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Calling him "an experienced public servant," a "devoted patriot" and "my friend," President Obama named William Daley to serve as his chief of staff on Thursday.
Daley, a fellow Chicagoan who served as commerce secretary under President Clinton, replaces Rahm Emanuel, who left the position to run for mayor of the Windy City.
"Few Americans can boast the breadth of experience that bill brings to this job," Obama told an East Room audience packed with White House staffers. "He's led major corporations. he possesses a deep understanding of how jobs are created and how to grow our economy."
Today's much-anticipated announcement is part of what White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, who is leaving his position next month, has called a "major retooling" aimed and bringing in fresh voices and new perspectives from outside of the White House. More announcements will be made about changes to the West Wing staff in the coming weeks. The White House is set to name members of a reshaped economic team tomorrow.
Obama praised Pete Rouse, who had been serving as interim chief of staff and who will become counselor to the president, as did Daley when he spoke briefly after the announcement to thank the president for giving him the opportunity to serve.
"I assure you, Mr. President, as they have done in the last two years that this team will not let you down or the nation," Daley said, referring to the White House staff.
Daley was instrumental in getting the North American Free Trade Agreement passed by Congress and could help usher through the president's free trade agreement with South Korea, a deal the White House says will boost annual exports of American goods by $11 billion, supporting at least 70,000 American jobs.
He also ran Al Gore's unsuccessful 2000 campaign for the presidency and worked most recently as an executive at J.P. Morgan Chase. He is considered a centrist who could help strengthen the White House's relationship with the business community.
The president's pick has already sparked negative reaction from some progressives.
"This was a real mistake by the White House. Bill Daley consistently urges the Democratic Party to pursue a corporate agenda that alienates both Independent and Democratic voters," said Adam Green, co-founder, Progressive Change Campaign Committee at BoldProgressives.org. "If President Obama listens to that kind of political advice from Bill Daley, Democrats will suffer a disastrous 2012."
The liberal organization MoveOn also disapproved of what it called Daley's "close ties to the Big Banks and Big Business" and said his appointment at a time when Wall Street was reporting record profits and middle class Americans were still struggling sent the wrong message to America.
"Americans are looking to the White House for economic plans that will create jobs and reign in Wall Street's excesses, and it's up to Daley to prove that he's not carrying water in the White House for the big banks that took our economy over the cliff," a statement from the group's Executive Director Justin Ruben read in part. "As the President continues to reshuffle his staff, particularly his economic team, it is now more important than ever that he focuses on rebuilding a middle class and developing policies that create more jobs on Main Street, not on Wall Street."
But noted liberal and former presidential candidate Howard Dean expressed support for Daley in an interview on MSNBC.
"He will be conservative by Democratic standards, but he knows Washington," Dean said. "He's not of Washington. He gets what the rest of the country is thinking and I think that is very, very important in this White House."
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Is Boehner crying again? Did someone take his woopie away from him? Is he stomping around in circles because President Obama is stealing all his thunder today with these announcements?
What an ignorant statement...
BUT- will you get over it? Maybe yes, maybe no. ME? I don't know. Does it change my life a whole lot? Nope. Oh well.......
Was'nt this Thread already hashedout earlier, I think the Thread was:
Daley will be next WH chief of Staff!
Did yall hear 1st Read reporter's:
there was 2 mail Bomb's that went off in Maryland
Of course it was. But this is MSNBC-land where the intrepid reports have very specific directives as to what can, and what cannot be covered.
Look at the top of the page you are on. This is a political news blog.
If you want to read about the possible mail bombs go to the front page of MSNBC.
Too complicated a concept to figure out, Rich....
No, no, let them think this is more evidence of the vast media conspiracy....Keeps them occupied.
Does Obama do these things just to piss off the left? Not wasting my vote on him in 2012....
No matter who President Obama names to any position, half the people won't like it. I look at it this way, every president needs people of different background and different views--otherwise, we end up with the Bush 43 WH where it was a requirement for everyone to have the same opinion, that way decisions were easy.
Jody, Iowa
No matter who President Obama names to any position, half the people won't like it. I look at it this way, every president needs people of different background and different views--otherwise, we end up with the Bush 43 WH where it was a requirement for everyone to have the same opinion, that way decisions were easy.
Thank you Jody,
Right now I'm so pissed at the ultra young hard core left. I hate reading the Huffpo. As much as the criticized the President they should be eating crow after all he did in the Congress despite them and the right.
Right now the young people led by Adam Green is complaining the President is destroying the democratic party because of Daley. LOL So much they're thinking about running someone against. I'm very leftward leaning; however I have enough sense to realize it's not always one way. I also know every organization has internal strife. I wish this kids would go up. At least they should give Daley a chance.
Don't they know it's not all left, right, middle, gay or whatever and it could possibly be them who are destroying the party?
The president won with a coalition of all segments in society.
WTF let young Adam Green run for prez since he knows so da@n much.
