Obama Taps Tom Daschle For Cabinet Post

Sources Say Former Senate Majority Leader Accepts Post As Secretary Of Health And Human Services

(CBS/AP)  Democratic officials say former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has accepted President-elect Barack Obama's offer to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Democratic officials on Capitol Hill and close to the transition also confirm the selection to CBS News.

The appointment has not been announced, but these officials say the job is Daschle's barring an unforeseen problem as Mr. Obama's team reviews the background of the South Dakota Democrat. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorize to discuss the matter publicly.

One area of review will include the lobbying connections of his wife, Linda Hall Daschle, who has done representation mostly on behalf of airline-related companies over the years. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorize to discuss the matter publicly.

Daschle, a close adviser to Mr. Obama throughout his White House campaign, recently wrote a book on his proposals to improve health care, and he is working with former Senate leaders on recommendations to improve the system.

"Daschle was an early and prominent supporter of the president-elect and is very likely to play a role in his administration," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "As someone deeply familiar with the inner workings of Congress, Daschle could be very effective in helping shepherd through health care reform, one of the incoming president’s priorities."

Organizations seeking to expand health coverage were quick to praise the selection.

"Sen. Daschle has a deep commitment to securing high-quality, affordable health care for everyone in our nation," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. "His new leadership position confirms that the incoming Obama administration has made health care reform a top and early priority for action in 2009."

After losing re-election to the Senate in 2004, Daschle became a public policy adviser and member of the legislative and public policy group at the law and lobbying firm Alston & Bird. Daschle isn't registered as a lobbyist. He advises clients on issues including health care, financial services and taxes and trade, according to the firm Web site.

Health care interests, including CVS Caremark, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, Abbott Laboratories and HealthSouth, are among the firm's lobbying clients.

His wife was acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration in the Clinton administration. She is one of Washington's top lobbyists. Her lobbying clients over the past year included American Airlines, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, Senate lobbying records show.

Daschle is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think-tank run by top Obama transition adviser and former Clinton White House chief of staff John Podesta. According to his center biography, Daschle serves on the advisory boards of Intermedia Partners and the BP America Inc. external advisory council, and on the boards of CB Richard Ellis, Mascoma Corp., Prime BioSolutions, The Freedom Forum, the Mayo Clinic, the Center for American Progress, the LBJ Foundation, and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. He is also a member of the Council of Foreign Relations.

Daschle's strong Capitol Hill ties and knowledge of how HHS works mean "it is a perfect appointment," said former Republican Congressman John Porter, who chairs the medical research advocacy group Research!America. "He'll do an outstanding job."

Besides health reform, the next HHS secretary will deal with the growing budgetary woes of some of the nation's critical health agencies.

One example: Years of funding that didn't keep up with inflation means the National Institutes of Health has lost 14 percent of its buying power, said Dr. Harold Varmus, NIH's former director and a science adviser to Obama's campaign. That has left promising disease research without money to move forward.

Mr. Obama also announced several transition working group leaders, including Daschle, who will oversee the health policy working group. They include former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Carol Browner on energy and environment and former Clinton White House adviser Jim Steinberg and Obama campaign senior foreign policy adviser Susan Rice on national security.

[jamshied]

Excellent choice.
Welcome, Tom.
North Dakotans did not apreciate him, too bad, but he is a dedicated public servant and politician.
I think with Tom Daschle aboard OBAMA ship, we will see a real health care reform.

[bjcone8559]

Good choice!!

Looks like the grown-ups are going to be taking over again. Good choice!!

[sioux4life1]

jamshied Tom is from South Dakota, kola

[secundus2]

The best hope for Pres.-Elect Obama was to find new people as White House advisors and cabinet members, but so far it has been a story of re-heated leftovers.

[scb111_1]

Another "stupid" move on the part of Barack Obama and his transisition team. Tom is a political hack, he is not well like by most Republicans and some Democrats too!!! He is going to get torn apart in the Senate to be confirm.

