Running The White House Like A (Bad) Bank
A Bill Daley narrative is shaping up in Washington. Let’s take a look.
The Huffington Post: “When [Bill] Daley does get involved, he leaves progressives wishing he’d stuck to his laissez-faire approach. Democrats have taken issue with Daley for cozying up to Republicans and conceding too much, too soon, in negotiations with them. He routinely reminds GOP leaders how his business background colors his politics, trying to get across the message that he’s not so different from them. ‘He constantly feels the need to tell [House Speaker John] Boehner and [Majority Leader Eric] Cantor that he agrees with us on regulations,’ said one House Republican aide. ‘It’s almost an obsession.’
“Last month, Daley was reportedly a driving force behind Obama’s decision not to roll out new draft ozone standards. The move outraged environmental groups but Republicans hailed it as a step in the right direction, saying it freed up businesses to create jobs by freeing them from cumbersome regulations.
“‘He’s working with Congress? Which side of the aisle?’ said Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a frequent Obama administration critic.
“‘The few people I know who have had conversations with him came away less than satisfied,’ DeFazio said. ‘He’s not responsive . . . I never even hear the leaders talk about him.’
“Daley’s Democratic critics, however, fail to recognize one of the main purposes of bringing him on as the campaign season ramps up: He’s there to raise money.”
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Politico: “‘Is there a level of unhappiness with Bill around the White House? Yeah,’ said a person close to Obama who spoke on condition of anonymity, like almost all other insiders interviewed for this story . . .
“Daley ‘has no understanding of the [congressional] process, and he doesn’t want to understand the process,’ said a senior Democratic aide. ‘The entire Senate Democratic Caucus has a problem with Daley.'”
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The Hill: “The involvement of President Obama’s chief of staff in last week’s decision to withdraw a smog rule might signal a more muscular White House role in vetting costly regulations ahead of the 2012 election.
“Obama’s surprise move to block an ozone regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) followed immense pressure from industry trade associations, which made numerous personal appeals to White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley.
“Daley met with the heads of several business groups more than two weeks before Obama withdrew the regulation – an unusual level of senior White House involvement in the regulatory process.”
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And:
Wall Street Pit: “In recent months, Daley has made no secret of his agitation with his current role with former Wall Street associates (the president continues to rely on senior adviser Valerie Jarrett on the most important issues, Daley has told people) and his desire to become Treasury Secretary if Geithner should step down or if the president wins a second term and Geithner, as expected, leaves.”
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Comments welcome.
Posted on September 16, 2011