Team Obama Goes Cherry-Picking
Hillary’s top policy advisers fall in for the nominee
The wholesale absorption of Hillary Clinton’s best and brightest campaign advisers has begun.
In the weeks since Mrs. Clinton officially suspended her candidacy, the Obama campaign has recruited the services of the Clinton campaign’s director of national security, Lee Feinstein, as well as foreign-policy advisers Mara Rudman, the deputy national security advisor under Bill Clinton; Robert Einhorn, a former assistant secretary for nonproliferation at the State Department; and Stuart Eizenstat, an international-trade specialist who was policy director for Jimmy Carter’s 1976 campaign. On the domestic side, Gene Sperling, who was the top economic adviser on the Clinton campaign, has begun consulting with the Obama policy team.
The establishment of these working relationships follows formal announcements from the Obama campaign that they have hired former Clinton policy director Neera Tanden to report to their own policy director, Heather Higginbottom, along with Ms. Tanden’s own stable of wonks from the Clinton campaign, and that they have brought in Clinton adviser and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to work on national security issues.
“We’ve had a number of good and cordial and constructive conversations,” said Mr. Feinstein, who said he was supporting Obama as an outside foreign-policy adviser. “The senior foreign-policy advisers have reached out and Senator Clinton’s foreign-policy advisers are also doing everything they can to support Senator Obama.”
“You can throw all the policies into the Potomac if you don’t have the right theme,” said Mr. Eizenstat. “Having said that, if all you have is a theme, particularly heading into a general election, you have to build on that. It was already happening during the latter part of the primaries, but it accelerates dramatically in the general. There is a great demand to start filling out those positions.”
The post-primary recruitment of a rival campaign’s sharpest minds is nothing new, and it is a natural and necessary step toward achieving party unity in anticipation of the general election. A number of Mr. Obama’s advisers interviewed for this story suggested, not unreasonably, that the extra hands on deck have as much to do with body count as new expertise, enhancing their ability to meet the considerable, constant informational demands not only of the media but also of think tanks and good-government groups with questions about substantive issues.
And although there will inevitably be speculation about the role the former Clinton loyalists will eventually play in shaping Mr. Obama’s policies—Ms. Tanden, for example, might reasonably be expected to advocate for Mrs. Clinton’s more robust ideas about how to achieve universal health care—there is little in the way of ideological divisions between the two camps.
“What many of my friends who worked on the Clinton campaign have said is, “You know, there are parts of your plan I didn’t like,’” said David Cutler, a Harvard professor and a chief architect of Mr. Obama’s health care plan. “O.K., fine. But basically we all have the same goals—let’s figure out how to get there.”
But there are policy differences that endured through the primaries that some of Mrs. Clinton’s supporters hope can be addressed now from the inside. Some of Mrs. Clinton’s high-profile supporters in the health care industry, for example, have said publicly that they hope Ms. Tanden and her charges will eventually be able to steer the Obama position on universal health care, which does not mandate insurance, toward the Clinton position, which does.
Also, the migration of top Democratic policy brains to the Obama camp is particularly significant this year because they’re coming from the swollen ranks of Mrs. Clinton, who began the race as a heavy establishment favorite and had attracted the support of much of the country’s most experienced policy talent.
“They were strong in any number of areas,” Ms. Rudman, now an informal adviser to the Obama campaign, said diplomatically of her new home. “And I think they have also looked to further build their strengths. It’s deepening the benches.” Next Page >
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 49.8
- 43.6
- Obama +6.2
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 54.9
- 36.1
- +18.8
- McCain
- 50.7
- 39.6
- +11.1
If an empty suit is removed from its rack it will not stand up.
COGITO, ERGO SUM.
THE WAY FOR McCAIN TO BEAT OBAMA IS TO MAKE “OIL & ENERGY” THE TOP CAMPAIGN ISSUE.
Obama is locked into the ‘Al Gore Wishful Thinking’ solution to our energy crisis.
