And the RNC is ready with this bit of oppo
OBAMA'S BROKEN PROMISE
After Promising Change, Obama Selects Hyper-Partisan Wedded To Special Interests As His White House Chief Of Staff
More after the jump.
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Obama Selects Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) To Serve As Chief Of Staff In The White House:
"Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel Has, As Expected, Accepted The Job As Chief Of Staff To President-Elect Barack Obama, According To Informed Democratic Sources." (Chris Cilliza, "Rahm Accepts," http://voices.washingtonpost.com, Accessed 11/6/08)
Obama Promised To Change The Partisan Tone In Washington:
Obama's Election Night Speech: "Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long."(Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks On Election Night, Chicago, IL, 11/4/08)
Obama: "I know that in Washington it is acceptable to say or do anything it takes to get elected, but I really don't think that is the kind of politics that is good for our party, and I don't think it is good for our country, and I think that the American people will reject it in this election." (Ben Smith, "Obama: Clinton Rewrites History," The Politico's "Ben Smith" Blog, www.politico.com, 1/13/08)
Obama: "We've got to get beyond the small politics ... the slash and burn politics that have become the custom in Washington." ("Obama Denounces 'Slash And Burn' Politics," The Associated Press, 2/19/07)
But Emanuel Famously Earned The Title "Rahmbo" For His Hyper-Partisanship And Bare-Knuckle Tactics:
"Emanuel's Reputation For Political Ruthlessness Earned Him The Nickname 'Rahmbo,' An Image Reinforced By A Legendary Episode When He Sent A Dead Fish To A Pollster Who Displeased Him." (Janet Hook, "Meet The Powers Behind The Democrats' Strategy," Los Angeles Times, 7/5/06)
- Emanuel Calls Himself A "Vince Lombardi Democrat," Because He Believes "Winning Isn't Everything. It's The Only Thing." "Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), earlier this year called himself a 'Vince Lombardi Democrat.' It was Lombardi, the Hall of Fame football coach, who said, 'Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing.'" ("Chairman Rahm," The Hill, 12/14/05)
- Emanuel's Political Style Was "Honed In Chicago" And Has A "Reputation As A Political Street Fighter." "But his political style--honed in Chicago and on the presidential campaign trail with Clinton--isn't gentle or uncertain. His reputation as a political street fighter inspires respect and more than a little fear." (Naftali Bendavid, "The House That Rahm Built," Chicago Tribune, 11/12/06)
- "[Emanuel] Was Also Zealously Partisan. He Had Once Owned A Consulting Business Devoted To Finding Skeletons In Republican Closets." (Edward McClelland, "The Legend Of Rahm," Salon.Com, 5/8/07)
Emanuel Told His Staff That Republicans Could "Go F--- Themselves!" "'I'll tell you this,' Emanuel shouted out to his staff. 'The Republicans may have the 72-hour program. But they have not seen the 22-month program! ... Since my kids are gone, I can say it: They can go ---- themselves!'" (Naftali Bendavid, "The House That Rahm Built," Chicago Tribune, 11/12/06)
Emanuel Even Told Then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair Before An Appearance With President Clinton: "This Is Important. Don't F--- It Up." "Mr Emanuel is reputed to have walked up to Tony Blair before the prime minister's first public appearance with Mr Clinton, during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. 'This is important,' he told Mr Blair. 'Don't f--- it up.'" ("Former Ballet Dancer Turned Political Fixer," The [London, UK] Guardian, 11/10/06)
Emanuel Attended A Meeting With Clinton Campaign Advisers Following The 1992 Campaign To Discuss Which Politicians And Members Of The Press They Would Seek Revenge Upon. "It was there that Emanuel, then Clinton's chief fund-raiser, repaired with George Stephanopoulos, Mandy Grunwald and other aides to Doe's, the campaign hangout. Revenge was heavy in the air as the group discussed the enemies - Democrats, Republicans, members of the press - who wronged them during the 1992 campaign. Clifford Jackson, the ex-friend of the President and peddler of the Clinton draft-dodging stories, was high on the list. So was William Donald Schaefer, then the Governor of Maryland and a D emocrat who endorsed George Bush. Nathan Landow, the fund-raiser who backed the candidacy of Paul Tsongas, made it, too." (Elisabeth Bumiller, "The Brothers Emanuel," The New York Times, 6/15/97)
- "Suddenly Emanuel Grabbed His Steak Knife And, As Those Who Were There Remeber [Sic] It, Shouted Out The Name Of Another Enemy, Lifted The Knife, Then Brought It Down With Full Force Into The Table. 'Dead!' He Screamed." Suddenly Emanuel grabbed his steak knife and, as those who were there remeber [sic] it, shouted out the name of another enemy, lifted the knife, then brought it down with full force into the table. 'Dead!' he screamed. The group immediately joined in the cathartic release: 'Nat Landow! Dead! Cliff Jackson! Dead! Bill Schaefer! Dead!'" (Elisabeth Bumiller, "The Brothers Emanuel," The New York Times, 6/15/97)
And Emanuel Has Among The Most Partisan Voting Records:
In 2007, Emanuel Voted With The Democrats 98 Percent Of The Time. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed 10/31/08)
In 2006, Emanuel Voted With The Democrats 92 Percent Of The Time. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed 10/31/08)
In 2005, Emanuel Voted With The Democrats 95 Percent Of The Time. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed 10/31/08)
In 2004, Emanuel Voted With The Democrats 97 Percent Of The Time. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed 10/31/08)
