Holder Is Obama's Attorney General Pick

Washington Attorney And Former Justice Department Deputy Still Needs To Be Vetted

(CBS/ AP)  CBS News has learned that long-time Washington insider Eric Holder is President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be attorney general.

After some initial hesitation, Holder has now told the Obama team he wants the job, reports CBS News.

But it's not a completely done deal yet as he's still being vetted by the transition team's layers, reports CBS News correspondent Chip Reid.

Aides have gone so far as to ask senators whether he would be confirmed, an Obama official and people close to the matter told the Associated Press on Tuesday. A source close to the selection process told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Mr. Obama has "informally" offered the post to Holder, who has accepted. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement has been made and because the process of vetting the nomination is still going on.

Holder, a former U.S. attorney who served as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under President Bill Clinton, would be the nation's first black attorney general.

Reid reports that sources say Holder initially became close to Mr. Obama at a dinner at Oprah Winfrey's house, and grew closer while serving as a member of Mr. Obama's vice presidential selection team

Holder did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday. Asked Monday by The Associated Press whether he expected to be nominated, he responded in an e-mail: "Who knows?"

"He's a smart, safe choice," CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen. "He knows Washington and won't be intimidated by its politicians and lobbyists. He has background in terrorism law and he’s a very serious and cautious guy and I think all of those traits should help him do a job that has gotten a lot harder since 9/11."

"He's not a 'change' nominee but I think you could argue that of all the cabinet-level positions, the one which needs an insider most is Justice - it's just too complex and complicated to trust to a political novice," Cohen added.

In the past week, Obama aides have asked Senate Republicans whether they would support Holder. In particular, the aides questioned whether Holder's confirmation would be delayed because of his involvement in the 2001 pardon of fugitive Marc Rich by Clinton at the end of his presidency.

One person involved in the talks said the Obama team has received some assurances that, while the Rich pardon would certainly come up during hearings, the nomination likely wouldn't be held up. All spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.

Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the pardon "would be a factor to consider."

"I wouldn't want to articulate it among the top items but it's worthwhile to look at," he told reporters.

Asked if Holder would be a good choice for attorney general, Specter said it was too soon to say.

"I know something of Holder's work in the Clinton administration and that's about it," he said. "I'd have to take a much closer look at his record and talk to him and think about it."

A spokeswoman for Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy said the Vermont Democrat has not been informed that Holder is Mr. Obama's pick to lead the Justice Department.

On the last day of Clinton's term, Holder was asked whether the president should pardon Rich, a wealthy commodities dealer who had spent years running from tax charges. Holder said he was "neutral, leaning toward favorable" on the pardon. Clinton later cited that as among the factors that persuaded him to issue the pardon.

Holder has publicly apologized for what he said was a snap decision that he should have paid more attention to. Had he taken more time to review the case, he would have advised against a pardon, he said.

Holder, 57, also a former judge and U.S. attorney in Washington, is widely respected in legal circles and among Justice Department career lawyers. He has been on Mr. Obama's short list to be attorney general since before the election, and already has had private conversations about how he would run the department.

One of his top priorities, according to a person familiar with his thinking, is to rebuild the department's reputation after its fiercely independent image was tarnished by charges of political meddling by the White House during the Bush administration.

For that reason, Holder has been reluctant to lobby for the attorney general's post for fear the Rich pardon would invite a bloody nomination process and further strain the department's credibility, this person said.

Holder has been one of Mr. Obama's most trusted advisers. He was a member of the team that helped select Sen. Joe Biden as Mr. Obama's running mate. The two have known each other only briefly, however, after meeting at a dinner party four years ago.

Holder has other deep ties to Mr. Obama's team. Holder's wife, an obstetrician, delivered incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel's daughter.

[tazmjam]

Nothing Can be said wrong of : Obama or Holder
If They decide to Disobey an : ILLEGAL CRIMINAL EXECUTIVE ORDER and
Sends the ENTIRE - NAZI Fascist Bush Administration Before :
The World Court and Prosecute
The NAZI Fascist Bush Administration For : Crimes against Humanity
Posted by lastdance134

You have more than a screw loose if you think an incoming U.S. President will turn over an out-going President (even one as ignorant as Bush) to stand trial before a %u201CWorld%u201D court. It will be a cold day in h*ll when America allows the rest of the world to judge and prosecute one of our Presidents...even one that%u2019s a dumb azz.

[kansas1946]

Not to worry liberals,
we conservatives will give Obama the same "respect"
that you liberals gave George Bush.



01/20/2013 - the end of a socialist error







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by smclimans at 12:02 PM : Nov 19, 2008
************************************

I agree with you that dissent is patriotic. Unfortuately, Bush never did anything to earn respect and history will reflect that. Obama remains to be seen. He may or may not be a good, or even great president. That ball is in his court.

And by the way, I believe that "liberals" gave GWB the same respect that you showed for Clinton. Maybe when everyone gets tired of playing one-upsmanship, we can get back to the business of caring about our country.

[kansas1946]

How about Colin Powell? Now there''''s a change. He has never worked for any George Bush, has he? That''''s real change. You need to check your facts before speaking, or as my first grade teacher would say, "Put your brain in gear before you drive your mouth."

*************************************

Yes, he has.

Colin Luther Powell, KCB, MSC, (born April 5, 1937) is an American statesman and retired General in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State (2001-2005), serving under President George W. Bush. He was the first African American appointed to that position.[1][

[usclimey]

They say people get the leader they deserve. Well, I guess Americans deserve Obama. The problem is many of us didn''''t make the mistake of voting for him - but we''''ll have to pay for it, just the same.

Posted by AmJoe

So go live in Dubai for the next 8 years. You''ll find plenty of neocon company over there.

