Obama picks Daschle for Human Services Cabinet post

// added November 19, 2008 // 58 comments //
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http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/daschle-takes-human-ser...

Tom Daschle will be the next Health and Human Services Secretary. ­Daschle has written a book concerning the Health Care crisis.“Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.”

He proposes creating a Federal Health Board, similar to the Federal Reserve System, and the merging of employers’ plans, Medicaid and Medicare with an expanded federal employee health benefits program that would provide universal coverage.

Daschle was Senate Majority/Minority leader for Ten years and is know for his calm demeanor.

--------------
CHICAGO — ­President-elect Barack Obama has offered the nomination of Secretary of Health and Human Services to Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the former Democratic Senate leader who was an early supporter of Mr. Obama’s run for the presidency.

Democratic officials said that Mr. Daschle has accepted the nomination. But they said that a formal announcement won’t be made until Mr. Obama first settles on his national security and economic teams, and no job offers have been extended in those areas.

Mr. Obama’s transition team announced on Wednesday that Mr. Daschle will also oversee Mr. Obama’s health policy working group to develop a health care plan, which could take care of what his friends say was one of Mr. Daschle’s conditions for considering the HHS post­. He was concerned that he not just be the head of a huge bureaucracy but a chief player on the subject he has literally written a book on.

Mr. Daschle was initially considered for the position of Mr. Obama’s chief of staff, but that job went to Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Chicago. If confirmed, Mr. Daschle could end up being the point man on any efforts to overhaul the country’s health care delivery and insurance system, a tall order, health policy experts say, given the current economic situation.

Mr. Daschle’s book about health policy ­“Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis” came out in February. In it he proposes creating a Federal Health Board, similar to the Federal Reserve System, and the merging of employers’ plans, Medicaid and Medicare with an expanded federal employee health benefits program that would provide universal coverage.

End of Excerpt

Source: New York Times

I've always liked Daschle, good choice.
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58 comments // Obama picks Daschle for Human Services Cabinet post

  • Maggiekortchmar
  • uppityprogressive
    • 0
      uppityprogressive  

    • I'm with you lightbee. I heard Daschle interviewed about healthcare during the primaries. I am excited about this pick. He doesn't thing we can have single payer health care politically, but he likes the ides. He said that right now 45% of Americans are in a single payer system! He is talking about Medicare and VA and other gov programs. Would it be so hard to include the other 55%??

      I say we the people should demand single payer, and this adminstration would be able to do it if we demand it. On every level from local to federal and with one big loud relentless voice.

      To the people who fear "socialized medicine" Single payer is socialized payment, all providers can be in private business and doctors can collectively bargain with their state for payment amounts. That's how it works in Canada, its not hard, and there is total choice of providers.

      Our entire economy could be freed of the bloodsucking insurance companies.

      I currently spend about $300/mnth on health insurance, and my employer chips in another $500. In Canada, I would be paying about $60.00. I would love to take home another few hundred a month and allow my employer to grow my industry with the savings it realizes.

    • 1 year ago
  • lightbee
    • 0
      lightbee  

    • I work in healthcare (hopefully not for too much longer!) and I think this is fantastic. Too many people go without in this country. A lot of people don't seek treatment because they think it is beyond their means, so they don't even try until it's too late. That's just messed up in the land of oppertunity.

    • 1 year ago
  • MrFight
    • 0
      MrFight  

    • Health care is on its way to becoming socialized. Obama's pick has a lot of push and pull in the health care field so it will be interesting how this pans out.

    • 1 year ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • You can't have an effective health agenda without addressing the environment. Allowing coal companies and other companies to continue polluting this country and making its people sick is counterproductive to any health agenda you may have. I suppose it would be too much to expect someone with actual medical experience to hold this position.

      BTW, I read Tom Daschle's wife is a big time DC lobbyist and he worked for a firm that did lobbying in the health field after he left the Senate.Think that will matter? I bet the pharmaceutical companies and others like Monsanto are lining up already.
      And from my observation it is three for three on tv here. The story about Clinton at SOS, Holder as AG, and this made TV. The story about Obama looking to appoint Monsanto buddy Tom Vilsack as USDA head got dumped. Shows you who votes here. Is it about the country first?

    • 1 year ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Well since he also voted for the war in Iraq, perhaps HHS will pay more attention to the thousands of maimed, disabled troops that vote effected as well as the thousands suffering now from PTSD, depression, and other mental illnesses. I don't think voting for war promotes health.

    • 1 year ago
  • nessie00
    • 0
      nessie00  

    • Obama has chosen another WORM from the Clinton Administation. Please tell me, where is the CHANGE he campained on? All Of his Supporters are his apples, which he is replacing with worms.

    • 1 year ago
  • punk_as_hell
  • Ricky84
    • 0
      Ricky84  

    • Wow I wouldn’t pick Tom Daschle to apply a band-aid let alone run health and human services. This is the same guy that wanted to create a federal health board modeled after RomneyCare.

      Earth to Tom Daschle,

      Romney care is a failure.