The overwhelming majority of voters SUPPORT DRILLING FOR OIL ON USA LANDS and WATERS.
The price of oil and gasoline will lead to a Depression in our economy. McCain must drive home this message.
McCain must emphasize that the ‘Obama-Gore’ solution to our energy crisis is a FAILED SOLUTION.
We need short-term relief --- as well as a long-range plan --- to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Great, forces of Light are gathering together to do battle against the Darkness!
Obama/Webb 08
Barack Obama wil have to be careful as most and perhpas a few of those coming to serve on his campaign might have their own agendas.
?
He either stick to what endeared him to the American people or he will loose the elections to McSame.Shifting to the center will not help at all and I promised him, it will be the end of his candidacy. A nine day wonder?
"McCain must emphasize that the ‘Obama-Gore’ solution to our energy crisis is a FAILED SOLUTION."
Now, how can it be failed if it hasn't been tried? But you must be satisfied with the price of gas today now that we've had two oil men in office for 8 years. I guess that's Obama/Gore's fault?
If the people really do support drilling locally, then they should encourage the oil companies to drill in the thousands of square miles off shore that they control leases too and aren't currently developing. You oughta check your information - you've been pandered to for too long and have a head full of ignorance.
Lord Kelvin: An empty suit? you must be referring to John McCain - no wait, there's a rotting corpse in there. You 'empty suit' types are so unfamiliar with real leadership that you don't know what it looks like. Your mentality will only be satisfied with an stubborn idiot like King George who by the way is the definition of an empty suit. Someone stands up and starts leading and you get all confused and accusatory. You are the embodiment of a citizen who has grown used to a lack of authoritative leadership.
If we drill off U.S. shoreline it will take 10+ years to get it online. John McCain is the empty suit just like Georgie Boy. I've had enough of them. We've had one terrorist attack, one war, economy spinning out of control, global warming disasters, Katrina all under the republicon watch. It's time for change. I'll vote for Obama no matter what!
The main concern of the uniting camps should be getting Barack Obama elected. Yet, the energy that the desire for change have generated, must continue in the forefront. If the campaign continues moving away from this energy, valuable highly energetic and dedicated Obama supportes will begin losing their much needed enthusiasm, which might be essential to his being elected.
The main concern of the uniting camps should be getting Barack Obama elected. Yet, the energy that the desire for change have generated, must continue in the forefront. If the campaign continues moving away from this energy, valuable highly energetic and dedicated Obama supportes will begin losing their much needed enthusiasm, which might be essential to his being elected.
Having worked in campaigns and for administrations before, most of the people coming on board bring their expertise, not agendas. People who work on campaigns know the faces at the top may change, so if you are so addicted to the old regime, you stay there. These people are also bright enough to understand who is now in charge and Senator Barack Obama is in charge.
I think Bill Clinton's contretemps were about losing the authority that Obama has now secured as the presumptive nominee. Those who come over from the Clinton campaign had better be ready to get on board with Obama's view or have the best argument in the room for why there should be a change in policy. It's now about the best and the brightest setting the agenda.
Senator O needs to be careful of using any of
Hillary's and Bill's people. I don't trust them at
all. They have not forgotten that she lost. I
would handle these two crooks with a long long
handled spoon
MAKE OIL AND ENERGY THE TOP CAMPAIGN ISSUE said "Obama is locked into the ‘Al Gore Wishful Thinking’ solution to our energy crisis.
The overwhelming majority of voters SUPPORT DRILLING FOR OIL ON USA LANDS and WATERS."
Before my generation, Americans rallied to be the world's leader on every front. We raced to be at the forefront of space technology, military power and economic power. Times have changed. The oil industry caters to a select few. The bottom has fallen out with Big Oil. Why would one consider innovative energy policies "wishful" thinking? All of the talking heads continue to fill Americans with propaganda about off-shore drilling because they want Americans continue with business as usual. I want a Commander in Chief that will seize opportunities to place America as the leader in innovative ways to ensure our economic stability while ridding us from dependencies that should be obsolete.