[marcodele]

Obama''s appointments do represent a big change. We no longer have a president who appoints his frat buddies and his daddy''s cronies. Obama is changing that to qualified people with proven track records of success, not necessarily buttkissers like Michael Brown, Alberto Gonzales, Donald Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, and the rest of the thugs you right wing necon nutjobs gave us.

[scb111_1]

Tom Daschle''s wife, isn''t she a "big" lobbyists? I thought Barack Obama ran on the issue of doing away with all these "LOBBYISTS" in Washington D.C.? I thought Obama''s Campaign critize McCain for all of his LOBBYISTS in his campaign?

[otrama]

I would agree with most here: not a good choice.
Obama has been too influenced by Chicago style politics; reward those who have supported you versus the best person for the job.
Seriously, there must be 1000 women more accomplished in the health care field then tired old Daschle, why pass them up?

[antoniof123]

You neo cons just don''t get it do you under Clinton what we had a great economy everything was doing well. Give it to you neo cons and you almost destroyed America. Well, he has a novel idea hire people with brains.

I really don''t care how much you neo cons start blabing I am through listening to you along with just about every other swing voter out there. So until Obama gives me a reason to be angry with him.

Go sit down and be quite.

[cpelzar--2008]

God help us....

[jackp32]

This guy''s wife is a lobbyist for the airlines. When he was senate leader, he rammed legislation thru that was favorable to the airlines. He is a typical corrupt politician who will grant favors to his friends without any concern for ethics or fairness. He fits right in to the corruption that exists in our gov''t.

[libh8er]

Bring back all the Clinton has beens......why not see what Jocelyn Elders is doing. Perhaps she has perfected ''safer guns and safer bullets''. LOL

I''m sitting back salivating over the prospect of Jimmah Carter - The Sequal

[rohink-2009]

antoniof123, I have heard both sides express their opinion on this subject. Suggestion, skip over the comments you don''t like. First Amendment right to express opinions freely.

Personally, I would never tell you to sit down and shut up. Keep expressing yourself.

Try to be a little less angry and a bit more tolerant. That is the motto of the left, right?

[ichabod57]

Not the best or the worst choice, I guess. Getting past Congress should be easy enough.

As long as we can see a positive change in health care and in the country as a whole, who cares if the candidate is male, female, democrat, republican, independent, black, white, or purple with orange polka-dots and green horns? Just find the person you think will do the best job and be completely blind to race, gender, political party, etc. Forget quotas. That''s real change from the status-quo politics as usual of the past.

[jackp32]

We do not hate these people. We are only pointing out that it is and will continue to be business as usual in DC with crooks running the gov''t. Obama sold you people a bill of worthless goods. He is taking orders from the machine known as lobbyists who run our gov''t. If you do not believe this, then you need a rude awakening.

[cpelzar--2008]

Is there anyone he can appoint that you people won''''t hate?? Give me a break. You people need to grow up

Posted by DJ_IL at 02:23 PM : Nov 19, 2008

How about somebody new for a "change" Not this dried up has beens that are Political Paybacks..

Tom Daschile is no where near qualified for this position.

[cpelzar--2008]

Barack Obama 1st elected Black Man in US history or otherwise known as "Bill Clinton''s third term"

Do you think he will hire Monica?

[cpelzar--2008]

God help us....

Posted by CPelzar at 02:20 PM : Nov 19, 2008


We''''re seeing evidence that He is.

Posted by julesarcher1 at 02:39 PM : Nov 19, 2008

I did not mean Allah.

[cpelzar--2008]

God help us....

Posted by CPelzar at 02:20 PM : Nov 19, 2008


We''''''''''''''''re seeing evidence that He is.

Posted by julesarcher1 at 02:39 PM : Nov 19, 2008

I did not mean Allah.

Posted by CPelzar at 02:40 PM : Nov 19, 2008


There is only one.

