Obama Taps Rahm Emanuel For Chief Of Staff

After Struggling With Decision, Illinois Congressman Has Accepted Offer From President-Elect

(CBS/ AP)  President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel to be his White House chief of staff.

"I announce this appointment first because the Chief of Staff is central to the ability of a President and Administration to accomplish an agenda," Obama said in a statement. "And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel."

The Illinois congressman accepted the job Thursday after struggling over family and political considerations.

Emanuel serves in the House Democratic leadership and will have to resign his seat and put aside hopes of becoming House speaker.

"I’m leaving a job I love to join your White House for one simple reason - like the record amount of voters who cast their ballot over the last month, I want to do everything I can to help deliver the change America needs," Emanuel said in a statement.

Emanuel is a fiery Democrat who served as a political and policy aide in the Clinton White House. His selection is a shift in tone for Obama, who chose more low-key leadership for his presidential campaign.

House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio called Emanuel "an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center."

Sources tell CBS News that Robert Gibbs has been tapped to be Obama's press secretary. Gibbs has been Obama's longtime spokesman and confidant and was at Obama's side from his 2004 Senate campaign through the long days on the presidential campaign trail.

Before accepting the position, Emanuel appeared conflicted over whether to take on what promises to be a grueling job. Emanuel told Chicago's WLS-TV that he was honored to be considered but needed to weigh the impact on his family. He was a political and policy aide in the Clinton White House.

"I have a lot to weigh: the basis of public service, which I've given my life to, a career choice. And most importantly, what I want to do as a parent," Emanuel said in an interview aired Wednesday. "And I know something about the White House. That, I assume, is one of the reasons that President-elect Obama would like me to serve. But I also know something about what it means to a family."

Emanuel added: "This is not a professional choice. This is a personal choice about what my wife and I want to do for our family, as much as what to do with my career."

After leaving the Clinton White House, Emanuel turned to investment banking, then won a Chicago-area House seat six years ago. In Congress, he moved quickly into the leadership. As chairman of the Democratic campaign committee in 2006, he played an instrumental role in restoring his party to power after 12 years in the minority.

Emanuel maintained neutrality during the long primary battle between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, not surprising given his long-standing ties to the former first lady and his Illinois connections with Obama.

Obama has planned his first public appearance since his presidential victory for Friday - a meeting with economic advisers to discuss the nation's financial woes that Americans listed as their top concern on Election Day.

Obama plans to talk to the news media Friday afternoon following the meeting, aides said. He and his wife, Michelle, will visit the White House early next week at President Bush's invitation, aides said.

Obama's schedule Thursday includes meetings with top U.S. intelligence officials preparing him to be commander in chief and transition team leaders tasked with building his entire administration in 10 short weeks.

Obama advisers said he was selecting the leaders of the new government with a sense of care over speed, with no plans to announce Cabinet positions this week.

Obama planned to stay home through the weekend, with a blackout on news announcements so that he and his staff can get some rest after a grueling campaign and the rush of their win Tuesday night. He is planning a trip to Hawaii in December to get away with his family before their move to the White House - and to honor his grandmother, who died Sunday at her home there.

Obama began Thursday as he almost always does, with a workout. Later, he planned to visit with the transition team he officially announced Wednesday but had been under way for weeks. Officials had kept deliberations under wraps to avoid the appearance of overconfidence in the weeks leading to Tuesday's election.

He also planned to head to the FBI office in Chicago, a secure location for him to receive his first president's daily brief. The document is mostly written by the Central Intelligence Agency and includes the most critical overnight intelligence. It is accompanied by a briefing from top intelligence officials that typically lasts 45 minutes to an hour, although Obama's first is expected to be longer.

Mr. Bush said on Thursday that he'll meet with Obama next week as his administration works to achieve a seamless transition of power to the Democrat.

Mr. Bush talked outside the White House as he gathered with a host of Executive Mansion and administration workers to urge cooperation with the Obama team on the transition that will take place over the next 75 days.

Mr. Bush said that "this peaceful transfer of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy." And he warned that the United States would be vigilant against any attempts by enemies to take advantage of the country during its period of transition.

Later, the White House said the meeting between the president and the president-elect will take place on Monday afternoon.

A statement said: "The Bushes will greet the Obamas, and then the President will visit with the President-elect in the Oval Office. Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Obama will meet in and tour the Private Residence. We understand that the Obama children will not be accompanying them on this visit, but we very much look forward to meeting them."

