First, some background information on Rahm Emanuel
Emanuel worked on the campaigns of Illinois Senator Paul Simon, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and President Bill Clinton. After Clinton won the 1992 election Emanuel served as an advisor in the Clinton administration. In 2002, he was elected as Congressman of Illinois' 5th District (Chicago and some Northwest suburbs). He was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during its successful 2006 bid to put Democrats in the majority in Congress. He is currently chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
Emanuel is known as a fiery, profane politician who can twist arms. A friend who worked on a Congressional campaign once told me stories about a campaign clerical worker having to take profanity-laced calls from Rahm. His take-no-prisoners attitude has earned him the scorn of some House Republicans such as Minority Leader John Boehner, who called Emanuel "an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil and govern from the center." But other Republicans appreciate Emanuel's ability to break gridlock and get things done. Senator Lindsey Graham noted that despite Emanuel's tough demeanor he "understands the need to work together."
What does Rahm Emanuel mean for the Obama White House?
The pick of Representative Emanuel for Chief of Staff shows me that Barack Obama is serious about getting work done immediately after he becomes President. Emanuel won't tolerate nonsense or distractions, and as a result, Obama's White House will be more organized, efficient, and tenacious. Emanuel strengthens Obama's influence on Capitol Hill.
My largest concern with Emanuel is the fact that he has some ties to the old Democratic establishment. Barack Obama and Howard Dean have vastly improved the Democratic brand in areas of the country that were previously Republican strongholds. I hope that Emanuel fits in with Obama's 50 State political strategy, which will need to sell the ideas of national health insurance, government job-creation, financial intervention, green energy, international diplomacy, and improvements in education to conservatives.
Despite this concern, I think that Emanuel's shrewd political savvy will be an invaluable tool in the Obama administration. He isn't the type of weak-kneed Democrat that used to buckle in fear of Republicans over issues like national security. As CNN's David Gergen aptly put it, Emanuel will play bad cop to Obama's good cop. Hey, if it works on TV crime shows, it'll work in the White House.
