Barack Obama’s choice of Rahm Emanuel as his White House Chief of Staff has drawn some criticism from people claiming Emanuel has been partisan and divisive. Some Republicans who have worked with Emanuel in the Congress disagree with that assessment.
According to the Washington Times Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called Obama’s choice of Rahm Emanuel 'wise' and added that:
Rahm knows Capitol Hill and has great political skills. He can be a tough partisan but also understands the need to work together.
The San Francisco Chronicle quoted retiring Representative Tom Davis, R-Va:
I can't think of a better choice. What's the old saying? You campaign in poetry, but you govern in prose? (Rahm) understands the poetry, but he can translate it into prose. He is a practical guy who understands politics as well as policy.
Bloomberg.com quoted retiring Illinois Republican, Ray LaHood:
This idea that Rahm is a guy who can't get along with Republicans is just not true. The truth is in politics, you can count your friends on one or two hands, but he's been a true friend… The idea that he's just a trash-talking, hard-core Chicago pol does not reflect who the man really is.
So if these Republicans who have worked with Emanuel in the Congress say that he is perfectly capable of working amicably and productively with Republicans why are others saying something different?
1 comment:
I remember Rahm from the days when he was associated with Illinois Public Action Council ( now Citizen Action USA).
I think he was involved later in fund raising for Harold Washington. I ran into him coming out of the Congress Hotel in Chicago one morning. I told him I was supporting Harold (in a small way), and he took off a pin "Chicago Works" and pinned it on me. So thoughtful. I doubt if he would know m now, But he did wink ( like Sarah) a couple of years ago when I was at the Capitol Building in D.C. when he saw me. Perhaps he winks at anyone who waves to him, or gives him a thumbs up.
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