Official: Richardson to be commerce secretary

[Behind the Aegis]

Source: AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama has chosen New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to be commerce secretary, adding a prominent Hispanic and one-time Democratic rival to his expanding Cabinet.

Obama planned to announce the nomination after Thanksgiving, according to a Democratic official familiar with the discussions. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations and did so on condition of anonymity.

Richardson, 61, had a distinguished and visible career in Washington before returning to New Mexico, where he was elected governor in 2002. Richardson served as U.N. ambassador under President Bill Clinton and later as energy secretary. He was in the House from 1983 to 1997.

Clinton sent Richardson on several high-level diplomatic missions while he was in Congress, including direct talks with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

In Richardson, Obama will get a secretary of commerce who has been described as relentless and competitive, with a jocular sense of humor.



Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_CABINET?SITE=MAHYC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[IndianaJones]

1. good choice. nt.

[EconomicLiberal]

2. Cronyism at its worst.

What in the heck qualifies Bill Richardson for being commerce secretary?

It was almost as if Obama said: "Thanks for supporting me, here's a job in my administration as repayment!".

[FrenchieCat]

6. Look up his record if you don't know......

But don't call cronyism without knowing what you are talking about. That's just plain rude and uninformed.

You could have even asked, if you didn't know....instead of name calling.

[AllHereTruth]

7. I cant say i am particularly thrilled at his appointments so far.

I don't see where the change is coming from.
Do you?

Daschle. Richardson. Emanuel. Clinton. Geithner...And Biden

I challenge ANY of you to show me where the 'Change' will come from. Please, i NEED TO SEE IT. Im starting to see a trend...

[Doctor_J]

9. I noticed you haven't weighed in on this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7917840&mesg_id=7917840

Why not?

[Kire]

10. go to the white house, knock on the door

and be the change yourself

a lot of us are waiting

[FatDave]

11. Perhaps the change will come from...

Barack Obama.

[AwakeAtLast]

12. Eight years of Bush and you call THIS the worst form of cronyism?

Why don't you give the guy a chance and wait until he lays it all out? :shrug:

[rwheeler31]

3. Great

[Mari333]

4. well, I looked up his record

and so far so good.

[stillcool]

5. It's official...

"according to a Democratic official familiar with the discussions. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations and did so on condition of anonymity."

[Tab]

8. I've met him and spoken to, and listened to him. He's a good guy.

And he's been involved before Obama was even on the scene. I don't see where cronyism comes into play.

Or do you want a White House full of people with zero experience in government? They have to come from somewhere, and the Republican party is out, so they have to be existing Democrats with experience.

He'll do a good job.