Emanuel undecided as Obama builds team

[FreeStateDemocrat]

Source: AP/MSNBC

President-elect set to receive in-depth briefing from intelligence officials


updated 40 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Speculation swirled Wednesday over what appointments President-elect Barack Obama would make as he pivots from an election campaign to the task of building a Democratic administration.

Obama was set Thursday to receive the first of what will become regular briefings on highly classified information from top intelligence officials. He has promised to hold a news conference later in the week as his transition team steps up its work.

Obama's choice for chief of staff, Illinois Rep. Rahm 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."



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27572343/

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Forget this guy, get some that wants to dedicate himself to helping our country in this key administration role.

[ananda]

1. Time to move on, Obama.

Just let it go and get someone else better.

[marylanddem]

3. Agreed - hesitation not fucking needed!

[madaboutharry]

2. I'd give him 24 hours to decide.

Hard choices are never easy.

[slinkerwink]

4. If you're going to dither like this publicly, then you shouldn't get the job.

[calmblueocean]

6. Exactly. This kind of public waffling is totally unprofessional.

I hope Obama offers the job to someone else now.

[leftofcool]

7. He has small children he is not wild about uprooting

Nothing unprofessional about putting your family first

[slinkerwink]

8. It's an old excuse in D.C.

Robert Gibbs has small children too, but he quickly took the job of press secretary. When you don't want to take a position or step down from one, you use your family as an excuse.

[snappyturtle]

16. Robert Gibbs doesn't have the choices that Emanuel does. nt

[calmblueocean]

12. It's fine to put your family first, just keep the drama to a minimum by not playing to the media.

If he's not sure he wants the job, why is he talking to the media about it? There's no reason to. He should've just made his decision in private.

[YDogg]

10. agreed

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Depends on who leaked that he'd had the offer

If it was him, then it's unprofessional; but if someone else leaked it, and he is actually taking to to decide, then it's a good thing (remember, Palin said "Yes! Yes! Yes!" the moment she was asked by McCain, and that was damn stupid).

[bemildred]

5. So he wants to spend more time with his family?

Or is this a negotiating ploy?
Or does he not want to give up his safe seat and seniority/power in the House?

[jdlh8894]

13. Or is this a negotiating ploy?

To what end ? IMO CofS is just about as good as you can get. What would he be negotiating for?

[bemildred]

23. Anything you want?

Does he look like Mother Theresa to you?

[last1standing]

9. Whatever pros or cons Emanuel would bring to the position are moot.

He has already shown where his loyalties lie, to himself. Also, by taking this to the media he has proved that there would always be a chance that he would leak info to his benefit at the expense of the president.

Rescind the offer Mr. President.

[bdamomma]

14. who else could be considered for Obama's Choice

for Chief of Staff.

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Tom Daschle

[bdamomma]

24. interesting choice

Emmanuel has not really accepted yet, family choices. If he is having reservations they should offer it to someone else.

[snappyturtle]

15. When you consider Emanuel's position a little more I think you will

realize it's more than just a family decision that's of concern.After all how much does his family see him now? He's a committed career politican and all of those positions are consuming. I've heard that he pictured himself as Speaker...it was a goal. Also,would he be considered for the vacant IL Senate seat of Obama's? Either one of those two jobs would (or conceivably could) extend beyond an Obama administration. If he accepts the COS position, what is down the road afterwards? I think his waffling here on his decision is legit.

edit: I heard this morning on MSNBC that Emanuel was staked out at his home driveway by the press and questioned about his decision....IF this is true, he didn't take it TO the press. Just a thought.

[MrsBrady]

17. hmmmm...work for Obama....geeeee.....I have to think about it....um....

uhhhh......


give me a freakin' break.

I'll do it if he doesn't want it. :shrug:

[stillcool]

18. I agree. Leave him in the dust..

[TomClash]

20. If the President asks you to serve you say yes

That's especially true now.

There are other candidates.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

22. Or at least say no in private

Are we to believe Obama just through this out there without talking with Emmanuel first? Doubtful. Sounds like Rahm is backtracking on an earlier agreement.

However, I am sure Obama will publicly accept his reason to not serve in a gracious, adult and complementary manner. Just like he ran his campaign (I'm just fucking giddy to have an adult in charge ... I hope more in Washington begin to emulate that behavior).

[TomClash]

25. If so then . . .

. . . good luck to Emmanuel when he needs the President's support on some issue or wants to move up in the House Leadership.

It's very bad form to say no publicly.

He's a logical choice for the job - policy guy on the Hill who worked as a policy guy in the WH.

[TomClash]

21. What bullshit

He doesn't want to give up the Caucus Chair.