WASHINGTON (CNN) - A Democratic source close to the Obama White House said Thursday that Judd Gregg "campaigned for the job" - that the New Hampshire senator had asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to approach the president about the Commerce post.
Gregg "sat with [Obama], said he wanted the job, knew his policies and erratically dropped out without warning," said the source, minutes after the Republican senator announced his withdrawal from consideration.
UPDATE: A Democratic source confirms to CNN that Harry Reid approached White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel about Gregg for Commerce Secretary.
And White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday Gregg had initiated discussions over the position.
“Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce. He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President’s agenda," said Gibbs in a statement.
"Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways. We regret that he has had a change of heart”.
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
Oh really? Yet, he states something else. Hmmmm. There's a skeleton in the closet with some "meat" on it!
Who wants that ninny ...
Democratic Source – "erratically dropped out"
Translation – "After carefull consideration of the policy Obama intended to implement by moving the Census under Rohm Emanual, which was announced after his appointment, Gregg withdrew his name because he was unwilling to be @ssociated with what will become a pivotal point in the loss of credability in American elections."
So, the Democrat "source" claims that Gregg campaigned for the job...
So what?
When the "source quits spinning enough to recover from the resulting stupor from such actions, then what is really important here can be examined.
Gregg saw that there are two Obama(s): the campaign Obama, and the empowered Obama, and he didn't much care for the latter.
Neither will the American people as time goes on.
That's a wishy-washy Republican for you. If this man wasn't black, we wouldn't be having these problems. I don't care what anybody say. It is the truth and it's pretty sad. Get all those old racist goats out of the senate and replace with folks that have an open mind and good hearts
Alright for Gregg, another one that shows he has the gonads to stand up against the idiot golden boy.
Scumbag. Forget about bipartisanship, it's a dream.
Yeah, right, sure he did. How convenient for a Democratic operative to claim that now.
I am THRILLED that Sen. Gregg has decided to stick to his principles and won't sell out to the liberal agenda of spend, spend, spend.
Hmmm . . . seems like Obama is having a little trouble putting together a Cabinet. Could it be that Obama was simply not ready for prime time? Too late now, America. We're stuck with this neophyte for nearly 4 more years.
It becomes more and more apparent that the Republicans just don't want to resolve the country's issues, and will continue to act like angry kids who didn't get there way. Perhaps if they continue to repeat the same o'le message of the past regarding "tax cut's" for all the cronies with bizillions of dollars they can count on getting reelected.
It is obvious that you cannot trust any of these republicans. It is either their ridiculous way, or the highway. Good riddance Judd Greg
Thank you Senator Chickens**t from N.H. What a Loser!
The GOP are acting like spoiled children ..... having tantrums, picking up their toys, and going home. GROW UP!!
something's fishy, what are you hiding Gregg?
Obama should quit reaching out to the Republican's on all fronts and just appoint Dems and let the whiners whine! They have no intention whatsoever of helping get this country on the right track after YEARS of abuse by Bush an the right wing nuts!!
The battle is on, they need every available body. The bipartisan deal will only be used as a hammer to beat the Democrats over the head, but will remain largely for lip service.
If anyone should be criticized it should be Gregg. He apparently didn't have a clue what he was doing.
We Americans own the Blue Diamond collectively,whats that tell us?
good riddance...
Gregg went after the job and as usual Obama showed great leadership in trying to include Republicans in his Cabinet.
Gregg knew he could not handle the job and he was probably getting nasty threats from his own Party. Republicans are great at bullying and attacking anyone who does not agree with them. Guess they threatened Gregg and he chickened out knowing he was not qualified to handle a job that required intelligence on economic issues.
Good riddance! The less Republicans the better our nation will be.
FYI Larry wi
The president is not "the idiot golden boy" he is the president of United Sates and has a name. You appear uncivilized in your writing... I understand the freedom of speech in America, but it is not a leeway to stupidity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like political posturing from the right... Sen Gregg reaching out to the president for the Sec of Commerce position; suddenly withdraws. This was a disgusting political ploy.
Did godfather rush pillfreak limbaugh give him the order to get in goosestep?
He must be for more tax cuts. I'm glad he's gone.
How much do you get paid to read or "moderate" on these things? 6 bucks an hour? 7?
What? He is a U.S. Senator and he didn't know that as an appointee he was required to follow and support the President of the United States of America? Give me a break!
This just shows how mean the Republicans are, President Obama is trying very hard to include all members of congress and they do something as low as this,,,I say NO MORE REPUBLICANS !! Gregg should be very ashame !!!
Do you have to have an ACLU card or a Obama poster on your car to get a comment posted here?
It's a "Democratic source" - any more questions!
Republicans just want to throw roadblocks, would never think of trying to work for the good of the country. Guess we are all going to be better off without him; afterall, he and his kind got us to this point in our economy.
Once a Greedy Ostentatious Obstructionist Party member, always a GOOPer. This man realized early that the Obama administration would not tolerate undermining the fundamwental objective of getting this country back from the brink of oblivion, consequently he had no alternative but to GOOP out.
The rethugs made him an offer he couldn't refuse. He wimped out.
GOOD RIDANCE!!!!!!!!!!! TO WEAK
Weak candidate, couldn't take the pressure from the Reps. Good ridance to Greg. That is the best thing that could have happened to Obama. Choose Claire Mccaskill. she is very loyal.
I am not so polite. Larry Wi must be disappointed McBUSH didn't get elected. Then his name calling might have subside. I think maybe the idiot is none other than Larry himself. The 10,000,000 more voters went for Obama. You and your right wing bigots lost. 70+ % of the voters want Obama to lead. Now let the people's choice have a chance. He certainly can't be anywhere near as bad as Bush and the last 8 years. Bush disgraced our nation and himself. He won't be missed. He was a joke in the rest of the world. Obama has done more in 3 weeks to help repair some of the damage Bush created.
We can only hope he can repair more.
Of course, he did.... but his party wants him to tow the line... and HE IS! What is new.... forget him... and his repubs! *LOL* It's over, bozos, you lost... get over it.... we won!
Obama DOES NOT need the REpublicans! The people who voted for him could care less about bi partisanship. As soon as Obama and the Republicans face that fact.... THEN we will get something done!
N/A