Sen. Judd Gregg is the second person to withdraw from consideration for the post of Commerce Secretary in the Obama administration. (Photo Credit: Getty Images/File)
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire released a statement Thursday withdrawing from consideration to be President Obama's Commerce Secretary.
Full statement follows:
“I want to thank the President for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle.
“However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.
“Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives.
“I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position.
“As we move forward, I expect there will be many issues and initiatives where I can and will work to assure the success of the President’s proposals. This will certainly be a goal of mine.
“Kathy and I also want to specifically thank Governor Lynch and Bonnie Newman for their friendship and assistance during this period. In addition we wish to thank all the people, especially in New Hampshire, who have been so kind and generous in their supportive comments.
“As a further matter of clarification, nothing about the vetting process played any role in this decision. I will continue to represent the people of New Hampshire in the United States Senate.”
Related: Gregg pick for Commerce sets of partisan fight over 2010 census
From CNN Politics
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Keeping Distance!!! I don't blame anyone for that...
Most of you live in dilusion....
yea rite !! he got fired !!!!
Politics over country....interesting
Translation – I can't work with the fool!
Honestly I think this speaks well for both men. Obama's willingness to consider outside his party and Gregg being honest to himself and Obama. Good luck to both.
Lame.
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! Who does Judd Gregg think he's fooling. He's HIDING something. NO ONE backs out unless they've got something to HIDE, HIDE, HIDE!! Bottom line.
Let's hear the REPUGS excuses on this guy's cowardness!! The guy chickened out big time.
I hope the media DIGS deep into the REAL reason.
Sounds like he's scared of the Repbulican machine backlash and, after all, getting re-elected is more important than working across the aisle to fix America
Another Republican comes to his senses.
Hooray! Now let's put a Democrat who isn't in Congress in that position, okay?
He's going down with the party of obstruction. Good call. At least you admit your flaws.
Good, he should never have been offered the position in the first place.
President Obama wants to be bi-partisan, but the Repulicans do not. This is a perfect example. They really are Obstructionists!
What a dope! He gave into his own sinking party! I believe he did it just to create more drama for the President. Come on already!
Gregg shows great integrity to stand by his beliefs.
He has different vies than the President and this conflict would not allow him to represent beliefs that are not consistent.
Who cares ! I didn't think he was a good choice anyway. Glad he is gone. NEXT !
Good. Since Gregg is vulnerable, that's keeps his seat in play for a Democratic takeover in 2010.
Oh please; typical Republican. He can't come in and work with those who think differently and negotiate. He needs someone to do it HIS way, so he deflects the blame to the President and accuses him of needing Yes People.
Sorry, Senator...there are too many different voices in the administration for anyone who is not a partisan Republican to believe what you claim.
wow, what didn't he know before he accepted it......I just don't get it!!
Actually this is GREAT News. Gregg was not the right person for the job anyway. Obviously Gregg is feeling a lot of pressure of the republicans and caved in. Oh well, he would have been a hinderance anyway! Good rindance!
I guess no one wants to be commerce secretary.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ! That means one more Republican will remain in the Senate. YES ! ! Best news I heard all day. I guess the dims will have to find another way to get that filibuster proof 60. This also goes to illustrate the fact that it was a Republican that withdrew for the right reasons and not some scandal dealing with taxes...HAHAHA !
I'm glad he withdrew....He didn't look trustworthy anyway.
Country first, my arse.....
but i am GLAD.
FOX NEWS can't show the PRESIDENT because of BAD SATELLITE . What a BS !
TAX PROBLEMS SO DISREGARD ALL THE OTHER NONSENSICAL RHETORIC.
I voted against a Commerce Committee before I decided to be the head of it and before I changed my mind and decided I didn't want to be head of a Department I was against before I was for it.
Sounds like a typical Mitch McConnell drafted explanation of the R view of our government.
AH HA – Rush and the rest of the one dimension party gave him his orders. Glad he walked away – Move along – Move along. I now think we should have been afraid of him in that position – it sounds that he thought he could sabotage Obama but realized that he would not be able to.
He doesn't want to be part of the solution, he just wants to be part of the problem.
Well, what can one say that hasn't already been said?? Change is hard to come by when folks are still suffering from the Bush syndrome.
as a democrat i accept the senator's honesty for not accepting the position however i do believe his decision was strictly political. as well republicans can't say that president obama has not attempted to reach across the aisle
I think he should stay as far away as possible from BHO. He's a disaster waiting to happen.
Good riddance!!! He doesn't seem like he is ready to lead anything. Besides, didn't like his voting record or his view about the census or the recovery package.
I cannot stand wish-washy people... The President do not need weak people like this in his cabinet. Good riddance!
