doobs
02-12-2009, 05:16 PM
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18794.html
New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg has abruptly withdrawn as President Barack Obama’s nominee to run the Commerce Department, another blow to an administration trying to build a bipartisan cabinet.
The surprising turn of events “blind sided” at least one Obama aide who spoke to Politico, and another senior White House official said he was “totally caught off guard” by the news.
“I couldn’t be Judd Gregg and serve in the Cabinet. I should have faced up to the reality of that earlier,” Gregg said. “I’ve been my own person and I began to wonder if I could be an effective team player. The president deserves someone who can block for his policies. As a practical matter I can contribute to his agenda better—where we agree—as a senator and I hope to do that.”
“The fault lies with me,” Gregg said in an interview with Politico, refusing to discuss any conversations he has had with Obama himself. Asked if he felt the decision would be an embarrassment for the president, Gregg said, “I may have embarrassed myself but hopefully not him.”
In a separate statement, Gregg cited his problems with the economic stimulus bill, as well as partisan disagreements over how to run the Census as reasons for pulling his nomination. He was quick to point out that there was nothing in the vetting process that made him yank his own nomination – steering clear of the controversies that killed the Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle and chief performance officer nominee Nancy Kileffer, who both withdrew after tax problems.
Ultimately, Gregg said he and Obama “are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.”
Now, Obama has to make a third try in his effort to find a Commerce secretary. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew last month due to an ongoing investigation in his home state.
Further, the president will face fresh questions about his deliberation and vetting process for cabinet nominees as he continues to build his administration.
White House aides, apparently unprepared for the news, didn’t offer comment on news delivered via a press release from Gregg’s Senate office. When Tom Daschle withdrew as nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services, the White House issued a paper release containing statements from both President Obama and the former senator.
Gregg, in his statement, said he admires Obama’s “willingness to reach across the aisle.”
“However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me,” Gregg said. “Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.”
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a member of Democratic leadership, said she expected Gregg to have a smooth confirmation and learned about the decision when the news broke Thursday afternoon.
"I had heard no objections whatsoever," Murray said. "I'm as surprised as anybody."
While the Obama administration now has another embarrassing cabinet nomination withdrawal to deal with, Republicans were already celebrating Gregg’s decision to stay in the Senate.
“Sen. Gregg made a principled decision to return and we’re glad to have him,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). “He is among the smartest, most effective legislators to serve in the Senate—Democrat or Republican—and a key advisor to me and to the Republican Conference. It’s great to have him back.”
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) was equally happy to have one of the top financial minds in the GOP securely on the Republican side of the Senate aisle: “Judd Gregg would have been a strong Cabinet member, but it is good for the country and the Senate that he will continue to be a Republican senator.”
The Gregg news comes as a caretaker Republican, Bonnie Newman, prepared to serve out the remainder out Gregg’s term and prominent members of both parties in the Granite State begin to line up for the 2010 race.
Gregg has scheduled a 5:25 p.m. press conference at the Capitol to discuss his decision.
New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg has abruptly withdrawn as President Barack Obama’s nominee to run the Commerce Department, another blow to an administration trying to build a bipartisan cabinet.
The surprising turn of events “blind sided” at least one Obama aide who spoke to Politico, and another senior White House official said he was “totally caught off guard” by the news.
“I couldn’t be Judd Gregg and serve in the Cabinet. I should have faced up to the reality of that earlier,” Gregg said. “I’ve been my own person and I began to wonder if I could be an effective team player. The president deserves someone who can block for his policies. As a practical matter I can contribute to his agenda better—where we agree—as a senator and I hope to do that.”
“The fault lies with me,” Gregg said in an interview with Politico, refusing to discuss any conversations he has had with Obama himself. Asked if he felt the decision would be an embarrassment for the president, Gregg said, “I may have embarrassed myself but hopefully not him.”
In a separate statement, Gregg cited his problems with the economic stimulus bill, as well as partisan disagreements over how to run the Census as reasons for pulling his nomination. He was quick to point out that there was nothing in the vetting process that made him yank his own nomination – steering clear of the controversies that killed the Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle and chief performance officer nominee Nancy Kileffer, who both withdrew after tax problems.
Ultimately, Gregg said he and Obama “are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.”
Now, Obama has to make a third try in his effort to find a Commerce secretary. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew last month due to an ongoing investigation in his home state.
Further, the president will face fresh questions about his deliberation and vetting process for cabinet nominees as he continues to build his administration.
White House aides, apparently unprepared for the news, didn’t offer comment on news delivered via a press release from Gregg’s Senate office. When Tom Daschle withdrew as nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services, the White House issued a paper release containing statements from both President Obama and the former senator.
Gregg, in his statement, said he admires Obama’s “willingness to reach across the aisle.”
“However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me,” Gregg said. “Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.”
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a member of Democratic leadership, said she expected Gregg to have a smooth confirmation and learned about the decision when the news broke Thursday afternoon.
"I had heard no objections whatsoever," Murray said. "I'm as surprised as anybody."
While the Obama administration now has another embarrassing cabinet nomination withdrawal to deal with, Republicans were already celebrating Gregg’s decision to stay in the Senate.
“Sen. Gregg made a principled decision to return and we’re glad to have him,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). “He is among the smartest, most effective legislators to serve in the Senate—Democrat or Republican—and a key advisor to me and to the Republican Conference. It’s great to have him back.”
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) was equally happy to have one of the top financial minds in the GOP securely on the Republican side of the Senate aisle: “Judd Gregg would have been a strong Cabinet member, but it is good for the country and the Senate that he will continue to be a Republican senator.”
The Gregg news comes as a caretaker Republican, Bonnie Newman, prepared to serve out the remainder out Gregg’s term and prominent members of both parties in the Granite State begin to line up for the 2010 race.
Gregg has scheduled a 5:25 p.m. press conference at the Capitol to discuss his decision.