administration from the git go to rally the few neo-conservative nuts and pad their ratings and bank accounts. I wish Obama and the new Congress good luck. you’re going to need it.
6. rhoadie | 11.09.08
A well-written article! My expectation of Obama is that **** surround himself with the best minds he possibly can - and then actually listen to them and leverage their expertise to craft policy. I’ll be very surprised if a couple of Republicans aren’t a part of his cabinet - most notably, Colin Powell.
7. Carl C | 11.09.08
“Obama will not attend the G-20 meeting on Nov. 15″ Hello! He isn’t the president YET, and must wait until the inauguration to make presidential policies. He can’t go to the G-20 unless he is invited to do so by the powers that be, and they’re not doing so.
“But he is avoiding doing anything now, either as a sitting senator or as president-elect, that would give him ownership of decisions made between now and Inauguration Day.” Until he is inaugurated, he is only a senator. “Ownership” of any decisions made between now and inauguration day are President Bush’s. Sorry, but the failed policies, lack of oversight, and appointments of Mr. Bush (the SEC chairman who sat by and did nothing to oversee the greed of wall street (and that’s bipartisan greed, folks)), are all to blame. Time for blame is over. Let’s fix this mess, and lower the trillion dollar deficit.
8. Jim Reed - Independent | 11.09.08
The appointment of Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff can be viewed positively or negatively. I choose to look at it positively. We need Reinventing Government Part II which has to begin with the Chief of Staff, OMB Director, and Cabinet members that are chosen for their ability to LEAD their agencies towards the goal of well tuned organizations that meet the needs of the country today. Rep Emanuel looks like he can lead that crusade. He looks like he has the ability to use his highly honed negotiation skills to bring people together. If President-elect Obama wants success he must marshall Rep Emanuel’s talents in the positive direction. Leave the partisan legacy behind.
I look forward to a highly bipartisan “best of the best” cabinet leadership from this administration. Cronyism must be left as a relic of the past.
9. independant Joe | 11.09.08
I am looking forward to Jan. 20th. After what I’m sure will be a tremendously moving and inspirational speech, I hope President Obama has frequent press conferences, weekly (or more) radio chats and many televised addresses. We know it is going to be tough and slow going on the way out of the mess we are in. It’s fine to listen to administration members explain what’s going on in interviews and of course most info comes thru a press secretary but nothing beats hearing from the President himself. He must keep the connection with the people. Nothing can help Barack succeed more than if all 300,000,000 of us stay informed, involved and committed. Now that the election is over we can’t just sit back and let those elected do all the hard work. At the very least we must all keep paying attention!
10. Ulysse Nicholas Jammot | 11.09.08
As the last leader of a miserable domination, FW de Klerk will only be remembered positively for the work he finally did to facilitate the passage of power in South Africa to the inspirational Nelson Mandela.
In the last weeks of a miserable 8 years, George Bush has just one chance for his only positive influence on History: facilitate the passage of power in the USA to the inspirational Barack Obama.
Sadly, there ends the parallel. FW de Klerk bent the South African Constitution to the limits to help his successor. Bush is stuck with making the best of what has been a very, very bad job. Something tells me he will do his honest best, but it will not be enough to improve his reputation one iota.
11. madmike | 11.09.08
Most people think that Rahm Emanuel was brought in to deal with the Republicans in Congress. But it’s my belief that he will be there to lock horns with entrenched, old-school Democrats like Pelosi, Murtha, Dingel, Rangel, and Conyers, just to name a few. I truly believe that Obama is dead serious about his call for change and he’s just as determined to deal firmly with obstructionist Democrats as he is with Republicans. It will be real interesting to watch events shake out.
12. Todd | 11.09.08
President Obama should use his exectutive orders to recind the stranglehold that bush used to enslave the American people through the Patriot Act/ FISA and all other orders that will harm the Constitution and Americans. Please ARREST him and the other bush cronies to show that the protection of the Constitution is adhered to. Please rid the USA of Zionist control.
14. B Frank Nelms | 11.09.08
Yes, Barak Obama already has a bully pulpit, but let’s examine why. A good place to begin is David Oliver’s recent collection of the President-elect’s speeches. Begin by rereading his October 2, 2002, speech to the peace rally in Chicago. It’s eloquent, but it’s also uncannily prescient. His oratorical style, of course, is uplifting, but the substance is–well, substantial. His message and his passion hark back to FDR. No one since has achieved that kind of balance. John F. Kennedy seemed to, thanks to Theodore White. Barack Obama does it on his own. OK, granted, I’m a retired professor of English with a consuming interest in communication. But thank God we finally have a president who is not a bully, but worthy of the bully pulpit.
