Tag Archives: Obama cabinet

Obama Readies Cabinet Shakeup

The AP reports on the major changes coming for President Obama’s cabinet. At least three and as many as seven changes are being forecast.

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Secretary Of State Bloomberg?

Late last year Hillary Clinton revealed that she would likely not be staying on for Obama’s second term, leading to fevered speculation as to her possible successor. New York’s tabloids are floating Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the job. Hizzoner said Thursday he would consider a role in the President’s cabinet if one is offered — regardless of which candidate wins …

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Obama HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan Endorses Same-Sex Marriage

Following his appearance before a transgender rights group, last night HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan became to first sitting member of the Obama Cabinet to publicly endorse same-sex marriage. Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly: Asked about this summer’s passage of marriage equality in New York, Donovan says, “I was enormously proud to be a New Yorker on the day that …

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Rumor Mill: Hillary Mulling Resignation

Wingnut pubs like Weekly Standard and the New York Post are citing “insiders” who claim that Hillary Clinton is considering resigning as Secretary as State to run either for New York governor or against NY Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. From the Post: Hillary Clinton is said to be frustrated with her lack of authority as secretary of state and resentful of …

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Barney Frank Eyes Obama Cabinet Post

The Hill reports that Rep. Barney Frank would like to join the Obama administration as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. But at least not until 2011 or so. Rep. Barney Frank is interested in capping his political career as a member of the president’s Cabinet, according to a new biography of the Financial Services Committee chairman. Frank (D-Mass.) …

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KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius To Head HHS

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) is likely to be chosen as Secretary of Health and Human Services – provided she doesn’t pull a Daschle. Should she be nominated, Ms. Sebelius would bring eight years of experience as her state’s insurance commissioner as well as six years as a governor running a state Medicaid program. But with President Obama about to …

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The Curse Of Obama’s Cabinet Goes On

Sen. Judd Gregg has decided he can’t get along with the Obama administration and has withdrawn his nomination for Secretary of Commerce. (At least, that’s what he says the reason is.) President Obama’s choice for Commerce Secretary, Senator Judd Gregg, withdrew his nomination on Thursday. He said there were “irresolvable conflicts” between him and the administration. “It has become apparent …

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Gregg Nominated For Commerce, No Senate Supermajority For Democrats

As expected, today Barack Obama nominated Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) to be his Secretary of Commerce in a deal that included New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) appointing a Republican to replace him in the Senate. Therefore, there will be no supermajority for the Democrats in the Senate. Lynch has tapped New Hampshire politico Bonnie Newman, who once worked for …

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Tom Daschle Withdraws

The tax controversy has gotten to be too much for Tom Daschle and he has withdrawn his nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services. President Obama has accepted the withdrawal with “sadness and regret.” Daschle has admitted to failing to pay more than $120,000 in taxes and has faced withering criticism from both sides of the aisle. Not a …

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Sec. Of Commerce Pick Could Give Dems 60 Seat Supermajority In Senate

Barack Obama is reportedly leaning towards picking Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) to be Bill Richardson’s replacement as Secretary of Commerce. If Gregg is selected, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch would probably appoint a fellow Democrat to fill the empty Senate seat. Which means that IF Obama picks Gregg and IF Al Franken survives the latest recount and IF Lynch appoints …

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Clinton Confirmed As Secretary Of State

Hillary Clinton was just confirmed by the Senate in a 94-2 vote. New York Senator Hillary Clinton has been officially confirmed as secretary of state this by way of a roll call vote in the U.S. Senate. Sources tell NY1 that the actual swearing-in will be private. Clinton’s confirmation was held up yesterday by a lone Republican senator. Jon Cornyn …

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Clinton Nomination Passes Committee

This morning Hillary Clinton won a near-unanimous approval from the Senate committee examining her nomination for Secretary of State. The vote was 16-1, with the only dissenting vote coming from Sen. David “Diaper Boy” Vitter (R-LA). There will be a full Senate vote on Clinton’s candidacy after Barack Obama is sworn in.

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Hochberg Pushed For Sec. Of Commerce

The Victory Fund wants former HRC board co-chair Fred Hochberg to replace Bill Richardson as Secretary of Commerce. It would be Obama’s last chance to put an openly LGBT person in his cabinet. Denis Dison, spokesperson for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said his organization and the Presidential Appointments Project continue to encourage Obama to nominate an openly gay …

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Richardson Withdraws From Obama Cabinet Over Investigation

Citing the unfolding investigation of a company that had business dealings with his New Mexico administration, Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn his name as Barack Obama’s Secretary of Commerce. “Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact,” he said Sunday in a report by …

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Victory Fund Unhappy With Obama Cabinet

The Victory Fund has expressed their disappointment that Barack Obama has tapped Rep. Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor, rather than openly lesbian labor activist Mary Beth Maxwell. Solis’ appointment closes out the last major position in the Obama Cabinet, leaving nothing open for the selection of an LGBT candidate. With the rumored nomination of Rep. Hilda Solis to the …

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Secretary Of Conflict?

A just-released donors list reveals that Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation has raised tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments that Hillary will have deal with as Secretary of State. Former President Bill Clinton’s foundation has raised at least $46 million from Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments that his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton may end up negotiating with as …

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Nancy Sutley Named First LGBT Person In Obama’s Cabinet

History was made yesterday. Barack Obama’s selection of Nancy Sutley as chairwoman of the Council on Environmental Quality marks the first prominent, openly gay or lesbian to join his cabinet. The news was widely covered in the gay press and Web sites. “President-elect Obama’s nomination of Nancy Sutley is another step toward full equality for gay Americans,” Chuck Wolfe, president …

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Minorities Vie For Obama Appointments

Minority groups are “working overtime” to ensure their inclusion in Barack Obama’s government. So far about half of Obama’s selected candidates for Cabinet positions have been non-white. Via the San Francisco Chronicle: Of the 22 Cabinet-level positions Obama is expected to have, 15 candidates have been named so far. Of those, seven are white men, four are women, three are …

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Richardson To Get Commerce Post

Bill Richardson has been tapped as Obama’s Secretary of Commerce. President-elect Barack Obama will name New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to head the Commerce Department at a news conference today in Chicago, according to transition sources. Richardson will appear alongside Obama at 11:40 a.m. Eastern time, and his nomination will mark the latest in a series of moves by the …

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Openly Lesbian Mary Beth Maxwell Up for Secretary Of Labor

Labor activist Mary Beth Maxwell, who is openly lesbian, is reportedly being considered for Secretary of Labor in Obama’s cabinet. For the rainbow cabinet of the nation’s first African American president, Mary Beth Maxwell is the perfect labor secretary you’ve probably never heard of: a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son. And this …

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