BO dosent know how to be bi-partisan. He's so far left he'll never move to the right. Gregg was right get out now, why try and work with a socialist... it's futile
I'm glad Gregg woke up and smelled the coffee. Obama was nominating him to put Gregg's Senate seat into play for 2010. In addition, the appointment of a Republican with a differing viewpoint on methodology was one of the justifications being used for putting Rahm Emanuel in charge of the census.
This was political strategy by the Obama administration, not a genuine effort to be bipartisan. If bipartisanship is your objective, you don't nominate a member of the opposing party and then try to strip that office of one of its most important responsibilities.
Gregg was smart enough to recognize that he would likely find himself marginalized in a cabinet role, and that he could be more effective by remaining in the Senate.
Sounds like a bunch of BS to me. This joker (Gregg) knew before he accepted the job where President Obama stood on the issues. And isn't it the role of staffers, cabinet members, even the VP to subordinate their views to those of the president they serve? Something about this doesn't sound right. Sounds like some underhanded Republican games, or just out and out fear that without Gregg on the ballot in New Hampshire next election, that seat is gone.
Never liked this guy anyways.......Nice time buddy!
Well, the Great Obstructionist Party strikes again! We're clearly seeing who is trying to be bi-partisan and who isn't. While I respect Gregg's honesty, it is clear that "country first" is an empty slogan. I wonder what would happen if Pres. Obama asked John McCain to lead the Commerce Department.
Actually, I don't think he really wanted to be apart of Rahm Emmanuel's and President Obama's little scheme to fix the census.
I respect his decision to resign! Enough of the spineless politicians that cannot stand for their principals! I am sure this was done over Obama's decision to oversee the 2010 census. As to how "this country will benefit from his leadership", I am sure we will all find out...
All in the name "bipartisanship"! What was Obama thinking choosing a Republican hack that didn't even want the position to exist!? Nice move.
Good riddiance ....
Soooo...Collins strips the bill of whistleblower protection, which is key to helping prevent the money from going to waste...and we're supposed to sing her praises? Do we really need any more evidence that the GOP is trying to make the bill not work? That they want 4 years of suffering so they can blame Obama?
2010 can't come soon enough. RIP GOP.
This is such good news. It was a mistake to offer the position to someone who's goal has been to dissolve the Dept. of Commerce. He would have done what Republicans have done to all federal government departments the past 8 years, which is to hollow them out, by driving knowledgeable people out and not replacing them. Why do you think that the FDA has done such a lousy job with our food safety problems. The Republican head of the FDA did exactly that. Then they all can sit around and talk about how the government can not run anything – planned failure works for them. Republicans can not run anything as evidenced by the past 8 years.
@ dan
You're an idiot. Obama helped get agreement from the Governor that a Reppublican would replace Gregg in the Senate.
Ok... no need to keep reaching across the aisle. The Republicans are determined to all go down on their sinking ship together.
Ciao suckers!
He's nothing more than a $#*t-stirring Republican drone...
Obama already made a deal to make sure that a Republican took his seat.
Obama has gone from being the next Lincoln to being the next Carter. Another failed Democratic presidency in the works.
WOWw, just WOW!
Obama was unfair to Gregg and Gregg had to withraw his nomination. When Richardson was in the run up for Sercretary of Commerce nomination Obama said that he would leave Richardson in charge of Census Bureau. What happened? Once he nominated a Republican, he (Obama) all of a sudden needed to took Census Bureau into his own hands? That's just shows how hypocritical Obama is – you fools who voted him into the highest office.
This administration is becoming a comedy for real.
He should be on Keith Olberman's WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
He does not want to be caught in the cross fire, because he knows what kind of ammunition is being held on his side of the aisle. We are glad that the President is optimistic, but also smart and intuitive.
Senator Gregg must have heard from Rush, or some right wing-nuts are calling him names like "deserter". When a battle is pitched those who try to leave are in great danger.
OK, fine. Just go back to the corner with all of your other fellow Republican negativists. You guys screwed up the economy, and that's why you lost the election. So please just sit down, and shut up, if the only thing you have to offer is saying "No".
This reminds me of the sign I always heard was on Ted Turner's desk: " Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way."
Another repuglican obstructionist comes to his knees. Goodbye and Good Riddance!
hmmmm.... He campaigned for the job then suddenly drops out. Sounds like the GOP got to him and gave him a verbal beating.
It is his choice but I hope it does not come back to bite him in his behind later – 2010 maybe? Whatever happened to leaders who may not agree with their boss on everything but could still work to get things done for the good of the people. I hope this decision is not really due to GOP backlash.