So lot of Americans support offshore drilling. GREAT!
Question: So why haven't the oil companies, with 68 million acres of leased oil lands done any drilling there?
Answer: Because they are SAVING American oil against the day when the world supply runs out
Question: SO WHY do they want more leases?
Answer: So they can have exclusive access to all the remaining oil and be able to control the POWER
Question: So why is MC CAIN promoting the oil drilling?
Answer: Because he is in the POCKET of BIG OIL, Because he and his tribe want POWER, and because he'll probably benefit a great deal from selling out the PATRIMONY of the People of AMERICA for SHORT TERM GIMMICKRY!
If the oil companies want to drill oil there is MORE than enough already leased land to begin drilling on - what they are trying to do is LOCK IT UP FOR THEMSELVES!
You will realize that we haven't yet tried the so-called 'Obama-Gore' solution. So it has not yet been given the chance to succeed, nor the chance to fail.
Offshore drilling in the U.S. will save you about 20c on the gallon for a couple of months, then it will start steadily increasing. Obama's right here to take the NO MORE BAND-AIDS approach - no more corrupting of our environment for temporary fixes to economic problems.
If anyone thinks the rest of the world sees alternative energy as a failed policy should read the recent Economist edition on alternative energy. The rest of the world is getting on board what will probably be the "next big thing." We have the intellectual capital to be a leader in this field--now we must wean the policy makers from their addiction to oil.
Obama needs to not win by to much or th GOP cry babies will get mad and filibuster for four years.
Here's a sure-fired way way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil: invade Iran. See, by making their oil our oil, it won't be foreign oil anymore, so by definition we will have reduced our dependence on foreign oil.
Well I don't know about all of the rest of the American people, but for this stubborn independent what endeared me to Obama was his capacity for showing real intelligence and sincerety in the face of the overwhelming cynicism evident in modern politics. It certainly was not his capacity for agreeing with me on every position. Obama has disappointed me on several occasions, not least of which is this welcoming of the reviled Clintonistas into his fold. Madeleine Allbright?? Puh-leeze! Still, I do see your point, and I guess if I get the impression that he is cynically trying to win the election by pandering to *those* people then I'll have to cast a third straight vote for Nader. Finally the democrats have nominated someone I can vote for . . . I hope he doesn't blow it.
The U.S. economy stands to gain much more in the long term from leading in the development of alternative energy technologies than from exploiting the relatively minor resources still to be exploited in ANWR, offshore, etc.
Depressing to see that there are so many leftovers from the Carter and Clinton administrations on the "new" foreign policy team. At this juncture we need fresh, new thinking in international politics, especially since the Bush administration has pushed America's global standing to new lows. Hillary's team, filled with the same old faces of the Democratic Establishment, offered little more than 1990s policy re-treads. Surely the Obama team can do better.
Make Oil and Energy... -
Gore and Obama's policies, which are not the same, are not "failed policies, because they have never been implemented. It is Bush's support for the oil Industry which has created this mess. There are several reason, not environment-related to oppose additional drilling in the U.S.:
The Oil companies are not drilling on the leases they already own. Why give them more leases if they aren't making use of their current leases.
The oil in this country is not enough to support this country for any sustained period of time. If you use average estimates for the amount of oil in the areas that the Republicans want to drill, it would probably last a year to three years. That assumes the oil there is even recoverable.
There is no reason for oil companies to lower the cost of oil just because they have a larger supply. Iraq is now open to (only) American companies. It has obviously not decreased the cost of oil.
Assuming you are not an employee of the oil companies, you have fallen for an elaborate propaganda trick to get people to advocate drilling solely for the benefit of big oil companies that are currently screwing you to make their largest profits of all time.
The oil companies have had 50 years for long-term relief planning. NOW it is a crisis.