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Thursday also said he will work closely with Obama to pave the way for a smooth transition as the country battles its worst financial crisis in decades.

Paulson said: "A methodical and orderly transition is in the best interests of the financial markets and Treasury is committed to making sure that the incoming team can hit the ground running in January."

Andrew Card, former chief of staff to President Bush, said he thinks it's good for a president-elect to begin by naming White House staff before cabinet appointments.

"I hope he names his chief of staff very soon," Card said on CBS News' The Early Show. "After, that I hope he'll name a White House counsel and president personnel director. The White House staff can be in place without senate confirmation so important to focus on that."

Card added that President Bush has taken steps to make the transition easier for Obama, such as getting a head start on the process to get security clearance for appointees.

Announcement of the transition team came Wednesday in a written statement from the Obama camp.

The group is headed by John Podesta, who served as chief of staff under President Clinton; Pete Rouse, who has been Obama's chief of staff in the Senate; and Valerie Jarrett, a friend of the president-elect and campaign adviser.

"John Podesta is a seasoned hand," Card said. "He knows Washington and I think it's good he is running the transition for President-elect Obama."

Several Democrats described a sprawling operation well under way. Officials had kept deliberations under wraps to avoid the appearance of overconfidence in the weeks leading to Tuesday's election.

[amorris19]

President-elect Obama believes in the non-traditional approach to achieve the "change we need". So rather than Gore, Schwarzenegger or the other Gov''s, here''s an unlikely, but very appropriate non-traditional approach for Energy Secretary under President Obama: Andrew Liveris, current CEO of the Dow Chemical Company. He''s been out preaching abut the need for a truly comprehensive energy policy in the U.S. for a long while now, most recently at the coveted podium of the Detroit Economic Club. Every time he speaks, he''s told he should be running for public office. Given his company is hugely connected to the energy sector and he is vastly knowledgeable of all things energy on a global basis, this non-traditional choice makes a lot of sense.

[model67a]

I wonder what position he will put Oprah in!!

[newbie43]

GOP and Moderate DEMS hate this guy.

Posted by dante805

Oh, really??

Maybe you should read what Lindsey Graham said about the appointment:
''This is a wise choice by President-elect Obama.
Rahm knows Capitol Hill and has great political skills. He can be a tough partisan but also understands the need to work together. He is well-suited for the position of White House Chief of Staff. I worked closely with him during the presidential debate negotiations which were completed in record time. When we hit a rough spot, he always looked for a path forward. I consider Rahm to be a friend and colleague. He%u2019s tough but fair. Honest, direct, and candid. These qualities will serve President-elect Obama well.

Rahm understands the challenges facing our nation and will, consistent with the agenda set by President-elect Obama, work to find common ground where it exists. I look forward to working with him in his new position and will continue to do everything I can to help find a pathway forward on the difficult problems facing our nation.''

[hatesthecolt]

in the year 2012 people will be saying "Remember the good old Bush years"
You better believe this.


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Posted by keystonebull

THIS is exactly why the GOP is in trouble. You just cannot get through to them.

[brucie2006]

How embarrassing for the Repiglicons to loose by such a huge landslide..laughing. McLooser lost every bit of respect with his smear, nasty campaigning.

Congrats to Obama!!!!

[hatesthecolt]

so much for bi-partisanship. Emanuel is the MOST partisan pick he could make. GOP and Moderate DEMS hate this guy. I see a lot of infighting with this pick. It''''s getting ral goo. stay tuned for more disasterous picks.


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Posted by dante8

Why don''t we give the guy 10 min. in the job before we decide he''s going to be partisan? He''s serving at the pleasure of the President. If Obama wants bipartisanship, that''s what Emanuel will give him.

That having been said, sometimes you need sharp elbows in that job in order to get something done, and Emanuel can deliver that when needed. I think he''s a great choice.

[dante805]

so much for bi-partisanship. Emanuel is the MOST partisan pick he could make. GOP and Moderate DEMS hate this guy. I see a lot of infighting with this pick. It''s getting ral goo. stay tuned for more disasterous picks.

[summarex]

jb01201a:

Lib?

You have no idea just how right I am do you.

BTW: The father of your fellow kibitzer Emanuel was a terrorist. I wonder why that''s never talked about?

