Obama picks former Senate leader Daschle for health post
CHICAGO —
President-elect Barack Obama has picked former Democratic Senate majority leader Tom Daschle as his future health and human services secretary, a Democratic official said Wednesday.
Once Obama takes office in January, Daschle will be tasked with implementing one of Obama’s top campaign promises to overhaul the health system in a country where 45 million people have no health insurance.
The appointment was confirmed by the Democratic official on condition of anonymity. No official announcement on Daschle’s appointment as Health and Human Services Secretary has yet been made by Obama’s transition team.
The post requires Senate confirmation.
Daschle, 60, will be tasked with the perilous task of shepherding health care reform through Congress.
The last major bid for massive health care reform by a Democratic president, piloted by former first lady Hillary Clinton during her husband Bill Clinton’s administration, ended in a notorious failure.
Daschle served as Senate Majority leader between 2001 and 2003 but lost his South Dakota seat in the 2004 election to the Republicans.
Wire reports
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14 Comments
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adaydream
Good selection. < :-)
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JoeBigs
I agree his selection is a very good one.
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Wolfpack
I heard he needed a job.
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Everton2
Hannity still going on about Obama not being vetted and that he is not qualified to pick anybody for his own administration.
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JoeBigs
Hannity really dos not have a clue about what he is talking about. Obama is putting in place some very qualified people. His picks have been very good up to now.
Hannity is also the one who is claiming that this recession we are in is Obama`s fault. He is no one that should be listened to, but of course the far right wingers will always listen to people like this.
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Sarge
"President-elect Barack Obama"
This is a joke, right?
"former Democratic Senator majority leader Tom Daschle"
Didn't this guy give aid and comfort to America's enemies by criticizing U.S. efforts in the war on terror?
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Nippon5
Hannity is not a voice of centerness thats for sure..
I dont think its a bad pick, but I would like to see Obama not sleep so much with his party and get a few independents in the mix..
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powderfinger
Aside from Hillary that's a very male, very white and fairly aged cabinet the media's Chosen One is putting together.
"Change"?
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Sarge
"Change?"
Change we can believe in! And hope!
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powderfinger
Chains we can believe in...
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goodDonkey
Another great decision by Obama. I can't wait to find out who Obama appoints for Sec. of Defense. Then Sarge can find out who is buttering his bread.
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adaydream
You mean Daschle used his right of freedom of speach to speak out against the war on terror?
What's the problem? President-elect Obama spoke out, also. < :-)
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Sarge
"President-elect Obama spoke out, also ( against the war on terror )"
And yet he was elected president. Incredible...
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JoeBigs
Tom Daschle is a true patriot, he dared to speak out when all were against the anti Iraq war view. I think this pick shows true grit. His appointment makes a clear statement to the far Right.
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