Posted by julesarcher1 at 02:41 PM : Nov 19, 2008

Ye go ahead and tell a Muslim, that his god is our god, one in the same.

Or did you mean originally that God meaning (Obama) was helping us?

[cpelzar--2008]

CPelzar

No but I guess he could never be respected. You guys really need to know the difference between an American and those who only want their party to rule.

Posted by DJ_IL at 02:42 PM : Nov 19, 2008

America was born out of opposition, you guys have been opposing and whining for a long time, now payback is upon you.

These appointments are the most ridiculous excuse for "change" then I have ever seen.

None of these people could hold a high in my company, but they get put in charge.

It is like the Auto bailout hearings yesterday, I could not imagine a dumber human being than Chris Dodd and yet there he is almost incoherent discussing issues of a bailout that he without question does not have a clue about. Not ot mention it all for show anyway as you know the deal is already done with a wink and a nod....

[louiville2]

%u201CDish out a lot of groceries and coal, Get my boys to bring the voters out, and then count the votes over and over again until they add up right%u201D- Chicago Gangster Johnny Rocco, Key Largo 1948.

And the beat goes on if you are following the recounts.

Democrat thugs at it again.

[nolalou]

Another "stupid" move on the part of Barack Obama and his transisition team. Tom is a political hack, he is not well like by most Republicans and some Democrats too!!! He is going to get torn apart in the Senate to be confirm.

Posted by scb111_1

Oh, so you know more than Obama and his transition team? Do you think he''d nominate a former senator if he thought he''d be ''torn apart''! First, we don''t even know if Daschle will get the job, since it''s not official yet, but I would think his former colleagues would give him fairly easy approval, especially with a Democratic majority.

[rohink-2009]

ThinTheHerd2

Your screen name speaks volumes. Should those who''s opinions differ from you be eliminated? So much for diverstiy.

[alphaa10000]

scb111_1 said, "Tom Daschle''s wife, isn''t she a "big" lobbyists? I thought Barack Obama ran on the issue of doing away with all these "LOBBYISTS" ...?
---


Two misconceptions-- First, Linda Daschle is not a member of the Obama campaign staff. Second, Obama never promised to "do away with" Washington lobbying, but proposed reforms to bring lobby activity into the open, and conform to the public interest.

The Obama campaign did criticize McCain for his heavy reliance on registered lobbyists. McCain''s campaign was lobbyist-rich, and run by Verizon''s chief lobbyist, Rick Davis.

That said, lobbyists have connections all over Washington, and rarely is any "advisor" not also associated with lobby activity. Obama called on many who have such connections, including a registered lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute.

But taking lobby money is another matter. The Obama campaign publicly stated it refuses donations from PACs and federally-registered lobbies. From the Obama website-- "... Barack does not accept donations from registered federal lobbyists or Political Action Committees (PACs)."

"Obama and Biden will create a centralized Internet database of lobbying reports, ethics records, and campaign finance filings." This information will be available to any voter.

For further information on what reforms the Obama campaign proposes for Washington lobbies, see--

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ethics/index.php

[rohink-2009]

Democrat thugs at it again.

Posted by louiville2

********

We are ushering in the era of the thug.

[credibility2]

It''s laughable how Obama is desperately surrounding himself with experience and qualifications to mask his pathetic lack of both. It''s laughable, too, how the Obama supporters and those who voted for him believed he was about change. What he''s doing has nothing to do with change. Obama has duped and used his lies and empty promises. We''re essentially going to end up with a de facto Clinton Administration again. Not much inteligence going on with these choices, either.

[cpelzar--2008]

I don''''t agree with the Auto Bail out. But I guess you won''''t believe me since I voted for Obama.

Posted by DJ_IL at 02:59 PM : Nov 19, 2008

No I believe you, problem is that the fix is in. Before this talk of a bailout for the Auto Industry, I was about to by a Ford Truck.

