Daschle to head HHS

Posted: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:29 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
NBC News has confirmed that Tom Daschle -- the former Democratic Senate leader who backed Obama early in the Democratic nomination fight -- has been tapped to be the next secretary at the Department Health and Human Services.

Roll Call, which broke the news, adds that Daschle "is set to take on the position of 'health care czar' in the Obama White House, ensuring that he does not get bigfooted on matters relating to health care policy, according to [a] source."

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Another "Back to the Future" appointment.

No Change At All (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:35 PM)

So what has Dashchle's position been on health care? I thought this was tailor-made for Hillary if she wanted it.

JustThinkin (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:36 PM)

Love it HHS health care is going to be a huge problem in the next congress and we need someone who knows what is going on in congress!

Marcel,Las Vegas,NV (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:42 PM)

Tom Daschle is a good choice for this position as have all Obama's choices except the debacle of Secretary of State. If there is a Clinton in the closet at the White House Obama can take the word "change" out of his slogan that got him elected. Lots and lots of folks starting to see it slide away again.

Elmer, Seattle,Wa (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:42 PM)

why does he insist on having unexperincied people fill his positions in the white house maybe they need to hire a crew member from kfc to be secetary of the health department because i'am sure the experience would be essential just as much as tom daschle experience would be

christopher shy huntington wv (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:44 PM)

I thought Obama said he was going to keep lobbyists out of his administration. Daschle and is wife are two of the biggest lobbyists is Washington.

Concerned Citizen (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:44 PM)

We will see if Daschle takes the position first. Daschle has been known to be politically heavy handed sometimes on health care policy. It will be interesting to see how Hillary and Kennedy react to Daschle in the Senate over health care. Time to move forward America!

Rock,Janesville,Wisconsin (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:46 PM)

I guess all the Repukes will come out saying Obama has picked another lobbyist for his staff and cabinet. Don't you people get it? That stuff about lobbyists was just 'campaign talk' so Obama could get elected. No one with any brains really ever believed Obama would keep that promise. This deal is just another 'so-what'! Deal with it repukes.

Tara Byneer, NY (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:47 PM)

Tommy Smothers would have been a better choice if you're gonna pick a Tom.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:47 PM)

Actually this would have been a good position for Hillary, not a very sexy cabinet post, but it fit her interest in health care.

So I wonder how long Hillary has to make up her mind? A week, Probably less than two weeks. If Hillary takes SOS for Obama's first term, then what? Doubt she will run against Obama. What if she gets tired of all the travel that is involved with SoS? Then what will she do? She just might be better off remaining in the Senate and help Ted Kennedy pass health care. We will see......

Ron Indiana (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:49 PM)

He could be a good choice for that. I do worry about Obama pulling out people from the Senate to fill positions. I guess that is the only good thing about Daschle being defeated a few elections ago. He seems to be a man of integrety.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:50 PM)

Great choice! Obama hasn't let me down yet - not one single bit! What a great president he's going to be! He's going to make people forget what a disgrace and a travesty George W. Bush was.

Full Moon (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:51 PM)

I don't know much about Tom Daschle, but rest assured, either Rush Screwbaugh, or some dimwit poster will have plenty negative to say about him.
Just a preciction- let's see if it holds.

Buzz (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:51 PM)

The Democrats are going to fix the mess that the Republicans created. Mark my words.

fact (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:52 PM)

So I'm guessing Thune will lead the opposition.

Joe Don, Topeka, KS (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:52 PM)

Tom is a great choice for this. Couldn't ask for a better even keel person to handle this job!

Sophia Beck Laramie Wy (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:55 PM)

This is change you can believe in? Change would be brining in new blood and new ideas not resurrecting Night of the Has Been Democrats

Daniel, Concord, NC (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:04 PM)

Dashle worked as a lobbyist for Alston & Bird and was a special adviser in the law firm's legislative and public policy group on such issues as energy, health care, financial services, tax policy, trade and agriculture. Tom's a natural for swinging some business back to A&B.

Lob Balle (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:14 PM)

Another day, another washed-up Dem appointment to the Obama administration. Change you can believe in, indeed.

I want my vote back (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:18 PM)

I have full confidence in Obama's reasons for choosing the individuals he has for various positions, and believe we will see a positive change throughout his first term as President.

JC Boston MA (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:19 PM)

People don't seem to understand how what is going on is major change. First, look to competent people, no matter who and where they are. Second, plan what needs to be done and select the people who can do it. Third, Hold no grudges but rather integrate country strengths. These are the changes Obama was discussing and the changes he is delivering.

Richard, Delmar, NY (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:24 PM)

The Democrats are going to fix the mess that the Republicans created. Mark my words.

fact (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:52 PM)

Your words have been marked. Next!!

DMV (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:26 PM)

With all the whining about Obama's choices - stop and think about who he had running his campaign and how the campaign was run. Have some faith in the decisions he is making. We have no idea what is going on behind the scene. They say it's like a puzzle - all the right people in all the right places.

