WaPo: Labor, Transportation Not “Major” Issues
In its story this morning on Obama’s appointment of Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education, the WaPo said this (in its lede paragraph, no less!):
President-elect Barack Obama will nominate Chicago schools executive Arne Duncan as his education secretary at an event in the city today, transition aides said, and is expected to tap Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) later this week to serve as secretary of the interior, all but finalizing his selections for major Cabinet posts. [my emphasis]
I’m triple checking, but according to this list from the AP last night, Obama has not yet named his Secretaries of Labor or Transportation. (Rumors have Sanford Bishop’s appointment as Secretary of Agriculture to be close, but I wonder whether his "pee in a cup" mini-scandal will give Obama pause; also Interior and Education are not technically official.)
Now, I realize that it has been eight long years since anyone in the White House gave a damn about our nation’s workers. But here’s a hint for Kornblut and Rucker. Obama is a Democrat. Democrats, you see, actually care about the issues of the men and women who make stuff in this country. Democrats care about whether Americans make a fair wage. Democrats care about whether people get injured or poisoned while at their workplace. Democrats realize that you can’t sustain the vitality of our nation’s economy without making sure that the workers share in prosperity. In a Democratic administration–particularly one that relied on organized labor to win the election–the Secretary of Labor is not a minor post.
And how about Transportation? I’m not sure if Kornblut and Rucker have heard about this, but Obama has plans to put through a massive stimulus package as one of his first acts. And a big chunk of that stimulus package–maybe $150 billion–is going to go to infrastructure. You know, roads, bridges, public transportation. See that word there–"transportation"? That’s a hint that maybe Obama’s Secretary of Transportation is going to be doling that money out. I would suggest that if one of Obama’s immediate goals is to dole out a bunch of money to support our nation’s transportation infrastructure, then maybe the Secretary of Transportation shouldn’t be regarded as a minor flunkie.
Like I said, I’m going to assume that the WaPo believes that Ag and Interior, along with this Ed pick, are done deals. So I’ll assume the WaPo is not lumping them into the "not major" category that Labor and Transportation apparently appear to be in.
Still, these reporters might want to brush up their notions of what is major and what not to Democratic Presidents, because I hear one is coming to town shortly.
(One more note: I’m not really sure whether Obama will include an intelligence position–DNI?–in his cabinet or not. Which is why I didn’t hit that issue.)
What WAPO is missing is the relevance of the HUD pick Shaun Donovan — and the enormous potential for the futuristic trifecta: jobs, housing, transportation. Donovan is the guru of inclusionary zoning — and clearly envisions new mixed use zoning standards for the city/suburb rubric. THIS will take rewrites for all three: jobs, housing, energy-transportation.
I believe that 35% of the working force in the 50’s were in labor unions. I will never forget watching the manufacturing base of Dayton Ohio move over seas and down south during the mid-60’s, 70’s, 80’s. The draw of cheaper labor, larger profit margins, lax environmental standards etc. seduced the all ready greedy to even want more.
My father (Teamster) and I would always argue during the 60’s when he would say “buy American”. My response was often “those fat cats are selling you labor workers down the pike” Management continued to sell labor members “down the pike” the next four decades.
Status of Labor Unions
http://64.233.169.132/search?q…..#038;gl=us
How do you count eight years? Under Billy boy and Rubin we got NAFTA and tax breaks for companies building overseas facilities and off-shoring garment and manufacturing jobs. DINO’s (most Democrats) are just a little less obvious in their disregard of working families, only to pander to them during elections.
Oh, but now bloomberg.com is criticizing Obama’s cabinet choices.
Because it’s short on Southerners and Republicans.
Arrgh!! If Bloomberg is teaming up with the Plantation Coalition, we’re doomed.
Can he pick McCain for something? Is Arizona considered the south?
Let’s not get carried away. (McCain.)
So Bloomberg wants some affirmative action picks? I thought Obama wanted the best people regardless.
I hope Bill Ritter won’t try to sell Ken Salazar’s vacated seat….
Obama is a Democrat. Democrats, you see, actually care about the issues of the men and women who make stuff in this country. Democrats care about whether Americans make a fair wage. Democrats care about whether people get injured or poisoned while at their workplace. Democrats realize that you can’t sustain the vitality of our nation’s economy without making sure that the workers share in prosperity. In a Democratic administration–particularly one that relied on organized labor to win the election–the Secretary of Labor is not a minor post.
Some do. Obviously not all of them. People like Feingold and Sanders do. I don’t know about people like Harry Reid(after his gushing out Bob Corker).
No AZ is considered west. I have heard that Obama wanted the brightest, Why should he give up that goal and get someone from the south.
Besides Duncan is from the south side of Chicago and Salazar is from Southern CO. Does that count
I hope this doesn’t mean “pay for performance” (paying students to get good grades) will become a national thing….
Thanks ew.
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