The oil companies are trying to play their trump card, applying pressure when gas prices are soaring. Offshore drilling today, will not solve the problem NOW. They have sat on their duffs for 50 years, or more, without using American ingenuity in preparing for the future without oil. Well the future is NOW. It is up to consumers to reduce consumption NOW.
U.S. automakers have followed the same agenda as the oil companies, no vision. Well, NOW it is an imperitive for U.S. automakers meet the demand for efficient cars. AND just this week they have cried for help because they can't meet the better mileage goals required by Congress by 2020. Automakers in Europe and Asia are already meeting those demands.
These Captains of Industry and the Shareholders of their companies have sat back and collected profits, salaries, bonuses, retirement packages for the past 50 years and they will be asking for the taxpayers to bail them out. Puleese! There are changes coming. I feel it blowing in the
wind.
"Still, the downside of Mr. Obama’s image as a gifted orator is the perception, fanned enthusiastically by Mrs. Clinton during the primary and now by John McCain, that the pleasant language is a substitute for a deep grasp of substance and detail."
The detail in the policy and speeches from Barack Obama puts John McSame to shame. The thoughtfullness of an obviously very intelligent and deep thinker is obvious to anyone who truthfully listens. Let's hear McBush address race, or faith, or economics, or patriotism..and listen to the difference. Not just slogans, but impactful and thoughtful conveyance of ideas is what we need from our president, and the difference between candidates is crystal clear.
Excellent post.
Pleae read this post from the Obama blog comments.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/amandascott/gG5xLP/comment...
I think it's worth quoting because it gets past the media version of what is happening with the campaign, recently Especially the reactions about FISA, the evangelical outreach, reactions to the Supreme court decisions, etc.
I worked this out on a previous thread, and would like to share again, if you'll tolerate the effort.
After all the episodes of dissent hammered out here on the blog I now believe that Senator Obama is making, forcing, insisting that all Americans work together.
He is not satisfied in leading only progressives, he is willing to lead conservatives, too. And he is not satisfied to watch us live in our own convenient corners of the world.
He will not allow us to politely avoid each other, and watch us scream at each other when our paths haphazardly cross.
He is showing us that we can live and work more effectively together to repair what threatens our country.
What's so sad . . . is that Senator Obama wants us to be unified more than we want for ourselves.
We like our labels. They feel good, and we know what to do with them. We know who we can invite to dinner, and who to exclude. We know what neighborhoods have more of our kind in them, and we avoid those that don't. We know what a Democrat is "supposed" to believe and what he isn't.
In order for Senator Obama's campaign to succeed we are going to have to get used to talking and working with folks with labels we have typically avoided.
And I think the neatest secret to be told, is that Senator Obama believes that we can do it.
This is the challenge -- I find it hard for myself, and that's a good test in my experience that it's on target !!!
I beg to differ... the overwhelming majority of people do not support McCain's mindless notion to drill. In case you haven't been told we have 28 million acres of existing lease land that hasn't been explored for oil and even if we began doing that tomorrow we don't have the refining capacity to deal with new discoveries. Better to develop ethanol distilleries in the short term (ethonal can be made for under a buck a gallon wholesale). Here's a very simple fact for yoiu and those with your nindset to contemplate: America cannot drill its way out of the predictament our useless poliical leadership has placed us in. The plain truth is that we're all going to pay a price for 28 years of no real energy policy and the stupdity of establishing a global economy premised on cheap fuel when everyone with any knowledge of oil reserves understood in the 1970s that cheap oil could not last more than a few decades. Rather than prepare the nation for this eventuallity, our conservative leadership (both GOP and Democratic) elected to do nothing. The failed soultion is anything having to do with conservative ideology and that includes drilling for oil. Forget oil.
Now if only we could find a short term solution!
Expanded drilling in the USA is not one - it will take 15-20 years before the first drop of oil is recieved from new drilling sites (i.e. ANWR).