If he picked unknowns, you would all be whining about inexperience bla, bla, bla. Give things a chance to play out - Obama traveled the road he did to get where he is today by being smart. We will finally have a President who THINKS before he acts or speaks.

stephanie, ft. pierce, fl. (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:28 PM)

South Dakota lost a great Senator when we lost Tom. He's a real workhorse and will be a big asset to the Obama administration!

Dan, Sioux Falls, SD (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:32 PM)

I'd rather have experienced people run the government than a bunch of idiots.

Ann Utica NY (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:33 PM)

People, the change is in the action to be taken, the new direction to be charted, and the bridging of partisan gaps. By putting a respected and able manager like Daschle into HHS, he's telegraphing that this will be an important portfolio in his first term, and that the experience and makeup of his cabinet will be deep as well as broad. So far, so good, as far as I can see. Lighten up, folks.

Mark S, NC (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:39 PM)

a quote from Tommy:

As you know, the cloture vote will be held this morning, and Senator Lieberman and I filed an amendment yesterday that deals with all of the egregious special interest provisions. There is a provision, as you may know, that provides liability protection for pharmaceutical companies that actually make mercury-based vaccine preservatives that actually have caused autism in children. It wipes out all of the litigation.

Paul Offit, Phila, PA (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:39 PM)

Lob Balle: Daschle was not a lobbyist for Alston Bird but a public policy adviser. There is a difference.

Stephanie: I agree with you. Let's have a little faith in the man and the team that defeated both the Clinton machine and the entrenched Republican party.

Would you naysayers out there be any happier if Obama were choosing people you had never heard of? Or would you be complaining that they were inexperienced people being plucked from obscurity (like a certain person who shall remain nameless but whose initials are SARAH PALIN)?

Give the man some credit, and some time to plan his work and work his plan.

Gail, TN (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:46 PM)

Good choice. I've been hoping that Tom Daschle would get just this position. Now let's see if Kerry gets anything. I'm not disappointed in any of Obama's choices yet.

Terri Red Stick, LA (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 2:05 PM)

What is wrong with you people. Why is everyone so negative these days. Would you really like Obama to fill his cabinet with incompetent nobodies that you have never heard of or do you want him to fill the positions with the best of the best? He could fill it with a bunch of airheads like Palin, which would really give you something to complain about, or he can do just what he is doing and fill the positions with very smart and intelligent people. They are going to fllow Barack's policies and he is going to change the way business is done. For goodness sake people, use your brains... if you have any!!!

Oscar, Rio Vista CA (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 2:09 PM)

Daschle is the perfect choice!! If you don't know what his position on the health care system is, read his book: Critical What we can do about the health care crisis. It is excellent. Tom Daschle is a very intellegent, thoughtful man and an asset to any administration.

Kim, Rapid City, SD (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 2:30 PM)

As a former SD resident and also a physician,what a joke. He's better suited for Ag Sec. Get someone in the slot with healthcare or clinical experience. Obama continues to NOT be the agent of change, just filling positions with old DC has beens.

M, Atlanta (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 2:51 PM)

Tom Dashle was Senate Majority Leader. He had to know a little bit about a lot of positions. I personally like Tom Dashle but I don't think HHS is where he belongs.

I think Howard Dean (a real doctor) could understand the needs of the American people. He could deal with sicknesses and how to help better than someone who has only been a politician. Yes, Dean was Governor and head of DNC but he did take the hypocratic oath to cause no harm. As far as I know he is still a licsenced MD in the state of VT.

I am disappointed with most of Obama's picks thusfar with the exception of Hillary. After all, she had 18+ million votes. The others eh!!!

Lisseth, Cambridge MA (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 3:10 PM)

Hope he is ready to explain how it is going to get paid for?

Charles (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 3:36 PM)

Change what happened to change. The same old life long career politians. Dashle, CLINTON, KERRY SAME HACKS WHO HAVE NEVER WORKED A DAY IN THIER LIVES. I want new faces from industry, the military, capitalist entrepenuers. Not civil service or elected government hacks. Obama hasn't changed anything he just put old liberal career democrats in control.

Roert, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 4:24 PM)

Just wait and see what happens. He will bring about the changes we need. He has to have some experienced people in place and it how he places them that is the change. We are in dire straits and it is no time to train. Obama has a plan , sit back and watch him take us out of this mess. We have no where to go but up.

Marsha S, Houston, Texas (Sent Wednesday, November 19, 2008 4:43 PM)

"a quote from Tommy:
...provides liability protection for pharmaceutical companies that actually make mercury-based vaccine preservatives that actually have caused autism in children"

Wrong! the perservatives in vaccines were SUSPECTED of causing autism, no cause and effect relationship has ever been established. What you are implying is totally false.

Todd (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:08 AM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1681517