Rep Jim Clyburn's Daughter on Obama's Short List for Head of FCC

[KoKo]

http://www.thestate.com/169/story/590426.html

Posted on Sat, Nov. 15, 2008
Clyburn’s daughter on short list to lead FCC
Mignon Clyburn is a member of the S.C. Public Service Commission
By JAMES ROSEN
[e-mail]

WASHINGTON — As President-elect Barack Obama forms his new administration, it helps to have a friend — or a father — in Jim Clyburn.

The House majority whip’s eldest daughter, Mignon Clyburn, is on the short list to head the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates television, radio and, increasingly, the Internet.

Other Clyburn allies cited as possible Obama administration officials include House Budget Committee chairman John Spratt, a York Democrat, and Inez Tenenbaum, a former S.C. public schools superintendent.

Clyburn himself has been mentioned as a potential secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Obama. But aides say the Columbia Democrat is not interested in leaving his current job as the No. 3 leader of the House.

“I understand she is being recommended to the Obama administration by her colleagues in the field,” Rep. Clyburn said of his daughter Mignon. “To the extent to which I am asked, I will offer my opinions about all South Carolinians that may be under consideration for various positions.”

Mignon Clyburn, 46, is a member of the S.C. Public Service Commission, paid $99,400 a year. The PSC oversees public utilities and transit systems in South Carolina. She is the oldest of Jim and Emily Clyburn’s three daughters.

“For the record, I have no comment,” Mignon Clyburn said when asked whether the Obama transition team has contacted her about the FCC post, which pays $158,500 a year.

Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, endorsed Obama in his bruising Democratic primary campaign against U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, though his support came after the S.C. primary and later than that of some other Democratic congressional leaders.

Spratt, completing his 13th House term, is being floated as possible director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, which would make him Obama’s top budget aide.

The 66-year-old Spratt became chairman of the House Budget Committee in January 2007 when the Democrats took control of the House.

Tenenbaum, 57, was the first elected official in South Carolina to endorse Obama for president, endorsing him in February 2007, a month after her term ended as the state’s top schools official.

Tenenbaum, who was on Obama’s education advisory council for most of the last two years, is viewed as a long-shot candidate to be secretary of education.

“I have been mentioned, but I am not in contact with the transition team about it,” she said Friday. “It would be an honor to serve in an Obama administration. He has the potential, because of the movement he’s created, to transform public education in America.”

Meanwhile, Jaime Harrison, a longtime aide who was floor director of Clyburn’s House whip operation the last two years, has just been hired by the powerful Washington lobbying firm headed by John Podesta, who is leading Obama’s transition to power.

“The Podesta Group may be the most diverse lobbying shop in town,” Harrison said. “I will be the fifth African-American partner at the firm. That is almost unheard of.”

Harrison, 32, said he discussed the job offer with Clyburn before accepting it.

“He said, ‘Jaime, I will be supportive of you whatever you decide to do,’” Harrison recalled Friday. “He gave me pointers. We discussed the upsides and the downsides. I was really appreciative because his thoughts are very important to me.”

Harrison, an Orangeburg native with degrees from Yale College and Georgetown Law School, said one benefit of his new job is that he won’t have to log as many 12-hour workdays as did while working for Clyburn.

“I won’t be sleeping on my couch in my office, which is not comfortable,” Harrison said.

Congressional ethics rules prohibit Harrison from using his new post, which he’ll start Dec. 1, to lobby Clyburn or other congressional leaders during his first year on the job.

Harrison earns slightly more than $100,000 in his current post under Clyburn. His lobbying job carries a significant raise, but he declined to disclose how large.

[KoKo]

1. Clyburn himself has been mentioned as a potential secretary of Housing and Urban Development

http://www.thestate.com/169/story/590426.html

Posted on Sat, Nov. 15, 2008
Clyburn’s daughter on short list to lead FCC
Mignon Clyburn is a member of the S.C. Public Service Commission
By JAMES ROSEN
[e-mail]

WASHINGTON — As President-elect Barack Obama forms his new administration, it helps to have a friend — or a father — in Jim Clyburn.

The House majority whip’s eldest daughter, Mignon Clyburn, is on the short list to head the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates television, radio and, increasingly, the Internet.

Other Clyburn allies cited as possible Obama administration officials include House Budget Committee chairman John Spratt, a York Democrat, and Inez Tenenbaum, a former S.C. public schools superintendent.

Clyburn himself has been mentioned as a potential secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Obama. But aides say the Columbia Democrat is not interested in leaving his current job as the No. 3 leader of the House.

“I understand she is being recommended to the Obama administration by her colleagues in the field,” Rep. Clyburn said of his daughter Mignon. “To the extent to which I am asked, I will offer my opinions about all South Carolinians that may be under consideration for various positions.”

Mignon Clyburn, 46, is a member of the S.C. Public Service Commission, paid $99,400 a year. The PSC oversees public utilities and transit systems in South Carolina. She is the oldest of Jim and Emily Clyburn’s three daughters.