It should be obvious to everyone that Gregg gave in to strong pressure exerted by the Republican Party, the same kind of aggressive pressure that became apparent as being put on the three Republican Senators who voted for the stimulus package. It would be naive to think that Gregg wasn't aware of the stimulus plan before or that he wasn't now being pressured to back the Republican position, which is simply to fault and block all Obama efforts, to be obstructionists and to stop any Obama success that would be creditable to the Democrats. Hopefully the people will recognize it for what it is and that it represents a Republican total disregard for the best interests of the country and the American people. Again, as they have consistently and arrogantly done over the last eight years the Republicans now demonstrate their total focus on their own agenda without any regard for the cost to the rest of us. Hopefully Obama will now recognize that the Republicans are incapable of any real bipartisanship or even any responsible and conscientious behavior. Disgusting!
It was better that Gregg realize that he potentials now instead of later.
How could he Trade with other countries and not be able to trade his
ideas with Congress? Just narrow mindedness. He can't handle
the job, the United States needs someone who would be able to
trade with other countries the Global Market, where Global Leaders
will have other ideas that Gregg will not agree with, but need to convince his plans are better. Good Gregg stay out the Big League.
You can't handle it. Sorry you could cease the moment.
Wait a minute didn't he beg for the position in the first place. Did the GOP use there terrorist tactics to scare him off? You got to love the republicans, how did that line go 'country first' lol seems like a long time ago since the campaign.
Republicans spent this country into the ground, destroyed the economy and put us into a misguided war leading to the death of thousands of our soldiers. Don't reach out to those losers anymore.
Withdrawing his nomination is good. However, at his level of political leadership, it is very difficult to believe that he suddendly realized that policy differences are in the way of working together to make the country work. The threshold question- Is Judd Gregg's leadership working for the country? It doesn't sound like it in this instance.
Once it became known that a conservative would replace Gregg, the rose feel off the bloom real quick for Chairman Obama.
note to the Limbaugh zombies here: SOCIALISTIC IS NOT A WORD!!!!
EVery time I am convinced that you are a bunch of fools, you open your mouths and PROVE IT!!!
I challenge ANY Republican on here to give me a working definition of socialism. If ANY of you can do it without relying on Websters or Wikipedia, I SWEAR TO YOU that I will donate $10 to the Republican Party!!!
Good.. He is anyway ending his political career!!!
This whole thing doesn't smell right. I actually kinda feel bad for Sen. Gregg. I think he got too much pressure from the Republicans... Obama and the census issue are just the scapegoat. Gregg was probably being ridiculed as being just another defector.
the big O looks PISSED in the pix LOL
I am glad he is out. We need folks with decency and committment to all people and not just their voting public. Repubilcans have gone nuts with ideology. People are losing jobs left, right and center and these folks want tax cuts – what if we don't have jobs to pay any taxes? Let me know – good riddance.
I'm sure that since the Stimulus bill looks so lousy from what we learn of it in public, it may really look bad from inside the administration where you can see how they actually intend to implement it. I applaud Senator Gregg for taking a stand to not take part in something he can't buy into.
dont let the door hit you on the way out
Hell, yes... Obama needs people who support him... he does not need those who do not at all! Enough said!
Concerned in Texas, you sound pissed... *LOL* or is your white sheet showing? Bottom line.... Obama simply does NOT NEED THEM! Either you decide to play nice, Republicans, or you will get left by the way side. And I guarantee you that We, the People, will care less about you and your failed ideas!
The Big O looks to me like he has got this bozo's number! *LOL* That look says, FORGET YOU to me!
Great move,I could only wish others had this mans ethics--the rest of the country will be doing the same thing in 2010.
As an independent this is how I read it:
Greg is smart and wanted to work with both parties to move the country forward. After he began to participate in the administration to some degree, he realized that his principals and the administrations way of doing things were in conflict.
Rather than pointing out the areas of conflict, he tried to take the high road and just say that he wouldn't be able to give 110%. He was very polite and professional about it, in my opinion.
Seems like America will benefit more by having him serve in the Senate. He said as much in the press statement he gave. Did you guys watch it? You should.
GOOD for Gregg - BAD for Obama (well deserved)!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wish I would wake up and hear that Comrade Obama was resigning ! This communist liberal has been in office 3 weeks and has moved this county sadly more to the moon bat left than it ever has been...well maybe since Carter. All you pot smoking left overs from the 60's, Dems, and moon bat liberals will someday be sorry. As preacher Wright so informed comrad Obama....."Chickens comin home too roost"
that is an awful picture
arithmetic is liberal February 12th, 2009 5:58 pm ET
I challenge ANY Republican on here to give me a working definition of socialism.
---------
OK, buddy - socialism is NOT why our forefathers came to America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They organized and rebelled AGAINST big government (aka a "monarchy") - and THAT IS WHY THEY WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!