I decided to not buy it because of this bailout BS. I bought another American made Truck by Toyota. Pick it up tonight.

Also just read this:
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) USA has announced plans to export North American-built Sequoia and Tundra vehicles to South America and the Middle East.

[cpelzar--2008]

Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle (D-SD), who lost his seat in the U.S. Senate in November 2004 to John Thune [1], was the first "Senate leader in half a century to be voted out of office." Daschle is "weighing a campaign comeback he hopes might propel him into the White House in 2008," Reuters reported July 3, 2006.

Looks like he got his wish.

[cpelzar--2008]

Daschle voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq in Oct. 2002.

[hawksprings]

Tom Daschle? Tom Daschle?
Are you kidding me?
Is this the best Obama can do?

Why not go to South Dakota and get George McGovern too?

Hey Obama, I''m still waiting for some ''change'' in Washington.
Not tired old retreads like Daschle and Biden.

[cpelzar--2008]

Daschle%u2019s unusually early endorsement of Obama last February gave the newcomer desperately-needed instant clout among insiders who were resigned to the inevitability of Hillary Clinton, but praying for an alternative.

I think they are going to screw Hillary again...

Money talks and Daschle knows the language. Although three years distant from the Hill (he is now a law firm consultant and lecturer at Georgetown), Daschle has carefully maintained his mailing list of 85,000 donors, and he is renting it to only one candidate %u2013 Obama. I am told that Daschle is about to do a fundraising letter for the campaign as well. %u201CHe is incredibly well-liked by Democrats,%u201D said Hildebrand. %u201CHe really doesn%u2019t have any enemies in the party.%u201D

Interestingly %u2013 tellingly %u2013 it was Obama who reached out to Daschle. In 2004, Obama was cruising to an easy victory in the Illinois Senate race, and had a lot of unused cash on hand. He gave a lot of it %u2013 some $85,000, according to Hildebrand %u2013 to Daschle, who was under White House siege in South Dakota. Even before he was sworn in, Obama knew who he wanted for his chief of staff: Rouse. Ironically, Daschle advised Rouse, a veteran with 30 years service on the Hill, to leave the Congress and take a lucrative lobbying position. But Obama sold Rouse, and in the process began the task of wooing Rouse%u2019s boss.

[cpelzar--2008]

Clearly Daschile appointment is Political payback. Not picking the best person for the job..

The only thing constant with Barack Obama is the lake of "change"

[cpelzar--2008]

The only good thing about the former Clinton people coming back into this Government is that we defeated them in 2000 and this makes it easier for us in 2012.

[cpelzar--2008]

It''''s laughable how Obama is desperately surrounding himself with experience and qualifications to mask his pathetic lack of both. It''''s laughable, too, how the Obama supporters and those who voted for him believed he was about change. What he''''s doing has nothing to do with change. Obama has duped and used his lies and empty promises.
Posted by Credibility2
------------------------


Curious, no one seems to be "laughing," unless your talking about the expressions of joy on people''''s faces who FINALLY will have a president they can respect who listens to other experts, and even consults with former opponents. Any good top executive, whether in government or in business surrounds himself with knowledgeable people he knows he can trust. Obama is doing the same. Smart and pragmatic man, isn''''t he? And the "change" Obama was referring to was the 180 from the failed Bush policies that John McCain wanted to continue. THAT is the change this country needs.........

Posted by raflin0010 at 03:29 PM : Nov 19, 2008

It all the same old.. Just a reversal. Prediction will be the libs will still be talking about "change" with nothing to point to as fact (2) years into this Presidency.

These people have never accomplished anything and likely never will. They are a Political machine designed to get votes. Now they have to govern and almost 1/2 of the nation will challenge them and judge them harshly should they fail.

[antoniof123]

The neo cons are having strokes right about now. Think of it this way, the big three will not get their bail out and you know who is stoping it thats rigth the neo cons in congress. That should be what 3,000,000,000 plus voters out of work thanks to the neo con Republicans.