“For the record, I have no comment,” Mignon Clyburn said when asked whether the Obama transition team has contacted her about the FCC post, which pays $158,500 a year.

Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, endorsed Obama in his bruising Democratic primary campaign against U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, though his support came after the S.C. primary and later than that of some other Democratic congressional leaders.

Spratt, completing his 13th House term, is being floated as possible director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, which would make him Obama’s top budget aide.

The 66-year-old Spratt became chairman of the House Budget Committee in January 2007 when the Democrats took control of the House.

Tenenbaum, 57, was the first elected official in South Carolina to endorse Obama for president, endorsing him in February 2007, a month after her term ended as the state’s top schools official.

Tenenbaum, who was on Obama’s education advisory council for most of the last two years, is viewed as a long-shot candidate to be secretary of education.

“I have been mentioned, but I am not in contact with the transition team about it,” she said Friday. “It would be an honor to serve in an Obama administration. He has the potential, because of the movement he’s created, to transform public education in America.”

Meanwhile, Jaime Harrison, a longtime aide who was floor director of Clyburn’s House whip operation the last two years, has just been hired by the powerful Washington lobbying firm headed by John Podesta, who is leading Obama’s transition to power.

“The Podesta Group may be the most diverse lobbying shop in town,” Harrison said. “I will be the fifth African-American partner at the firm. That is almost unheard of.”

Harrison, 32, said he discussed the job offer with Clyburn before accepting it.

“He said, ‘Jaime, I will be supportive of you whatever you decide to do,’” Harrison recalled Friday. “He gave me pointers. We discussed the upsides and the downsides. I was really appreciative because his thoughts are very important to me.”

Harrison, an Orangeburg native with degrees from Yale College and Georgetown Law School, said one benefit of his new job is that he won’t have to log as many 12-hour workdays as did while working for Clyburn.

“I won’t be sleeping on my couch in my office, which is not comfortable,” Harrison said.

Congressional ethics rules prohibit Harrison from using his new post, which he’ll start Dec. 1, to lobby Clyburn or other congressional leaders during his first year on the job.

Harrison earns slightly more than $100,000 in his current post under Clyburn. His lobbying job carries a significant raise, but he declined to disclose how large.

[KoKo]

2. I wonder if FCC Chairmanship even matters on DU these days...

Does it? What do the rest of you fell about Mega-Media Ownership of "The Peoples Airwaves" under BUSH II Regime?

Doesn't it matter to you what you WATCH? :shrug:

[Ex Lurker]

5. it's not a sexy issue

even though it matters a great deal. Obama's team seems to favor net neutrality, so that's a good sign.

[MadMaddie]

6. Why are you attacking DU members?

Of course the FCC matters but for 8 years what we thought didn't matter. Limpballs, O'leilly and Faux news have been able to get away with shit that should have been fined ten times over.

The FCC has allowed these companies to merge and merge again so that 5 owners dominate all communication in the US. These companies must be broken up and opened up for competition.

[KoKo]

7. But...shouldn't we hope for better under New Dem Regime?

:shrug: It's been what so many of us fought for after "Selection 2000" and when we had so few voices, Eric Alterman, Buzzflash, BartCop...and then the wonderful "Media Whores Online" that gave us all hope..those of us suffering under "Limpballs Talk Media and Faux News."

I figured that a new Dem President might get some of that history. After all..it's been almost EIGHT YEARS plus what we went through under CLINTON with Whore RW MEDIA which might make it 16 YEARS!

Sheesh...don't we deserve some fair media that AT LEAST "TRIES" to present both sides in a fiar and balanced way that isn't "FOX/MURDOCH" corrupted? :shrug: WHEN is it OUR TIME. We aren't asking for much...never did...

[MadMaddie]

8. I agree with you and you are right we don't ask for much

this is something that does have to be addressed.

[Ex Lurker]

3. Colin Powell's son, now Clyburn's daughter

nepotism is alive and well.

[KoKo]

4. I have to hope that the Obama Machine...is trying to "cover all the bases"

and that what the RW media is reporting is the "C" team. There are so many powerhouse Dems who deserve to be Chair of the FCC given what we here amd on the rest of the internets have suffered under with the "Media Whores" that for Obama to give a "favor" to Clyburn whose state couldn't even carry Obama must make Clyburn just a person to pander to...but not to put daughter in such an exhaulted position.

I'll have to wait and see...and maybe Clyburn's daughter is better than all the other Dems like Michael Copps who fought day by day trying to thwart and blockaid the Repugs most aggregious assaults..

But, if Obama picks someone from SC who just knows "Transit" for FCC ...I'm going to be kind of "disappointed." But...it is what it is. <aybe she's better than she looks on first call. :shrug: Or, maybe it's just that Obama thinks FCC should be a "throw away" for nepotism. I hope with all my heart that my last guess it totally wrong and "out the ball park." :-(