Obama Taps Daschle for HHS (Health and Human Services secretary)

[sabra]

Source: RollCall

Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has been offered the job of Health and Human Services secretary by President-elect Barack Obama and has accepted the job, according to a Democratic source close to Daschle.

Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/30285-1.html

[Renew Deal]

1. Sounds good!

[Sabriel]

2. It's good to see him back again.

One of my fave Dems.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Didn't see that coming, but I like Daschle--I approve!

[TwilightZone]

4. Very cool.

Contrary to the popular view around here, I like Tom Daschle. I think he'll do a great job.

[blm]

5. Yep - Called that one correctly months ago.

.

[Skink]

6. Nice call.

Daschle's book about the congress is an eye opener as to how things actually work in Washington.

[Ian David]

7. Oh, I was hoping we'd seen the last of Senator Tom Chinstrap. n/t

[Roland99]

8. *sigh*

So much for changing government.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. When was the last time Daschle worked in the Executive Branch?

[Roland99]

15. Not that long ago he was in the Senate...as leader

[darkism]

40. It's a 180 from Mike Leavitt.

Unless you'd prefer him?

[Piewhacket]

9. Hey, Tom needed a job!

Just joking around, Tom.
It means a high priority for health care legislation.
A good sign, he'll know how to get things moving.

Agenda
====================
Health Care Legislation Machinery In Place (Ted and Tom) - CHECK!

[PassingFair]

10. Great! Another LION who spoke out against the RUINATION of our country. Oh, what, he didn't?

Never mind.

The only thing good about this is that
Rush Limbaugh is probably having to
double up on his oxy intake.

[earthside]

11. But I wanted national health care.

I guess I still remember how ineffective Daschle was as majority leader in 2001 and 2002.

He always sounded like he was saying to the Republicans,"Please don't hit me. Please."

So, I hope his defeat and six year in the wilderness have toughened him up ... otherwise this will be seen as an uninspired choice.

[girl gone mad]

17. He was really effective at getting bailout money for the airlines..

after 9/11.

Of course, his wife was lobbyist for the airlines. No conflict there.

[bluestateguy]

12. Until it's announced by a real person on the record, it's not real

I'm getting damn sick and tired of all these anonymous sources and leaks and stupid mousy reporters.

[hangman86]

14. I like Daschle but....

I hope his pro-life stance doesn't factor into this position.

[Truth Teller]

16. He's anti-choice??

Excuse my ignorance, but I didn't know that.

[Generator]

36. Wrong on that

In 2001, the Catholic anti-abortion movement was openly critical of Catholic members of Congress who voted in support of abortion rights for women. Two of the more prominent lawmakers who fell into this category were Daschle and Leahy. The Ivins affidavit mentions an article in the September/October 2001 issue of the Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati newsletter that singled out Daschle, Leahy and Sens. Edward Kennedy and Joseph Biden for criticism because of their abortion rights votes.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93...

[CC]

18. NBC: Daschle to be Obama's HHS Secretary

Source: MSNBC

WASHINGTON - NBC News confirms from Democratic sources that former S.D. Sen. Tom Daschle will be President-elect Barack Obama's Health and Human Services secretary nominee.

In addition, an official with Obama's transition team says Daschle will oversee Obama's health policy working group.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27805121 /

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[thereismore]

19. Clinton people everywhere!!!11!1 Oh wait, maybe he's a competent pulic servant? nt

[clear eye]

20. ?

[Fovea]

21. This suggests that Obama has put healthcare on the front burner

because Daschle is too important to Obama to waste.

Daschle is also a nod to the inevitability of universal single payer care.

[aquart]

23. I don't know anything about Daschle's history on healthcare.

Any place I should look first? Why is Daschle important to Obama? (I have clearly paid no attention to Daschle...especially after he let the Republicans oust him from the Senate.)

[Fovea]

38. Daschle was pretty much the person

who convinced Barak to run for President.

Daschle is and has been a strong supporter of Ted Kennedy as well.

[Larkspur]

22. Daschle was a terrible minority leader

hope he does better as head of HHS

[dflprincess]

26. Only if he's grown a spine (eom)

[lamp_shade]

30. Damn. Another senseless Obama pick. He probably picked his name out of a hat.

Bad boy Obama.

[undeterred]

24. Tom Daschle is a compassionate, decent human being.

I miss his presence in the Senate and I am glad Obama is giving him this appointment.

[JNelson6563]

25. Nice.

This is good news. Remember, as Minority leader one has to achieve a balance (i.e. "compromise") in order to geet anything done. As an advocate of whatever policy Obama puts out in regard to HHS, Daschle will do a fine (maybe even a very fine) job of making it happen.