[smclimans]

Two schools of thought here:


1)

For the last eight years, all I heard from liberals who
relentlessly criticized Bush, was that "DISSENT IS PATRIOTIC"

Okay

So I WILL be patriotic for the next four years
by dissenting against Obama



2)

Not to worry liberals,
we conservatives will give Obama the same "respect"
that you liberals gave George Bush.



01/20/2013 - the end of a socialist error

[credibility2]

Ah yes, change we can count on. Not! Once again, we''re reminded of Obama''s naivete and poor judgment. Anything to get his buddies in, even though they made a major blunder in being involved in Mark Rich''s pardon under the Clinton Administration. And, please, Obama has revealed his flaws in character and judgment. He isn''t pure as the new snow, so stop elevating him to perfection, which he isn''t.

[marcodele]

There''s no way any new administration could be worse than this past one. No way. History will reveal Bush to be the president who caused the most damage to our country and the world. Thanks to the idiots who voted for him.

[whitemale08]

There''s rumors that Hillary will not take Sec. of State job so she can run in 2012.

She''s betting on Obama not taking up Lyndon Larouche''s advice on what to do to fix the economy which will create a scenario where Ted Kennedy ran against his own party''s President Jimmy Carter.

My advice to Obama, if you want to stop that from happening then take Lyndon Larouche''s advice immediately, he just offered it to you yesterday.

[chitown4716]

Don''''t say this administration is better, until it''''s over. You have no idea how much trouble Amerabia is in. give this guy your vote,and he''''ll take from you bigtime.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by alibaba52

Well, if you are advising people NOT to assume that the new administration will be better. Why are you YOURSELF assuming that the new administration would be worst???

Are you too ignorant to know how hypocritical your post is????

[alibaba52]

I don''t expect Obama is any better than his friends.
Ayers,Wright,Farakan,Reznic,Kahlidi,Davis,Daley. All losers. All criminals. How do you say, Birds of a feather .

[perk235]

Nancy Pelosi to be named to new Secretary of the Treasury and will continue her mission of spending our tax money until all of our funds are depleted.
---------------------
I think there is enough blame to go around regarding the bailout in Washington. Bush, Paulson, Congress....

The real blame begins with the risky cowboy bets (DERIVATIVES) to the tune of $60 trillion that have caused this meltdown. Not to mention the millionaires that made these bets with other people''s money.

[alibaba52]

DJ-IL
Hey loser you still crying about the Reps.You''ll be crying about Obamadman when he gives us your country. Americans don''t gave the gonads to defend themselves. Pull out of Iraq and we will be there. I''m thinking April

[wdrussell1]

Today Obama will announce that Bill Ayers will be Chief of Homeland Security, Barney Franks will be named Commander in Chief of our new all gay army.Nancy Pelosi to be named to new Secretary of the Treasury and will continue her mission of spending our tax money until all of our funds are depleted. Jerimiah Wright and Jesse Jackson to be named White House Co Chaplins.

Posted by assemblyofso

The strange thing is, that those people would be better than the Bush appointees.

[valentin73]

JOE LIEBERMAN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.
GO JOE!!!
THE HECK WITH HOLDER!!!

[usclimey]

perceptions5 - you and Xlib really should find someone other Limpbone to listen too. Just because you''re too dumb to get into Columbia is no reason to call it fascist. Come to think of it, if you had the IQ to get into Columbia, you''d know that liberal fascist is a total contradiction in terms.

[usclimey]

Can an AK-47 be used for hunting? I actually don''''t know and am curious if it can.

Posted by perk235

Sure it can - I''m sure mr22587 blasts squirrels with it all the time - he''d be too scared of anything larger.

[nokia3210c]

WHAT A PETY AND HOPELESS SOCIETY AMERICANS ARE. I PETTY YOU ALL. YOU ALL AMERICANS PEOPLE CLAIM TO BE THE MOST CIVILISED NATION ON THE PLANET EARTH, YET YOU CANNOT SOLVE PETTY ISSUES IN A CIVILISED MANNER BUT THRU GUNS!!! YOU MEAN MEAN YOU CANNOT TRUST EACH OTHER AND LEAVE IN HARMONY EXCEPT BY GUNS. WHAT A PATHETIC SOCIETY YOU ARE. THANK GOD I WAS NOT BORNE IN AMERICA. NO WONDER YOU ALL SUPPORTED THE MORAN BUSH TO INVADE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, TO ME YOU ALL EXIBITS THE TERRIBLE STATE OF YOUR INNER SELVES, A VIOLENT SOCIETY ON EARTH. AMERICANS DONT TRUST EACH OTHER, HOW CAN THE WORLD TRUST THEM!!!????

[perceptions5]

Why in the world Obama would pick a guy who recommended a pardon for a convicted felon, Marc Rich, is beyond me. And then after Clinton pardons Rich his wife donates $400,000 to the Clinton library.

Dear corrupt liberal ASSOCIATED PRESS/CBS where''s that information? (insert eye roll)

I also noticed that Holder is from Columbia University which is run by a new breed of liberal fascists. The rich eltie self-righteous snobs that run that University have denied ROTC the ability to campaign for recuits on that campus.
So much for freedom of choice. The elite snobs have made that decision for the students, sad.

Well this is CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN.

..................Really sad.

[ncsujags]

Love the choice! He''s an experience, intelligent guy! We need folks in there who know the jobs. Obama will bring change, but he will also hire folks who will get the job done!!!
If having a gun is so important, you probably already have one and Obama will not talk that away..

Get over it! He is the President now. Just sit back and watch him and his team put this country back togther!!!!

Hope Won hate Lost!!!!

[assemblyofso]

Obama will not ban guns since he as much as promised he would not. However, he said nothing regarding his proposed ban on ammunition.