Let us hope that President-elect Barack Obama's clumsy handling of Leon E. Panetta's nomination as Central Intelligence Agency director is an exception and not the rule when it comes to his handling of personnel and security matters.
Obama surrogates spent Wednesday smoothing over ruffled feathers among some Democratic lawmakers and even admitted it was an error not to inform Democratic leaders on the Panetta pick. ...
Panetta has a solid record on civil rights, budget matters, environment and sure knows how to keep trains running on time since he served as White House Chief of Staff under President Clinton.
The problem is Panetta's impressive portfolio includes nothing in the intelligence community realm. And that apparently troubles some like Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chair of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee, who has expressed surprise and questioned Panetta selection.
Wouldn't it have made sense for Obama to give Feinstein a heads-up on the appointment?
Perhaps Obama wanted secrecy around the pick for nation's spy agency. Hopefully, the move wasn't colored by a sense of arrogance and the idea he doesn't need to seek consensus for key administration moves.
It's easy to see how Obama could start to believe his own press clippings. He is clearly the most most exciting and inspiring political figure to come along in a generation. In a floundering country crying out for leadership, Obama has filled the void.
But Obama needs to keep up what has been a bedrock of his candidacy - inclusion. We've had enough of arrogance from the White House. Just recall how President Bush rushed the nation into war minus inclusion. His arrogance has left this nation and world with a festering mess in Iraq.
Obama has show incredible political chops during his run as a national political figure. So let's chalk this stumble up to a simple mistake or lack of communication. Hopefully there won't be many more.
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Paul Shepard blogs the Democrat side of politics for BlackVoices. He has been a journalist for 16 years; on the national urban/minority affairs beat for The Cleveland Plain Dealer and for The AP in Washington, D.C.
Comments: (5)
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By: Michelle on 1/08/2009 9:20AM
YOU GOT ALL WRONG. CIA NEEDS A STRONG LEADER.PANETTA HAS PROVEN THAT CAN BE STRONG LEADER. HE DID NOT CRUMBLE LIKE FEINSTEIN. SHE HAS SOME QUESTIONS TO ANSWER LIKE WHY SHE AND HARMON DID NOT STOP THE ILLEGAL PROGRAMS THAT BUSH PUT IN PLACE. EVERYONE KNOWS SHE IS TRYING TO COVER HER BUTT.
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By: lynnesells on 1/08/2009 10:56AM
how soon to put down. you sir were not elected.
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By: BARBARA on 1/08/2009 1:41PM
Don't be so quick to pounce. One incident does not a pattern make. You have no reason to infer anything egoistic from Obama's recent actions. If anything, his steady hand throughout this transition belies every ugly speculation you pose. Do you not know that old saw: If you have nothing to say, say nothing? There will be plenty of opportunities for legitimate debate with Obama. Like the PE, I relish vigorous debate, but enough with this kind of silliness.
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By: Evett726 on 1/09/2009 11:18AM
Who cares G. Bush started a war falsely!
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By: youstonian on 1/12/2009 12:50AM
I would have rather President elect Obama had stumbled making most other nominations than head of CIA... With so much at stake in the intelligence community, America needs not only a stong manager but also one that understands the internal operations of the intelligence operations... Hopefully, the nominee will be a quick study in the latter...
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