      P.S.
      Please forward this message to Barack Obama
      Thanks

    • 1 year ago
  • current89
  • punk_as_hell
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  

    • First of all damnneargenius, Obama didn't take contributions from lobbyist. He had 4 million regular people like you and me donate up to 2,200 dollars because that is the limit per person. If people like you and me put him in office I think he'll be working for us.
      If each person donated just 100 dollars that makes 400 million dollars.

    • 1 year ago
  • mayalynn
  • damnneargenius
    • 0
      damnneargenius  

    • I simply think that, if, in the future, all candidates pick and announce their cabinets ahead of time, we won't have to deal with snarky comments of disappointment, that's all.

      Although designing a system like the Federal Reserve that is supposed to care about the well-being of the people versus the well-being of its bottom line seems a little WTF-ish.

      To be honest, I have no clue who Daschle is except hearing his name mentioned here and there, but I highly doubt any of this will improve the quality of my life.

      I'd like to hope so, but the system is entrenched and burdened by profit and greed for a reason, so what makes you think Obama is going to change it UNLESS he is completely out of the pockets of lobbyists etc.?...which he is not.

      Just like when a friend "loans" you money...you now owe that "friend" money or a favor in return. Obama didn't just win the campaign with a multi-million dollar budget he pulled out of his ass, so that means he is just as burdened and indebted to his contributors as the rest of 'em.

      Until you get the money out of the campaigns and lobbyists out of the system period, the country will remain unable to truly "change" as it should. Right now it, and yes, even your "savior" Obama works from a reverse power structure where the money controls the policy instead of the best design and intent, what are you gonna do about it?

    • 1 year ago
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  

    • Don't forget Mr Daschle was one of the senators that got an anthrax envelope. He also wrote a book on how to fix the broken health care system. Being the former
      majority leader of the senate he knows how to get things through the senate. I can really see things are going to get done, and all I have too say too you non believers, your party will never win another election with no ideas for the people. And thats a fact!

    • 1 year ago
  • Ricky84
    • 0
      Ricky84  
    • kennymotown:

      Its funny you say that. This is what Daschle had to say about congress.

      "Congress is just not capable of being the manager of a health care system and yet it’s largely Congress today that has that responsibility. It hasn’t worked for the last 50 years. It’ll work even less in the next 50."

      So being able to move things through congress is not going to help Daschle when he believes health care cannot be fixed through congress.

    • 1 year ago
  • skyaddicted
    • 0
      skyaddicted  

    • This guys version of change is a little off. I was hoping for some new blood in Washington. All we continue to get is the same people and of course they do the same thing.

      Do the same thing over and over expecting different results.

    • 1 year ago
  • wilmo1975
    • 0
      wilmo1975  

    • Most of the experienced folks in Washington were in the Clinton adminstration. It is the policy that will be changing and in order to hit the ground running he needs folks that know the wiley ways of DC. I think Mr.Daschle is an excellent pick. Once again experienced people implementing a NEW policy! We will know more once the man actually take office!

    • 1 year ago
  • metalcookiesxy70
    • 0
      metalcookiesxy70  

    • I cannot assume anything that Obama is going to do at this point, he is on to something that I don't know yet, its complicated of how this guy works. Only when he is president will I understand..heathcare is important to all, i hope that he keeps his word upon the universal heathcare situation, its going to cost us a lot though..

    • 1 year ago
  • damnneargenius
    • 0
      damnneargenius  

    • In the future (assuming America makes it to a future election in the same broken system) I think all candidates need to make all their cabinet choices known BEFOREHAND.

      This is ridiculous.

    • 1 year ago
  • current89
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • damnneargenius:

      You won't have healthy Americans if you don't push an adequate environmental platform that includes the state of our agricultural system which also includes industrial agriculture and its impact on human health as well as the pharmaceutical industry and their inside relaitonships with the FDA and USDA that put out drugs and fake bio food without proper testing. Anyone involved in healthcare needs to have a working knowledge of the environment as well. If you are also going to continue to allow coal companies to poison this country and its people, expect higher healthcare costs. It all ties together. I suppose it would be too much to think that someone actually in the field of expertise would be selected to head an agency. In this case a doctor perhaps?

      BTW, I read Tom Daschle's wife is a big DC lobbyist and he worked for a lobbyist firm after leaving the Senate. Think that will matter? I bet the drug companies and Monsanto and all the rest of them are already lining up at the door.

    • 1 year ago
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  
    • damnneargenius:

      Don't really care. Jan did you know that guilt by association is considered a logical fallacy? I guess not because all you do is use logical fallacies to attack Mr. Obama and his choices.

    • 1 year ago
  • wiredbirds
  • DreSandoval
  • onechance
    • 0
      onechance  
    • DreSandoval:

      Who do you expect? The tooth fairy? It's America, not some happy little wonderland. Give the guy a chance.

      After Bu$h's 8 year disaster, this is the way you're acting? Please.

      People are so harsh...

    • 1 year ago
  • diabolical44
    • 0
      diabolical44  
    • DreSandoval:

      seriously. who is he supposed to pick? if he didn't pick these people, everybody would be up in arms that he picked someone with not enough experience.

      some people seriously need to take a step back and a deep breath. you're acting like a left-wing Rush Limbaugh.