Doesn't sound good? How about -
An executive with J.P. Morgan Chase? (Hello Wall Street Fat Cat)
Headed Chamber of Commerce! (Hello US Navy)
Ah, don't worry. He is no different than the others. Fellow Chicagoian political boss, brother of out going Chicago mayor to replace the previous Chief of Staff who is going to be the next Chicago mayor; who was the former boss of White House senior adviser Valarie Jarrett and first ladt Michellle who....
Served on the board of Fannie May (Hello..) since 1993. Gained a lot experience sharing profits with political allies, spreading taxpayer funds to the select groups, etc. Expert at greasing palms and scratching backs. Funny Emanuel was a Freddie Mac guy, too.
The J.P. Morgan stuff - he doesn't have a clue, just a "corporate responsibility" executive (political liason?) Never really ran a company trying to create jobs.
Just more smoke up the rump - same ole same ole, he's just the kinda guy you guys have always had.
No he does it to get things done. Daley's a pragmatist and he knows the hill well--as well as business. Your mistake is the same one liberals made with Clinton...thinking he was one of you. He's not. Just because the right wing hates him, doesn't make him a liberal
This guy has Wall Street STINK all over him.
FR lefty liberals and the Professional Left are going to erupt over this move. Add to this move the news in today’s WSJ that, on 02/07/11, Barry will hop in his really tricked out ride to motor over to the Chamber of Commerce’s D. C. headquarters to address them. Hat in hand?
Mr. Ed (Schultz) is positively going to stroke out, have a heart attack, and soil his panties, all at once when he hears this news!!!!!
CNBC’s Jim Cramer earlier today shouted with glee “HE’S SENSATIONAL!!!" Following up with “It proves Obama is changing his approach to business because it wasn’t working”
WOW!!!
Some will, some won't. So what?
Spanky-
Of course it was. But this is MSNBC-land where the intrepid reports have very specific directives as to what can, and what cannot be covered.
It's great MNBC does not keep the presses rolling because President Obama Wears--Gasp!--Flip Flops on vacation just to critize him like Fox Noise does.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/that_quite_first_flip_flop_feet_PsHtRNc7D35bmrzNdrATWP
Flip-flops and cleavage. Very important over at FOX.
It is likely Hawaii envy at FOX; they're just ticked off because they weren't invited. Guess the pictures of Dubya in shorts was okay. Nixon at the beach in suit, tie and getting his shiny black shoes and socks wet made sense don't ya know.
Oh, so that's why they keep Gretchen Carlson on the payroll.
Noid- in a word, yes. The cleavage accents the closely-set eyes. They would seem comical, in a Muppett-ish sort of way otherwise.
drive-by-observer
Flip-flops and cleavage. Very important over at FOX.
You forgot bleached blonds and monkey girls showing their tails early in the morning.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to hold their jobs down. One thing, you don't see that on MSNBC.
Nope. MSNBC has real tallent, like Maddow. Just a lot of very well researched facts and presentatons- without all the putty-faced, titty-girl flavor.
dbo
Thanks your comment brought a smile to my face and laugh to my lips
I agree that Fox sometimes seems like the talent portion of a beauty pageant and I agree that Rachel will never be called a girly girl, "real talent, like Maddow. Just a lot of well researched facts and presentations...is to much praise for MSNBC.
They put on a show in other ways with Chris, Ed and Keith for instance.
Both are entertainment channels with a smattering of news thrown in occasionally
If you guys don't like Fox (and who does?) just do what I do and change the channel. As a matter of fact I'm watching Ed Schultz right now.
But I do have to say that I saw a post by Drive By Observer just a day or two ago where he said something like he liked the blondes and cleavage over at Fox. The post also appeared to disparage Maddow's appearance.
Surprise, surprise, Obama knows someone that can balance their check book and on top of that Daley is a Democrat not a progressive Marxist like the rest of the bunch.
What happened--get tired of using "socialist" in every post? Now we get "marxist"? Way to keep marginalized.
Looks like Obama is moving toward the center. That's great news for the country. I believe it means he will be re-elected in 2012.
I said in a post early this morning that the extreme right and left would both hate this choice and it seems that I was not understating the situation at all.
I am an independent, but since I am probably a little right of center (fiscally conservative, socially moderate) and everyone has to have a label I guess I am more conservative than liberal.
You what's funny, I think there are a lot of people like me who are happy to see Me Daley joining the Obama team as COS. You know why, because I see it as a signal that things are going to get done.
Mr Daley will be able to work with the right and the left, he will deftly make compromises, enlist support and get concessions from both sides on many issues that are critical to our future. There are going to be hard choices and shared sacrifices as we revise the tax codes, cut spending across the board, pay down the debt and balance the budget.
It is fine to take a position based on moral superiority and ideological purity on these blogs, but in Washington we need compromises so that things get done with all the people.
I don't expect anyone to agree with me, but I think President Obama has made a wise choice that will ultimately please both sides: the economy is going to get better, people are going to go back to work, businesses are going to make money and we are going to fix forever the solvency and surety of our entitlement systems.
If the two sides work with Mr Daley and the President and do the people's business, then President Obama will surely be reelected and even with a Republican House and Senate will continue to get things done. Remember it worked for President Clinton and Mr Daley was there.