15. Rob | 11.09.08
I hope the Washington crowd checks their collective vanity (and they ARE vain) at the door and gets behind this guy. The United States is staring at the abyss right now, and it’d be nothing short of tragic if pols couldn’t get along even when their country sorely needed them to.
16. Tom Thumb | 11.09.08
I feel like im dreaming, are the Bush years almost over? Can we really reverse the damage done to the Constitution? Asilent revolution without one bullet fired?
17. ikanaan | 11.09.08
Why does no one mention that Rahm Emmanuel is a dual ISraeli/US national who volunteered for civilian service in Israel, not with US troops, during 1991? If obama had kenyan passport and had worked closely for kenyan government interests and had volunteered during a war, wouldn’t that have made headlines? Why does Israel get a free pass? they have caused the US more damage in a sensitive area than any other ally.
18. dottydo | 11.09.08
To gain the votes of Republicans and the undecided, Obama promised a centrist government.
His appointee Rahm, who is known as a partisan extremist, proves that Obama is the same man who threw so many under the bus to elevate himself.
Companies and jobs are now in a mass exodus out of this Country. Obama has not raised confidence for anyone planning business success, with anything he has said so far.
Republicans voting McCain are running around like a scene out of Will and Grace saying “I told you so…I told you so….”
19. windrider | 11.09.08
Once again, Obama is demonstrating the kind of foresight, organization and discipline that is required for an orderly, effective transition. It is all the more remarkable that he was wise enough to begin planning months ago; this is a mark of a good leader and I think even his naysayers may be pleasantly surprised.
20. andrew bussiere | 11.09.08
I would like to know if Obama, when he takes office will seek charges against Bush and Cheney not only for war crimes, but for the complete bastardization of political powers Bush chose to use in an almost Nixon-like fashion of purposefully and maliciously misleading the American people and misrepresenting every self action as an integral part of the greater “war on terror.”
I sure hope he does…
22. Joseph Bernard | 11.09.08
Obama was elected because he represented real change and gave people hope. If Obama acts decisively and with what is best for all the people in mind things will start to turn around. I trust he has the strength of character to be a powerful agent for change that is so badly needed. The more that he gets the people engaged in the change process the more the impact. We are all hungry to again feel hopeful about the future.
Joseph Bernard
http://www.explorelifeblog.com
http://www.peace-together.com
23. Martha Yancey | 11.09.08
I believe that Obama needs someone like Rahm who will not hesitate to carry out the president elect’s agenda. Good cop, bad cop-sometimes it’s necessary. You can’t run a good team if everyone has the same cool temperament as our future President and I believe he realizes that but it is better to have a President with a cool dimeanor and the staff to be aggressive because who better to calm America down and ease our anxieties than Obama.
24. Chopin | 11.09.08
Perhaps the time calls for a new attitude, a new concept and a new vocabulary as well. Just as it has become increasingly inappropriate in attitude, concept and terminology in the past few decades to indiscriminately call every major social legislative program or foreign political policy a “war” — “war on poverty”, “war on crime”, “war on drugs”, “war on …” and on and on, has it not occurred to more and more people in and out of politics that the attitude, concept and terminology of “healing” might be more accurate and appropriate than “war”?
Shall we not rethink and discard tired and worn out phrases and terminology like “bully pulpit”. What is so “bully” about it to emulate the authority of using moral suasion of religious and spiritual leaders as Mahatma Ghandi or Jesus Christ himself? Why not call it “moral pulpit”, or “moral suasion”, or “moral authority”, or “conscientious awakening”, or …
Well, you know what I mean. Why not activate your imagination and create a more suitable terminology to describe what is really happening. In my opinion, there is nothing about war or bullying that is appropriate to the process and concept and terms of discussion involving healing. Please suggest some other terms and phrases, people!
25. Dale | 11.09.08
Mr. Obama is a man of vision. A man who believes he can solve the problems of our time. Washington is full of people that will try to use his victory for their own benefit. We’ve already heard statements from some of those people (Barney Frank) who want their friends appointed to influential positions. Emanuel will keep people like that in line. Keep the folks who have been in Washington for a long time and think they should have some say aware of their responsibilities under a president who was elected with a mandate for change, not business as usual. Excellent appointment.
26. James Craven | 11.09.08
It is not only Mr. Bush who has embraced some of the forms of imperial triumphalism, exclusivism, umilateralism, belicosity and hubris that have caused peoples all over the world to have some very negative feelings about the U.S. Government policies as well as about some aspects of U.S. culture in general. For example, how does the U.S. credibly demand any nation not being allowed to acquire the types of weapons, nuclar and otherwise, that the U.S. or its allies hold and even seek to upgrade?
