Emanuel Makes the Right Move on Colombia Trade Deal

[Judi Lynn]

Emanuel Makes the Right Move on Colombia Trade Deal
1 hr 14 mins ago

The Nation -- This column has expressed plenty of concern about the selection of Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel to serve as President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff. Emanuel, whose record and reputation are those of a rigid "New Democrat," was the pointman for the Clinton White House's free-trade agenda. And, in Congress, he has been a reasonably steady supporter of the Bush administration's trade policies.

The fear with regard to Emanuel's selection was that he might try to impose his pro-Wall Street politics on an administration that has promised to serve Main Street.

The hope, detailed in a column last week, has been that Emanuel would put his own ideological tendencies aside and use his considerable political skills to help Obama implement a more pro-worker, pro-environment agenda on trade policy.

Perhaps fittingly, at least for this initial stage of America's Obama moment, hope has won out over fear.

In an appearance Sunday on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Emanuel offered a signal that he intends to carry the Obama program forward -- as opposed to the Emanuel program.

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