    • 1 year ago
  • onechance
  • sgwhites
    • 0
      sgwhites  
    • DreSandoval:

      Well, who else is there for him to pick? He's going to need experienced people in these positions, and Clinton was the last Democratic President, so there just aren't going to be that many Democrats with experience at this level that weren't involved with the Clinton administration in some way.

    • 1 year ago
  • current89
  • mayalynn
  • diabolical44
    • 0
      diabolical44  

    • the healthcare system in America is an absolute crime and needs to be reformed ASAP!

      as a recent college grad who can't find a job because of the shit economy, i haven't had any healthcare coverage in several months. i fear for my life if something were to happen to me.

    • 1 year ago
  • onechance
  • animalia_libero
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  
    • animalia_libero:

      No I'm a member of the ACLU(and a homo sapien), i care about a lot of things.

      I understand your point that he isn't progressive in the fields you mentioned. However, it isn't a valid point when pertaining to the Health and Human services post.

      If he was appointed to any other cabinet post i would have been disappointed. Also, civil liberties(like homosexual marriage is under the power of the Justice Department or Supreme Court.

    • 1 year ago
  • onechance
    • 0
      onechance  
    • animalia_libero:

      With all due respect animalia_libero, this post IS ONLY about health care. Please stay on topic.

      If you want to post something about Obama's picks overall, post it. But please don't rant on this page about everything BUT this page...

    • 1 year ago
  • animalia_libero
    • 0
      animalia_libero  
    • animalia_libero:

      With all do respect, onechance, why is it that neither you nor current can see the connection between civil rights and health care? And why, if he's only being picked for health care, was someone with a better record not picked?

    • 1 year ago
  • onechance
    • 0
      onechance  
    • animalia_libero:

      Look, you can make connections between anything.

      We are in America, not some fantasy land. I think he has to deal with (to a degree) the bag of people (dicks) in power at that level. There aren't any Dennis Kucinichs in that position, with his level of qualification that I know of.

      So, let's be realistic, stay positive, and give them a chance. What's done is done. All the arguing in the world with people on Current isn't going to change Obama's appointment.

      Let's just keep a close eye on these guys and make sure they do what they say they're doing.

      Please, post links to their progress/failure? when it happens, and I'll be the first in line to cheer them, or CRITISIZE them harshly and try to get them in line, should they fuck it up.

      PEACE

    • 1 year ago
  • animalia_libero
  • onechance
  • wiredbirds
  • Cuddlebones
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  

    • Obviously people didn't get that Obama is a moderate. It is Change, Daschle supports a universal health care system.

      Dascles record on Health from animalia_libero's source.

      Give everyone the same health plan as Congress has. (Jul 2004)

      Allow more affordable drugs via Canadian imports. (Jan 2004)

      Voted YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Jun 2003)

      Voted YES on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)

      Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)

      Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)

      Voted YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)

      Voted NO on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)

      Voted YES on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998)

      Voted NO on Medicare means-testing. (Jun 1997)

      Voted YES on blocking medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996)

      Increase funding to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. (Mar 2003)

      Rated 88% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)

      Clearly he has a good record.

    • 1 year ago
  • animalia_libero
    • 0
      animalia_libero  
    • current89:

      He also voted to prohibit same sex marriage and keep sexual orientation out of hate crime legislation. He voted for free trade expansion. He voted against biofuels and solar power. He opposes abortion as a woman's right.

      His universal healthcare plan, without civil rights, is not going to work... and with free trade mixed in it's asking for trouble.

      Obama is a moderate. But, all the talk about change, you think he'd pick some liberals on his staff- not just republican democrats.

    • 1 year ago
  • JohnA
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  
    • current89:

      JohnA (AKA the closet Republican),

      I have and He is ranked 28th most progressive in congress while Frank Lautenberg (my Senator) is ranked 1st. Hillary Clinton is Ranked 14th.

    • 1 year ago
  • AtreusDesign
  • current89
  • samthesixth
  • animalia_libero
  • current89
  • animalia_libero
  • bamboodizzard
    • 0
      bamboodizzard  
    • animalia_libero:

      You are the problem with America, or people who think like you. It does not matter what your other beliefs are if you are put in a position that does not conflict with them.

      I will bet you go into restaurants all the time that are run by atheists, and ultra conservative hate groups, and liberals and Christians. Why would you eat at places like that? Oh because their other beliefs outside of food preparation DO NOT MATTER.

      This is what a good leader does. What is your suggestion? That he find somebody who believes 100% like you in every office? Seriously...grow up.

    • 1 year ago
  • mayalynn
  • bamboodizzard
  • animalia_libero
    • 0
      animalia_libero  
    • animalia_libero:

      He has around a 85% health care record. And for health care of the people, civil rights is an important component- of which he has a horrible record. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling himself.

      There are plenty of other senators with both a BETTER heath care record AND care for civil rights that would do a far better job.

      The real problem with America is people who constantly let discrimination and other things fly simply because their leaders tell them to.

      Imagine how many gays will be covered differently under Daschle's plan. But oh, I guess that doesn't affect YOU personally, so why would you care?

    • 1 year ago
  • current89
  • current89

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