Law, international or otherwise, only works when it is voluntarily respected by most and when violators are few. And law is only voluntarily respected when it is applied equally, without fear or favor, to all and is perceived as such. No person, and no nation, has any legitimate right or power to demand obedience to, and protections from, the very same laws it cynically and situationally violates in its own myopically perceived interests. Otherwise, we are left with the Social Darwinism of “might makes right”
globally and nationally, and all the barbarism and chaos that that inexorably brings.
27. ray | 11.09.08
Just a reminder under Bush in 2006 stocks were hitting record highs and unemployment was at an all time low. This changed when the dems took over office. YES when big corporations and companies do well and the rich get richer more jobs a created because people need to grow their business and higher new people. This creates wealth!!!
Obama just a wants to spread the wealth around which creates less of it. Can’t you people see our country will go down the drain with this man’s policies!!! At least Joe the plumber will stay in business
This is really scary. The fact the all the anti-American leaders and countries are celebrating doesn’t that say something to you?
29. Jimbeau | 11.09.08
Anybody mind if Obama is sworn in early?…Not like Bush is doing anything important.
30. madmtnscot | 11.09.08
I will go on record now to predict that Obama will fail if left to his own devices. That being said, I think that Obama is just a puppet for the Left Wing.
31. Angelique | 11.09.08
I am not surprised by the moves President Elect Obama is making - he’s smooth with it as well as cautious. I find it comforting that his team has been thinking about the transition since August - simply amazing. This means that he has been planning finding out which individuals would fit into a cabinet sit for quite some time. With each passing day, I find out more about what he has been working on prior to getting into office; for instance, to know that he has study how successful Presidency in the past to ensure he know how to make his as successful makes me happy!!!!
32. Bill Fletcher | 11.09.08
I hope the change that Obama is to bring will include a more civilized opposition.
I am no fan of Bush but I certainly hope the lack of civility among the foul mouthed, name calling, detractors often heard here at this site over the years will not be emulated by the new minority party.
33. eze flyer | 11.09.08
Emanuel is also a Likudnik, a multimillionaire ruling class bureaucrat and has proved to be the closest thing to a Democrat neo-con.
The reason for his success is that he gives the ruling class what they want and makes us believe we’re all getting something in return.
If Emanuel has Obama’s ear, the rest of us can only expect more trickle down.
Unfortunately, Obama will have to bow to the oligarchy or his life won’t be worth a plug nickle.
34. C. Robinson | 11.09.08
With the serious crisis this country is in, Obama can’t wait until January 19th to pick an administration. He’s got one heck of a job to do and he can’t do it alone.
36. Derrick | 11.10.08
I pray for the future of America. God we need your help!!! Please keep us safe from those who mean us harm. Give Obama the sense to make the right decisions and not side with terrorist leaders. Obama is naive about bad people. Maybe Rahm can talk some sense into Obama. It looks like Obama loves his children, maybe he will do it for them. Thank You God. Amen.
37. MR 123 | 11.10.08
I hope that Obama doesn’t make the same mistake that Bush made in his first days….that is to throw out all things Bush for the sake of them being from the Bush administration. Bush did the same thing when he took over from the Clinton administration. He threw out Clinton measures for the sake of them having the Clinton touch.
38. William Joseph Miller | 11.10.08
TCB, AKA Taking Care of Business..
That best describes Obama so far. For those folk who do not know what Taking Care of Business means, you’re seeing an example. However, you might want to look up the old Mo-Town classic, “Taking Care of Business” to find out the origin of the name. (Perhaps Obama’s economic plans will help re-tool Motown as well.)
39. Michael Scott | 11.10.08
It’s about time we had a President that’ll be intellectually stimulating and not just mind numbing stupid. Bush could honestly learn a thing or two about some human traits he’s missing, compassion, ability to listen to others, diplomacy.
Funny how our current President lacks compassion, yet he professes to be a Christian.
What an insult to other Christians - such as myself.
40. Philip Dennany | 11.10.08
The people should be concerned over the appointment of Emanuel. Already there are more people in our government that are more interested in the achievements of Israel over and above the most basic needs of the citizen people here in the US. I too am pro-Israel people, but please, lets let Israel government take responsibility for their “super race elite” and try to re-join humanity and stop their continual warmaking and greed.
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1. Lucifer | 11.09.08
President Barack Obama is the 44th USA President. And first Black President.
The change he mean is to change the course of history. And people of america have chosen this because they want this change.
And me although not american but hopes that this is a real hope to the world.