"Obama is locked into the ‘Al Gore Wishful Thinking’ solution to our energy crisis... The overwhelming majority of voters SUPPORT DRILLING FOR OIL ON USA LANDS and WATERS... McCain must emphasize that the ‘Obama-Gore’ solution to our energy crisis is a FAILED SOLUTION... We need short-term relief --- as well as a long-range plan --- to reduce our dependence on foreign oil."
That's funny. A few short years ago, the "overwhelming majority" of Americans supported their preznit and any war he said he needed to plunge us into. Remember that?
This is called the inevitability game, and depends on the gullibility to conventional wisdom to spread. It's a biotch when the actual numbers come out, ain't it, and you got nuthin'?
Cite figures or be done with you.
(BTW: can hardly wait to see Obama campaigning against Gore, and calling him "failed"! Boy, they're making internet trolls stupider than back in my day, when I read the internets by candlelight... :-)
Thank you for posting this! Whew, I needed that! I should keep that concept as my mantra until Nov.
I admit, I am concerned that Obama has hired on a bunch of "retreads". I hope the "retreads" are balanced out with an equal amount of people bringing fresh perspectives to the table.
Change.
The circus comedy that constitutes the Obama campaign. This is a scenario that has repeated itself multiple times on other issues. On terrorism - Obama is asked a straight forward question on his anticipated policies to combat terrorism; and, he responds in an equally forward manner that he would handle the issue as a police action. The McCain camp immediately exploits Obama's naive response, correctly highlighting Obama's dangerous inexperience and lack of understanding of the gravity/complexity of the issue. Obama's handlers immediately haul him into the cloak room; advise him that his response was feeble and misguided; tell him what he should have said; and, send him back into the public forum, teleprompter in hand , to read his handlers prepared text on the latest version of his position. The Main Stream Media immediately chimes-in lauding Obama for what he meant to say on the issue all-along!
Unequivocally, Obama is the equivalent of a circus clown; a stand-up comic; a circus-barker attempting to lure the mentally-challenged into the tent with promises of an epiphany; a Charley McCarthy mannequin that appears to lip-sync the commentary from his ventriloquist controllers. This man is an virtual imbecile who is totally without the capacity to speak intelligently on issues on which he has not been previously programmed by his puppet masters. P.T. Barnum was right on target when he observed: "There's a sucker born every minute." ; but, hopefully the American electorate will not be duped by such a charlatan. Electing Obama as President Of The United States would be the equivalent of appointing Jack Kevorkian as Director of The National Institutes Of Health. National suicide. Greg Neubeck
The circus comedy that constitutes the Obama campaign. This is a scenario that has repeated itself multiple times on other issues. On terrorism - Obama is asked a straight forward question on his anticipated policies to combat terrorism; and, he responds in an equally forward manner that he would handle the issue as a police action. The McCain camp immediately exploits Obama's naive response, correctly highlighting Obama's dangerous inexperience and lack of understanding of the gravity/complexity of the issue. Obama's handlers immediately haul him into the cloak room; advise him that his response was feeble and misguided; tell him what he should have said; and, send him back into the public forum, teleprompter in hand , to read his handlers prepared text on the latest version of his position. The Main Stream Media immediately chimes-in lauding Obama for what he meant to say on the issue all-along!
Unequivocally, Obama is the equivalent of a circus clown; a stand-up comic; a circus-barker attempting to lure the mentally-challenged into the tent with promises of an epiphany; a Charley McCarthy mannequin that appears to lip-sync the commentary from his ventriloquist controllers. This man is an virtual imbecile who is totally without the capacity to speak intelligently on issues on which he has not been previously programmed by his puppet masters. P.T. Barnum was right on target when he observed: "There's a sucker born every minute." ; but, hopefully the American electorate will not be duped by such a charlatan. Electing Obama as President Of The United States would be the equivalent of appointing Jack Kevorkian as Director of The National Institutes Of Health. National suicide. Greg Neubeck