(CNN) - President-elect Barack Obama's team has pledged to appoint Republicans to his administration, but so far, just one Republican is set to hold a leading Cabinet post.
Obama last week announced that he wants Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay on board for at least another year.
Asked if Gates meets the requirement for a Republican on the Cabinet, Obama said he didn't "check his voter registration."
"What I was most concerned with was whether or not they can serve the interests of the American people," Obama said.
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This is part of the change that people were hoping for. Fill the vacant positions with competent people who know what they are doing not party loyalist.
It works for the rest of the country so why not let it work for Washington.
Barack will keep his word. There will be Republicans. I get the feeling he created his cabinet list a very long time ago. He is a planner and it's working for him. Be patient Americans, he'll do what he has promised to do.
There is no agenda for quotas in P-E Obama's administration. Stop trying to throw shiggidy out there and hope that it sticks. P-EO is his own person. You didn't control his campaign, and you won't control his administration!
Is there a position for Wesley Clark?
Almost all Dems, a couple of Repubs, but no conservatives. Just business as usual for the liberal left-wingers.
That's the problem.
If Obama really wants diversity, he should look to the Libertarian and Green Parties too. He can find financial conservatives among Libertarians and environmentalists among Greenies.
Come on, Barry, open your mind.
How about Sarah Palin.......just kidding!!
LOL! Liberal democrats.....can you say Bush 3 ?
I'm a Democrat and I hope he does hire Republicans, but not the whacko ones that live in Alaska and have run on sentences that never, never stop until someone says enough, enough of the run on sentences, uncle, stop, stop, stop, and also.
I have an idea, let Obama pick his cabinet. Then the pundits can take swipes at it later. Preemptive punditry should be against the Geneva Convention.
Yes, Barack select Republicans, but not Sarah Failin, and also.
Chuck Hagel?
Keep moving toward the center, your getting closer. He his a lot smarter then I gave him credit for.
Gates was the token Republican, Obama is seeting up his cabinet with Washington cronies and insiders, I'm already losing any illusions he was going to be non-partisan
please don't give our hard earned tax payers money to all these crooks, THAIN wants a 10 million dollar bonus, what nerve!!
I love it. Quotas and affirmative action for the downtrodden [R]s.
There are a few, but it would be a chore to feret out the few [R]s that actually have some governmental leadership ability, beyond the ability for inflamatory rhetoric that they seem to think qualifies them.
Hello? CNN, what gives? Two comments disappear into digital thin air?
How about Colin Powell, and like Daniel said, Wesley Clark? I think P-E Obama is wise not to look at their voter registration card, but whether they are competant and willing to work together on his team.
Haven't we had enough conservatarian policies? Only a few slow-learners want any more of the same. And they won't be satisfied until another disastrous Republican is back in the White House, no matter how often they lie in calling themselves "Former Democrat" or something similar. Sure, sure, a fan of Zell Miller – that kind of Democrat.
Former :TURN COAT" Democrat go back to your Republican side. That's why we're in the deep doggy poo now because the Republicans were calling the shots. Obama does not need your input.
I vote Democrat mostly – lesser evil, of course – but I wouldn't be against a Republican presence in the President-elect's staff.
Of course, this would be contingent on whether or not they are typical neo-con fascists or not. I give no support to the Amerofascists in power right now. A government which is lead by those who think that their god is going to swoop down and take them to paradise soon – maybe tomorrow – has no incentive whatsoever to consider the consequences of any actions it takes. Church + State = Taliban.
We've seen what too many right-wingers can do to a democratic government. I'd like my civil liberties back, thanks.
CHANGE= policy, programs, fresh ideas, intelligence, honest individuals, and doing what is right.... YES WE CAN
Apparently Obama has selected appointments across the spectrum – from moderates to centrists.
For everyone that is in such a hurry.....remember the date , Jan.20th,2009.....................................................................
HOW IRONIC, THE SAME PEOPLE WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM, IS TELLING HIM WHO TO HIRE.LOL
I really hope he realizes that, as many GOP people as he puts in his cabinet, the Republicans and their loyal wingnuts on the far right will never accept him as president.
Isn't Bob Gates a Rep?