In 2003, Emanuel Voted With The Democrats 95 Percent Of The Time. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed 10/31/08)
Obama Promised Greater Regulation Of Mortgage And Investment Banking Industries:
Obama Has Called For Heavier Regulation Of Investment Banks. "Mr. Obama set out his general approach to financial regulation in March, calling for regulating investment banks, mortgage brokers and hedge funds much as commercial banks are." (Jackie Calmes, "In Candidates, 2 Approaches To Wall Street," The New York Times, 9/16/08)
Obama Has Blamed The Sub-Prime Lending Crisis For The Housing Market Collapse. Obama: "The sub-prime lending debacle has sent the housing market into a tailspin, and caused a broader contraction in the credit markets." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Flint, MI, 6/16/08)
But Emanuel Is One Of The Biggest Recipients Of Wall Street Campaign Cash:
Emanuel Was Top Recipient Of Cash From Hedge Funds, Private Equity Firms And Securities/Investment Industry. "A day after being elected president and acknowledging 'the worst financial crisis in a century,' Barack Obama asked one of the biggest recipients of Wall Street campaign contributions to be his chief of staff. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois congressman who was an aide in the Clinton White House, was the top House recipient in the 2008 election cycle of contributions from hedge funds, private equity firms and the larger securities/investment industry -- not the most popular of industries in the current economy. Since being elected to Congress in 2002, after working as an investment banker, Emanuel has received more money from individuals and PACs in the securities and investment business than any o ther industry." (Center For Responsive Politics Web Site, http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/11/obamas-pick-for-chief-of-staff.html, Accessed 11/6/08)
And Emanuel Served On The Board Of Mortgage Giant Freddie Mac As It Expanded Subprime Lending:
Former President Clinton Appointed Emanuel To The Board Of Freddie Mac Where He Earned $231,655 In Director's Fees In 2001 And $31,060 In 2000. "Clinton's going-away gift to Emanuel was a seat on the quasi-governmental Freddie Mac board, which paid him $231,655 in director's fees in 2001 and $31,060 in 2000." (Lynn Sweet, "Too Much Money A Bad Thing?" Chicago Sun-Times, 1/3/02)
The Clinton Administration Ruled Fannie And Freddie Could Satisfy Affordable Housing Obligations By Purchasing Subprime Mortgages. "If Sen. Obama were truly looking for a kind of deregulation that might be responsible for the current financial crisis, he need only look back to 1998, when the Clinton administration ruled that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could satisfy their affordable housing obligations by purchasing subprime mortgages. This ultimately made it possible for Fannie and Freddie to add a trillion dollars in junk loans to their balance sheets. This led to their own collapse, and to the development of a market in these mortgages that is the source of the financial crisis we are wrestling with today." (Peter J. Wallison, Op-Ed, "Obama Voted 'Present' On Mortgage Reform," The Wall Street Journal, 10/15/08)
And Emanuel Made Millions As An Investment Banker Off Insider Connections With High-Profile Democrat Donors Influential In The Clinton Administration:
After Leaving His Position With The Clinton White House, Emanuel Worked For Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, An Investment Bank, From 1999 To 2002. "[A]fter leaving the Clinton White House, [Emanuel] had taken a position at the investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in Chicago, where he worked from 1999 to 2002 and reportedly earned $18 million..." (Tony Blankley, "'Cowboy Capitalism,'" The Washington Times, 10/1/08)
- "Congressional Disclosures Filed This Year Show Emanuel Earned $16.2 Million As An Investment Banker, Largely By Brokering High-Profile Mergers And Acquisitions." (Mike Dorning, "Rahm Emanuel: From Clinton Aide To Money Maker," Chicago Tribune, 11/9/03)
"Deftly Tapping The Contacts He Made As A Senior Adviser To Former President Bill Clinton, Emanuel Went To Work For One Of Clinton's Most Active Fundraisers After Leaving The White House In Late 1998." (Mike Dorning, "Rahm Emanuel: From Clinton Aide To Money Maker," Chicago Tribune, 11/9/03)
- "Emanuel Owes His Investment Banking Job To Bruce Wasserstein, A High-Rolling Wall Street Dealmaker Who Was One Of Clinton's Most Active Fundraisers In The Financial Community." (Mike Dorning, "Rahm Emanuel: From Clinton Aide To Money Maker," Chicago Tribune, 11/9/03)
- "He Took On A Client Base Many Of Whom Were His Party's Most Important Financial Backers - Democratic Donors Of Such Clout That They Have Slept In The Lincoln Bedroom, Flown On Air Force One And, In One Case, Even Celebrated A Birthday In The White House With Clinton." (Mike Dorning, "Rahm Emanuel: From Clinton Aide To Money Maker," Chicago Tribune, 11/9/03)
"Emanuel's Two Biggest Deals Involved Politically Connected Utilities: One Representing Commonwealth Edison's Corporate Parent In A Merger And The Other Representing A Buyer In The Purchase Of A Home Security Business From Telecom Giant SBC Communications." (Mike Dorning, "Rahm Emanuel: From Clinton Aide To Money Maker," Chicago Tribune, 11/9/03)
- "Shortly Afterward, SBC Hired As Its President William Daley, The Commerce Secretary Of The Former Clinton Administration And The Brother Of Chicago's Mayor." (Mike Dorning, "Rahm Emanuel: From Clinton Aide To Money Maker," Chicago Tribune, 11/9/03)
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