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Diversity: Obama Taps First-Ever Blogger for Cabinet

November 19, 2008 4:57 PM

Peter Orszag, the man who President-elect Obama has tapped to be his director of the Office of Management and Budget, (as first reported by National Journal and confirmed by ABC News) is currently director of the Congressional Budget Office, where he has maintained a blog since December 2007, ABC News' Brian Hartman points out.

The "Director's Blog" is fairly dry stuff -- policy papers and references to testimonies and speeches he's given.

"Today, CBO released the Monthly Budget Review," Orszag wrote. "In fiscal year 2008, the federal government recorded a total budget deficit of $455 billion -- $293 billion more than the deficit incurred in 2007. As a share of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), the deficit rose from 1.2 percent in 2007 to 3.2 percent in 2008. That increase in the deficit of 2 percentage points of GDP reflected both a reduction in revenue (which declined by 1.1 percent of GDP) and an increase in spending (which rose by 0.9 percent of GDP)."

But that's not the point. The point is that the director of OMB has Cabinet rank. Which means that, for the first time ever, there will be a blogger tapped to join the Cabinet.

Is that an achievement for this civilization or a step backward? You be the judge.

- jpt

UPDATE: To be more precise, Orszag will be the first blogger asked to join a Cabinet.

But Christina Pearson at the Department of Health and Human Services notes that after HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt joined the Bush administration he statred a blog.  Leavitt, Pearson notes, "writes every word and chooses every topic himself. (on a side note, Secretary Leavitt has had his blog longer than Mr. Orzag has had his CBO blog)  It’s featured permanently on the HHS homepage but here’s the link anyway.  Secretary Leavitt’s blog has also been prominently featured in a recent Kaiser Family Foundation Conference and in news reports."

November 19, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (17)

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This will be a step forward ONLY if Mr. Orszag is allowed to attend cabinet meetings in his pajamas.

Posted by: OBAMANATION [uh-bom-uh-NEY-shuhn] | Nov 20, 2008 11:02:51 AM

we're doooooomed!

Posted by: Tungsten | Nov 20, 2008 8:33:30 AM

Um, ok. Anybody can blog and that has nothing to do with analysis. Besides, what about all the under cover bloggers? The guy studied the facts and posted them. His credit is in his analysis, not his blogging abilities. Blogging is overhyped/over promoted as a means of communication. Your headline buys into the whole blogging hype.

Factual info is factual info, be it news release, forum, blog, wiki, whatever. Blogging is strictly about the presentation in an author-controlled environment with a buzz-word attached to make it seem new-age. Forums have always been better since forums suggests a variety of opinions instead of just one authoritative opinion.

Posted by: Common Sense | Nov 19, 2008 9:29:36 PM

The Dow Tanking again....is residual from the Bush Administration...thank YOU VERY MUCH!

As I recall, Bush still is President, isn't he!?

With regards to the Blog...PAHLEEZE! As long as the job gets done, WHO cares! Obama did is first "President-Elect Weekly Address" on YOU TUBE, right! COOL!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Richard | Nov 19, 2008 8:52:45 PM

I feel so secure now.

Posted by: Vi | Nov 19, 2008 8:52:37 PM

The most important thing is that he doesn't blog from his mother's basement in his pajamas. Or does he?

Posted by: Ann Wong | Nov 19, 2008 8:15:42 PM

samhiguchi is right. That headline reads like he just yanked somebody off a blog with no qualifications.

Posted by: Jwench | Nov 19, 2008 7:35:33 PM

Jake; how can you even ask if this is a step backward.

Considering the excellance of this blog of yours.

Posted by: Ranger Phx | Nov 19, 2008 7:14:51 PM

LOL Jake you really think that's a question??? What difference would it make? Other than to garner hits to a site other than the MSM for information.

Posted by: Grissom | Nov 19, 2008 7:02:55 PM

I think he is making wise decisions. I am ready to trust his decision making sense I am on the outside

Posted by: LovingBooks | Nov 19, 2008 6:27:18 PM

Am I so dumb that I totally do not understand what all of the five posters (Bloggers!) before me wrote?? And you too, Jake. What did you mean about the step backwards? How so? I'm really confused. And fyi, i always thought you would be the first blogger in the White House. I guess I was wrong. But please do explain what you meant by the backwards statement.

Posted by: Question | Nov 19, 2008 6:25:18 PM

The real question is...

Did he blog about this?

Posted by: Ryan C | Nov 19, 2008 6:24:27 PM

Change is coming! Change is coming!

Whatever the hell that means!

Change is coming!

Prepare for all your pocket change as well.

Well, We only see the flip from Clinton to Obama. Is that REALLY change?

Posted by: Jen | Nov 19, 2008 5:32:20 PM

A STEP SDRAWKCAB

how much will he be paid?

Posted by: What? | Nov 19, 2008 5:30:42 PM

Hooray! A watershed.

Posted by: susan | Nov 19, 2008 5:23:14 PM

definitely a step backwards. How dare this lunatic pick a leftwing nut, dailykosloving, militaryhating fringe into the cabinet? i thought his questionaire meant that he suddenly cared about who he 'pals around with'? all u who've been infatuated with this guy will be rudely awakened. Use some reason for C.'s sake.

Posted by: rightwingnutz | Nov 19, 2008 5:23:07 PM

From your headline, it sounds like blogging is his only qualification LOL

Posted by: samhiguchi | Nov 19, 2008 5:22:25 PM

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