You clowns will not see power for the next generation.

This is even funnier than I though. When you wing nuts are finally gone from this country in defeat after the next election Obama will see 8 years and than Biden will also see 8 years.

[usclimey]

Tom Daschile is no where near qualified for this position.

Posted by CPelzar

Give me a fvcking break!!!! This coming from someone who can''t even spell the guy''s name right. MORON.

[usclimey]

Hey Obama, I''''m still waiting for some ''''change'''' in Washington.
Not tired old retreads like Daschle and Biden.

Posted by HawkSprings

If he put up a bunch of new guys y''all would be saying "He''s not experienced enough." Nothing will ever suit you idiots. It''s just a *** good thing your opinion doesn''t count for anything anymore.

[cpelzar--2008]

The neo cons are having strokes right about now. Think of it this way, the big three will not get their bail out and you know who is stoping it thats rigth the neo cons in congress. That should be what 3,000,000,000 plus voters out of work thanks to the neo con Republicans.

You clowns will not see power for the next generation.

This is even funnier than I though. When you wing nuts are finally gone from this country in defeat after the next election Obama will see 8 years and than Biden will also see 8 years.

Posted by antoniof123 at 03:40 PM : Nov 19, 2008

3 million jobs is a joke. Do you actually think the US will go out Auto manufacturing? Toyota, Nissan, Honda, VW, Audi will pick up most of those jobs as VW is stating they are sourcing almost 80% of their parts locally in the US. The US is too big a market for these companies and others not to rapidly grow and employ more people.

The only problem is that the the Auto Wokers will have to settle for $83,500 per year and not the 150K they currently make.

Too Bad..........

Remember our tax money will go to paying people that make 150K per year. That is welfare on steroids.

Do you even know that if Chrysler has to idle a plant because cars are not selling, they still have to pay the UAW people 95% of their wages?

Do you really think any company can survive like that?

[usclimey]

The only good thing about the former Clinton people coming back into this Government is that we defeated them in 2000 and this makes it easier for us in 2012.

Posted by CPelzar

There''s also the point that they ran the country on a profit base rather than a Marianas Trench deep deficit.

[usclimey]

Personally, I''d rather spend $25 billion on companies that make a product then 700 billion on companies that only exist to make rich people richer. If McConnell thinks anyone but the neocons will be blamed for cratering the auto business he obviouls hasn''t learned $hit from Bush''s ***-ups.

[irmcvet97]

The only good thing about the former Clinton people coming back into this Government is that we defeated them in 2000 and this makes it easier for us in 2012.

Posted by CPelzar

There''''s also the point that they ran the country on a profit base rather than a Marianas Trench deep deficit.

Posted by usclimey at 03:49 PM : Nov 19, 2008

LOL Yeah it simply amazes you that these people actually think someone in their right minds will EVER vote for them again!! LOL I mean when you take a Balanced Budget AND a Surplus then turn that into what we NOW have... WHO votes for people THAT Incompetent... well who that''s in their right minds?? LOL 20 year... MAYBE.. before then, not a chance!!

[irmcvet97]

These people have never accomplished anything and likely never will. They are a Political machine designed to get votes. Now they have to govern and almost 1/2 of the nation will challenge them and judge them harshly should they fail.

Posted by CPelzar at 03:33 PM : Nov 19, 2008

REALLY?? You mean like Starting a War on LIES? You mean like Borrowing Money to fund Tax Cuts for the RICH? You mean like DOUBLING the National Debt in 6 years? LOL Maybe you should soak your head a little there SPARKY!! Lord knows you do need it... VERY BADLY!!

[alphaa10000]

CPelzar said, "The only good thing about the former Clinton people coming back... is that we defeated them in 2000 and this makes it easier for us in 2012."

---
You can quibble about Clinton participation in Gore/Lieberman 2000, but it was Gore''s campaign. You did not defeat either Clinton.

