Obama’s Jack Lew Nomination Is a Warning Shot to Republicans

[DonViejo]

By: Sarah Jones
Jan. 12th, 2013


With his appointment of his chief of staff Jack Lew as Treasury Secretary, Obama made it clear that he meant it when he told Republicans he wouldn’t be “negotiating” over the debt ceiling. Lew has a reputation as a tough negotiator.

Lew served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget before Obama tapped him as his chief of staff, and Lew also served in that capacity under Clinton. Yes, Lew presided during the Clinton surplus. In negotiating with the Republicans under Clinton, it seems Clinton and Yew got the best of the GOP on the budget when it came to Social Security, “Republicans found themselves outfoxed yet again, forced to agree that they, too, want to devote the surpluses to America’s favorite federal program. Their hopes for huge tax cuts were quashed.”

President Obama pointed out that Lew helped save Social Security during the Reagan administration, “Jack has the distinction of having worked — and succeeded — in some of the toughest jobs in Washington and the private sector. As a congressional staffer in the 1980s, he helped negotiate the deal between President Reagan and Tip O’Neill to save Social Security. Under President Clinton, he presided over three budget surpluses in a row. So for all the talk out there about deficit reduction, making sure our books are balanced, this is the guy who did it — three times. He helped oversee one of our nation’s finest universities and one of our largest investment banks.”

Exiting Secretary of Treasury Tim Geithner said of Lew, “He’s committed to defending the safety net for the elderly and the poor.” It’s no wonder Republicans don’t like Lew. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) has already voiced his opposition to Lew’s appointment.

more:
http://www.politicususa.com/jack-lew-nomination-warning-shot-republicans.html

[dmosh42]

1. Maybe he should have been Att'y Gen'l instead of Holder!

[forestpath]

2. This statement scares the shit out of me:

Exiting Secretary of Treasury Tim Geithner said of Lew, “He’s committed to defending the safety net for the elderly and the poor.”

[truebluegreen]

5. Yes, that is scary...so is this

"Obama pointed out Lew helped save Social Security under the Reagan Administration."

Sounds like the Grand Bargainer is still in the hunt for a Grand Bargain.

[Cha]

3. Jack Lew sounds like he'll have our backs against the Plutocrats.

Jack Lew doesn’t play Republican games, and that’s why he irritates them so much. In fact, they claim Lew is just against whatever they are for (insert irony here). Republicans were reportedly aghast in 2011 when Lew told them he wouldn’t “reform” Medicare without a tax increase. Republicans are used to taking hostages — not compromising. So when the oppositions draws a line in the sand, they’re outraged.

Thanks DonViejo

[JayhawkSD]

4. Have you read William K Black?

You do realize that Lew was one of the chief architects of deregulation, which began under Clinton, right? He presided over repeal of Glass-Stegall, and legislation preventing regulation of "innovative financial instruments" which crashed the economy in 2008. That doesn't scare you at all?

See William K Black, who was one of the administrators dealing with the Savings & Loan crash of the 1980's:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-k-black/jacob-lew-another-brick-i_b_2446848.html