Julie

P.S. It's worth noting, the Rethugs hate him. All the better IMO.

[BootinUp]

27. I would characterize Daschle as a polished pol and deal man.

Probably a good choice to bring sides together. I don't think he symbolizes any particulare ideological approach, a true centrist I think.

[quidam56]

28. Acceptable Standards of Health Care in Tennessee

Health Care needs a Cure Senator Daschle, good luck. In East Tennessee, profit care comes before patient care. http://www.wisecountyissues.com

[harun]

29. Awesome.

[w4rma]

31. Very good. (nt)

[whistle]

32. That is great

[YvonneCa]

33. Great choice! Daschle is a strong ...

...leader.

[bvar22]

34. More of the same.

Change you can believe in ?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[stillcool]

50. why do you say that?

do you have a problem with Daschle's Approach to health care, or do you just dislike Democrats in general?

[amitta]

35. how is he more qualified than Dean?

other than the cronyism factor?

[JaneQPublic]

37. Yep, I was hoping for Dean at HHS, too.

Dean is an M.D. and managed to get health insurance through in VT during his 12 years as gov. Plus he has experience managing DNC and instituting the 50-state strategy.

Exactly what is Daschel's expertise in health matters and his executive experience?

[Fovea]

39. I think it is only these two things

first, I think while Obama admires Dean, he is close to Tom Daschle. I think he thinks he has in Daschle, a person he can trust to work closely with him on this most critical issue.

Second, I think that more than Dr. Dean, perhaps the prez thinks that Daschle will be more able to deal across the aisle.

I can see the logic, but now I wonder what Dr. Dean will wind up doing.

[stillcool]

49. I think Daschle has been working..

on universal health care for a while


http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/valjonesmd/tom-da...
Tom Daschle's Approach To Healthcare and a Republican Retort
His solutions are these:

1. Universal coverage. If we don't have universal coverage we can't possibly deal with the universal problems that we have in our country.
2. Cost shifting is not cost savings. By excluding people from the system we're driving costs up for taxpayers – about $1500/person/year.
3. We must recognize the importance of continuity of care and the need for a medical home. Chronic care management can only occur if we coordinate the care from the beginning, and not delegating the responsibility of care to the Medicare system when the patient reaches the age of 65.
4. We must focus on wellness and prevention. Every dollar spent on water fluoridation saves 38 dollars in dental costs. Providing mammograms every two years to all women ages 50-69 costs only $9000 for every life year saved.
5. Lack of transparency is a devastating aspect of our healthcare system. We can't fix a system that we don't understand.
6. Best practices – we need to adopt them.
7. We need electronic medical records. We're in 21st century operating rooms with 19th century administrative rooms. We use too much paper – we should be digital.
8. We have to pool resources to bring down costs.
9. We need to enforce the Stark laws and make sure that proprietary medicine is kept in check.
10. We rely too much on doctors and not enough on nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and physician assistants. They could be used to address the primary care shortage that we have today.
11. We have to change our infrastructure. Congress isn't capable of dealing with the complexity of the decision-making in healthcare. We need a decision-making authority, a federal health board, that has the political autonomy and expertise and statutory ability to make the tough decisions on healthcare on a regular basis. Having this infrastructure in place would allow us the opportunity to integrate public and private mechanisms within our healthcare system in a far more efficient way.

[damonm]

41. Sources: Obama picks Daschle to head HHS

Source: CNN.com

(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Sen. Tom Daschle to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the former Senate majority leader has indicated he wants the job, three sources close to the transition told CNN Wednesday.


Sources say former Sen. Tom Daschle has been picked to lead HHS.

The sources said that Daschle negotiated that he will also serve as the White House health "czar," or point person, so that he will report directly to the incoming president.

By wearing two hats, Daschle -- not White House staffers -- will be writing the health care plan that Obama submits to Congress next year.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/19/transition.wrap/...

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Was hoping for Howard Dean, but I can think of LOTS worse than Daschle - I can live with this.

[BrklynLiberal]

42. I was hoping for Dean as well..

[Le Taz Hot]

43. Dear Dr.Dean:

"Fuck you!" Signed Rahm Emanuel.

[damonm]

44. Not necessarily - there's always Surgeon General...

[mikelgb]

45. I am not expecting to hear a Kucinich but damn

gimme somethin'

[Double T]

46. Daschle is a weak personality; milk toast.

Still 'hoping' for HRC for SoS.

[xchrom]

47. pretty conservative choice. nt

[Zhade]

48. Whew, no clinton InsuranceCare then!

NT!