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View Full Version : Daschle to Become Health and Human Services Secretary


Richard Tafoya
Nov 19th, 2008, 01:09 PM
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/11/19/daschle-health-human-services-secretary/

Another notable name is joining Barack Obama's Cabinet -- former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will be Health and Human Services secretary pending Senate confirmation, FOX News learned Wednesday.

Daschle accepted the offer, according to two Democratic sources close to Daschle and with intimate knowledge of the decision. Daschle had been a longtime adviser on Obama's campaign and served as a frequent surrogate on the campaign trail and in media interviews.

As Health and Human Services chief, Daschle will be responsible for helping set health care policy. He supports a government-funded insurance program for the nation's uninsured.

Daschle has also been the head of the health care working group in the Obama transition team. Democratic officials shied away from a term some are throwing around -- "health care czar" -- but say Daschle "is likely to play a leading role in the passage of health care reform and the strategy to implement it."

Other sources lay out substantial work being done by the incoming administration to enable health care reform, all of which indicates Obama does intend to move on this issue in spite of the monumental difficulties, including financial obstacles.

lions1mew
Nov 19th, 2008, 01:23 PM
I thought he was giving that position to Dean? *scratches head*

He's really not sticking to my plans for his cabinet LOL

ForeverRebel
Nov 19th, 2008, 02:07 PM
Okay, that one surprised me a tad, I thought it was going to Dean...

Murrican
Nov 19th, 2008, 05:01 PM
Not trying to ring anyone's bell, but Howard Dean is not considered particularly bi-partisan, nor is Daschle, but on the surface Daschle is more likeable (although the shoals are not-so-well-hidden for the loss of ships), is better with the media, knows how Congress works (and doesn't) and is certainly a better choice for a collectivity of reasons than Dean -- but I'd have chosen differently, someone moderate to neutral, politically, who is seen as being persuasive, smart and able to draw the people to one side in a controversial re-positioning of the American personna.

To me that could be a re-launched Hillary, but otherwise I dunno who fits. So, I'll take Daschle with a thumbs up. Dean would have been thumbs down for me. It's that high blood pressure, eyes-bulging thing...

Again, apologies and no intent to disagree for the sake of disagreement...