[jb01201a]

Are you kidding - summarex - you stupid lib schmuck - this nut from Iran congrads you and your socialist party ?

[summarex]

He has taken the first step to prove his loyalty Israel. But much more needs to be done before he can be trusted. is Obama, like Bush willing to commit his country to ruin in order to please those nice people who always have something interesting to say? Nothing less is true loyalty.....

[jb01201a]

CBSisPravda - which is what ? Neville Chamerline in 2008 ? This guy wants to talk to that nut in Iran ? You guys elected this guy - so now, you must sleep in your bed. One thing is true, I am not going to sit here and poke fun at your president - ops, I mean the messiah ! Hang on to your wallet and if there is another 9/11 - he will only send FBI agents - wow, how safe I feel - oh, he is going to help everyone though, I feel really good.

[jb01201a]

rudy654 - and you belong to the new USSA - United States Socialist America. Wow, did you and your messiah have a party yet ?

[stloubill]

The true citizens of our country have spoken. We''ve had enough of the crooked empire. The Dems took the house, the senate, and the oval office.

It''s time you all paid tribute to President Obama!

[jb01201a]

freespeach - and God (Oh my - terrible word) bless the new United Socialist states of America. Wow, are you all blinded by this guy !

[caliengineer]

no one he knows is better? Perhaps this is because he only had 140 days in the senate?

Picks his neighbor as CHIEF OF STAFF.

[thcarson-2009]

Another Dem in Freddie''s pocket.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1426034.html

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by freespeach at 10:01 PM

Our economy collapsed long ago when Bush decided to pursue this war to benefit his friends at Halliburton and Blackwater. We will never know what happened to billions upon billions of dollars that simply disappeared in Iraq with no way of tracking it.

Our deficit went through the roof and gas prices went with them, driven falsly up by greedy speculators who worked for big oil companies themselves. They made MEGA PROFITS off of us at the expense of our economy and LAUGHED IN OUR FACES BEFORE CONGRESS.

Meanwhile, our dollar plunged to all new lows, making the Mexican peso look like a new competitive currency.

We watched as the big corporations starting with Enron went belly up, but before they did they made sure to extort millions of dollars from Californians through a fake energy shortage that resulted in rolling blackouts. And Bush simply winked and smirked through the whole thing.

Then the worst happened, all those loans made through predatory practices of subprime interest rates and such, suddenly couldn''t be paid. And we all know that houses simply could not be going up in price the way they were without something collapsing.

And throughout this disasterous affair Bush told us to go shopping.

[thelastvoter]

Congratulations to the Obama Campaign Team! As a Conservative Republican, I voted for Senator McCain. Your campaign was well organized, focused, and though you had most of the press and media with you, Senator Obama was able to handle himself with class throughout the campaign and the debates. If the Bush Administration and those Republicans in Congress had shown your discipline when it came to government spending and Conservative ideals, including oversight of the Congressional banking and finance committees when they were in charge between 2000 and 2006, this election might have turned out differently. %u201CMy Republicans%u201D, with a number of exceptions, did not deserve to be re-elected, and it was ashamed that the McCain-Palin ticket got caught in the %u201Ccrossfire%u201D, because both McCain and Palin were two decent candidates who could have helped our nation. I hope that the Obama supporters recognize that our nation is nearly %u201Cbankrupt%u201D and therefore, they should not push the president-elect to keep promises that might have to be delayed for some time. Give him time and let him lead at his own pace. Again, Congratulations to all of those Obama supporters that I gave a rough time to on this blog. It was a fun campaign.

[misha128-2009]

Barack Obama has set the bar exceedingly high for himself - especially in light of the fact that he campaigned with the constant harping about "eight years of failed policies of the Bush Administration".

Posted by CBSisPravda at 09:06 PM

Personally your definition of the bar setting is extremely low -- given the gross incompetence of the Bush Administration. This single Obama appointment alone could exceed the combined competence of a very large number of Bush appointees.

[rhs648]

Election''''s over, dingus.

Posted by slownewsdaze

The election may be over. That does not mean we shouldn''t continue looking for the truth. If there was election fraud on either side or coverups, those responsible should be held resonsible. We don''t let a murderer go simply because his victim is dead. The economy is ruined. Does this mean we shouldn''t punish the people responsible for its ruin?