And Al Gore did win the popular vote over George Bush. Where is the defeat?

As it was, the FL GOP hijacked the 2000 election, and the GOP US Supreme Court blessed the crime. This, when whole FL districts were missing ballot boxes and the election begged for a proper recount.

If anything, you of the GOP need to hang your heads in shame for eight years of ethical corruption, incompetence and disaster on all fronts. Heckuva job!

Even Greenspan now dismisses Bush''s war in Iraq, saying it was all about Big Oil. And of the "surge", what will happen when Uncle Cheney stops his monthly paychecks to the Sunnis?

You of the GOP are in no position to criticize anybody but yourselves. And sometimes, we wonder whether you can do even that much.

[bigal321321]

You know, the people who post here sometimes scare me. They are so enthralled with their party they forget about being Americans. We''ve been through a harsh 8 years and they still want to keep us divided. Divided we fall. As Obama said "Not Republican or Democrat, this is the UNITED States of America". Start to think that way and the healing can begin. Otherwise, you are no different than all the foreigners who hate are country. Think on that for awhile.

[irmcvet97]

If he put up a bunch of new guys y''''all would be saying "He''''s not experienced enough." Nothing will ever suit you idiots. It''''s just a *** good thing your opinion doesn''''t count for anything anymore.

Posted by usclimey at 03:46 PM : Nov 19, 2008

LOL Ain''t it the truth and in the face of the most INCOMPETENT Administration in our History, they said NOT ONE WORD! Some people just love that "Party"... that''s all that counts for them. Success? Doesn''t happen unless it''s done by the "Party"! LOL I guess when you love the "Party" like that, it''s impossible to think that Change can happen with people who KNOW what they are doing. But then after supporting the WORST in our HISTORY, what can you expect of them?? ROFLMAO

[irmcvet97]

Remember our tax money will go to paying people that make 150K per year. That is welfare on steroids.

Do you even know that if Chrysler has to idle a plant because cars are not selling, they still have to pay the UAW people 95% of their wages?

Do you really think any company can survive like that?

Posted by CPelzar at 03:48 PM : Nov 19, 2008

I wouldn''t worry about it... As USUAL the Democrats will pull us out of this hole the Fascist have dug for us and we''ll be okay.

[cdfoxtrot5]

It''s a little disappointing, if Daschle is going to be the one charged with reforming healthcare and hopefully bringing in universal coverage. Why bring a hack who got booted out of office by his constituents? I''ll never forget his histrionics in the Senate about supporting moron Bush in the wake of 9/11. A leveler head is what''s needed. But a bit disappointing that Obama is choosing old, tired hacks from Clinton''s days.

[ncsujags]

One thing about Clinton and his folks.. we all had more money in our 401K''s then... I love the pick of
Daschle...


Hope won Hate Lost!!!

Run this country Obama!!!!!!!

[tato4x4]

That Barracks Obammer ain''t never gone git elekted to no Prezident of the United States and America he''s a black feller! Them Jonhny McKain is a plane-crashing POW HE-ROW and not sum soshulist commonist nazist tho very dern old and Sayrah Paylin YEEHAW MAMMA GIMME SUM O THAT can vice me sum too! If yoo think Osmabama gone be PREZIDENT of these America States of America then I jest see yoo all on eLekjtion Day!!!

[mbourn2]

That Barracks Obammer ain''''t never gone git elekted to no Prezident of the United States and America he''''s a black feller! Them Jonhny McKain is a plane-crashing POW HE-ROW and not sum soshulist commonist nazist tho very dern old and Sayrah Paylin YEEHAW MAMMA GIMME SUM O THAT can vice me sum too! If yoo think Osmabama gone be PREZIDENT of these America States of America then I jest see yoo all on eLekjtion Day!!!


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

Posted by tato4x4 at

Wow, you must be smart to come up with something like this....