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Axelrod, Emanuel to Obama White House; Gibbs, Jarrett to Play Key Roles
November 06, 2008 1:16 PM
Former Obama chief strategist David Axelrod has accepted the position of Senior Adviser in the White House, sources tell ABC News.
Robert Gibbs is also likely to join Obama's White House as Press Secretary, and Obama would like his confidante Valerie Jarrett to play a key role. The exact parameters have not been set.
They will join Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill, who has accepted the position of Obama's White House Chief of Staff.
He brings a lot of strengths to the office.
He knows the White House. He served there for six-and-a-half years under President Clinton.
He knows Congress. He's been a member of Congress now for four terms and risen to the number four Democratic leadership position on Capitol Hill.
He knows policy and he knows how to drive policies through the bureaucracy.
He's also loyal. Obama has told associates he believes he's "got his back."
He'll be a strong presence in the White House.
Emanuel has centrist instincts and understands the dangers of moving too far in one direction in part from the Clinton experience.
There's been commentary from some Republicans arguing Emanuel is too partisan. But he's also made a point of reaching out in the House to Republicans and building bridges. He's had a series of bipartisan dinners over the last several years to build bridges with Democrats and Republicans.
He likely understands that successful presidencies build those centrist coalitions.
--George Stephanopoulos
November 6, 2008 in Barack Obama, White House | Permalink | Share | User Comments (344)
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┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: Lori | Nov 6, 2008 1:51:16 PM
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┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: Jeff | Nov 6, 2008 1:51:31 PM
Oh, Emanuel will have Obama's back. I'd want that political pit bull on my side in any fight.
Another first: who would ever have imagined that a former ballet dancer would end up as Chief of Staff?
Posted by: Eleonora27 | Nov 6, 2008 1:51:55 PM
Ive been an Obama supporter for a while, and still, he doesnt cease to amaze me. The man is smart and on his game. His back is got.
Posted by: Troy | Nov 6, 2008 1:52:19 PM
How is it going to work out with a Jewish chief of staff and Hamas the close friend of Obama's? And what about the Arabs? I see trouble with some world leaders yet to come. And Obama won't be able to handle it. Obama is not experienced enough in politics. He is just a 47 year old half black man who wanted to make history like MLK. He read books about him since he was a young boy given to him by his mother. Congress hasn't seen anything yet and Pelosi thinks she will be running the show. Well, not with Obama, he will dictate what he wants and don't want. They will see the real Obama and so will the public. Trouble lurks in the Mideast and it will be serious.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Nov 6, 2008 1:52:44 PM
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┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: Lauren | Nov 6, 2008 1:52:44 PM
The "secret Muslim" just hired the "secret Mossad agent" as his top staffer.
Posted by: Jeremy | Nov 6, 2008 1:53:10 PM
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┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: Special K | Nov 6, 2008 1:53:23 PM
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┗☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃┏┓┃ Copy & Paste
┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: ImSoGladObamaWon | Nov 6, 2008 1:53:37 PM
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┗☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃┏┓┃ Copy & Paste
┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: jonathanw | Nov 6, 2008 1:55:00 PM
So far Obama's picks have been stellar. And then of course there's folks like youaredeceived who are still pushing to GOP line that the world is coming to an end. YAD, it's not THE world, just YOUR world, that's coming to an end.
Posted by: rbyanes | Nov 6, 2008 1:55:21 PM
"...he will dictate what he wants and don't want..."
And I trust Obama's judgment 100% with my eyes closed!
Posted by: Bijou | Nov 6, 2008 1:55:27 PM
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┗☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃┏┓┃ Copy & Paste
┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: Cameron | Nov 6, 2008 1:55:40 PM
I want a bumper sticker that says January 21, 2013 now like the left had for Bush!
Posted by: Paul | Nov 6, 2008 1:55:41 PM
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┗☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃┏┓┃ Copy & Paste
┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
┃┗━┓┃┗★┃┃┗┛┃┃★┛┃
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Posted by: Eric from Ohio | Nov 6, 2008 1:55:45 PM
Maybe the "dog" (not allowed in the Muslim faith)
Posted by: Emma Ann | Nov 6, 2008 1:50:32 PM
----
Baloney.
Posted by: ziadora | Nov 6, 2008 1:56:06 PM
Rahm Emanuel? Give me a freakin break. So much for the "politics of a new era"! This guy is one of the Democratic Party's chief hatchment men...a ruthless no compromise jerk. Could you have chosen someone with a little better temperment for making things happen in Washington? Chief of Staff...Holy Cow!
Way to go Obama. Looks like the change we are really getting is a change to all his campaign promises.
Posted by: Jim | Nov 6, 2008 1:57:07 PM
Why is it always the Republicans who get all the blame, wake up people the Dems have been in charge of both the House & Senate for the last two years and 4 years for the Senate...there is plenty of blame to go around starting with Barney Frank who has been in charge of the banking commission for the last 12 years....
Posted by: Mike | Nov 6, 2008 1:57:21 PM
So far Obama's picks have been stellar. And then of course there's folks like youaredeceived who are still pushing to GOP line that the world is coming to an end. YAD, it's not THE world, just YOUR world, that's coming to an end.
Posted by: rbyanes | Nov 6, 2008 1:57:41 PM
lilbit: Are you saying you stopped living until Obama won the election? Let me go on record to say my life didn't change because of Obama and neither will thousands of other people's. Life doesn't change with a new president. Taxes will be raised no matter how much you make. There are no exceptions to the rule and if you believe what Obama says then you better evaluate yourself.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Nov 6, 2008 1:58:28 PM
Janaury 2013...END OF AN ERROR
Posted by: Jim | Nov 6, 2008 1:58:55 PM
Great choices "THAT ONE" Do not forget about Richardson and Wassermann. They deserve jobs to.
Posted by: nubiangent08 | Nov 6, 2008 1:58:57 PM
Gloat now, but we will see what you have to say when you finally realize that Obama is just a man and has no magic solutions to your problems. You can continue to blame Bush for awhile, but what then?
Just wait, you will see, the world is a dangerous place. Nothing has changed.
Posted by: Still whining! | Nov 6, 2008 1:59:01 PM
Emma Ann,
You are one of the people I hope to never meet in my lifetime. Obviously a hate filled, bigotted republican, you have quickly forgotten your party's Mantra "country first"
Posted by: ritza | Nov 6, 2008 1:59:27 PM
Let the Good Times begin. I am so very happy that we the people have something good to look forward too. Obama was the best choice and he will prove it! God answered many prayers.
Posted by: Emilianna | Nov 6, 2008 1:59:36 PM
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