Gregory Craig to be White House counsel

[jefferson_dem]

Exclusive: Gregory Craig to be White House counsel
By: Mike Allen
November 15, 2008 06:52 PM EST



Gregory B. Craig, a well-known Washington lawyer who quarterbacked President Bill Clinton’s impeachment defense, has been chosen White House counsel by President-elect Barack Obama, according to Democratic officials.

Craig is intimately familiar with the president-elect’s record because he played the role of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in debate preparations.

The officials said Obama has settled on Craig but were not sure when the appointment would be announced.

The choice gives the president-elect both experience and loyalty. During the primaries, Craig was an early Clinton alumni defector to Obama. Columnist Robert D. Novak reported back in the winter of 2007 that Craig had told him he “was impressed with Obama when he first met him at the home of investment banker Vernon Jordan, an intimate friend and supporter of the Clintons.”

Craig was an Obama foreign policy adviser during the campaign. At the start of the Clinton administration, he had been the State Department’s Director of Policy Planning, the head of State’s in-house think tank. He also was senior adviser on defense, foreign policy and national security to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

The White House counsel, among the most powerful members of the West Wing inner circle, serves as the president’s lawyer, giving him legal advice and handling pardons and conflict-of-interest issues.

Craig, 63, is a partner at Williams & Connolly and a protégé of the late Edward Bennett Williams, the legendary Washington power lawyer. His selection adds to the surprisingly large number of Clinton White House veterans who are at the top of the Obama roster.

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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15663.html

[PBS Poll-435]

1. For one nanosecond, I saw David Gregory

:scared:

[BumRushDaShow]

2. LOL

:rofl:

[sampsonblk]

8. SAME HERE!!!

It took me a minute to figure out that I wasn't really seeing what I thought I was seeing. LOL

[Avalon6]

3. This means Susan Rice is now the favorite for National Security Advisor

[Cha]

4. This is so interesting to

actually care who all these future White House government employees are and know they're not there to hide nefarious behavior.

[ProSense]

5. "surprisingly large number of Clinton White House veterans who are at the top of the Obama roster"

Why is it surprisingly large? Clinton was in office for two terms. A lot of people worked in his administration either in the WH, cabinet offices or agencies.

I could swear the media is trying hard to imply that the Obama WH is the reincarnation of Clinton's.

"handling pardons"

LOL!

[Thrill]

6. He's the last Dem President. Of course some of the best Democratic minds worked for him

What do people think Obama is going to go in there with a bunch of novice? THats the mistake Clinton made

[jefferson_dem]

7. There will be no Mack McLartys on Obama's team.

No offense, Mack. :)