A Progressive’s Guide to Obama’s Appointment ProcessRandy Shawbyline‚ Nov. 10‚ 2008Barack Obama’s potential appointments to key positions are already raising alarm bells among some progressives. As names associated with the Clinton Administration have been floated--and former Clintonite Rahm Emanuel already selected as Chief of Staff--some progressives are already charging that Obama is violating his mandate for change. But assessing a future President Obama by his possible or even eventual appointees should come with a large Caution! Past experience shows--and Robert Reich and Carol Browner are two of many examples--that the ideology or background of appointees is no predictor of their impact in the Administration. In fact, while a president’s response to conservative criticism of his appointees can send a broader message, the same cannot usually be said for the nominees themselves. President Barack Obama will be calling the shots, and his appointees will be fulfilling his agenda, not their own. |