WASHINGTON (CNN) – Republican Sen. Judd Gregg is putting a final exclamation point on his withdrawal as Barack Obama’s designee for Commerce Secretary with a promise to vote against the president’s economic stimulus package.
Gregg’s office confirmed the decision Friday.
The New Hampshire senator cited the stimulus package as a primary reason for backing out of the job offer, calling the bill and potential changes to Census oversight “irresolvable conflicts for me.”
“We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy,” Gregg said in a statement Thursday.
The House approved the stimulus plan Friday afternoon, and a Senate vote is expected later in the day. Two weeks ago, Gregg voted against the Senate version of the bill.
From CNN Politics
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Republican puppet.
I am thoroughly convinced that the Republicans don't care about the average American.
I'll bet Lincoln would be ashamed of the GOP.
GOP use to stand for Grand Ole Party.
GOP now stands for Greety Old Pigs.
Give yourself s a hand. His change is doing an OLD political trick.
Have your friends and enemies fight each other (or supporters and detractors) and they aren't LOOKING AT HIM . (Older than the Roman Senate)
Wow he IS good ..
AND YOU ARE BEING PLAYED the more he gets you to fight each other.
Why do you think he brings up Rush Limbaugh or says things against pres BUSH.
SAME OLD POLITICS just done very very well.
I guess the change is he does it so masterfully.
Has he united the country at all? NO HE NEEDS THE DIVISION.
That IS the Whole Point (I don’t care whatever this sukker does and maybe he is a Short seller)…
ALL of us need to have TRUST , CONFIDENCE AND a sense of HOPE”FUL”NESS OTHERWISE not just Obama but Boehner OR Connell OR their unknown moms CANNOT fix this mess – it is very similar to the example of good parenting and good schools… someone can only try to restore that confidence but if you all fukkers keep whining and complaining then NOTHING will help…
Now it IS EXTREMELY important how wisely this taxpayer money is spent by the administration and Obama MUST stick to his words & commitment because there are SO MANY of these motherfukkers ready to fix tennis and golf courts using this money!!!
I say good riddance! President Obama stop trying to win over people who are too old and too scared to change. You can do better get a Democrat and stop wasting time with these selfish spoiled-rotten republicans.
A sign of his true color, if that is how he operates, we all better off without him.
It is apparent that the Republicans don't plan participate in government for the next four years, so if you are looking for representation, you just might want to start recalling some of these bumps-on-a-log and hire somebody that wants to solve problems.
The Republicans aren't willing to risk more blame by voting for or taking responsibility for anything. I predict that they will likely continue to get exactly what they deserve for the "effort". The Republican party has become an intellectual desert.
Another Limbaugh-following, Christianist-fearing, failed and soon-to-be-out-of office GOP politician. After now deciding he won't even run for re-election in 2010, Sen. Gregg has gone from a Cabinet choice to a lobbyist-in-training in less than a week.
What a disgrace that must feel like to him! He should be comforted, though, that D.C. Republicans are being nice to him again (to his face anyway), and some big law firm will be paying him big bucks in just 23 months for his access to the Senate cloak room. Failing upward is the GOP way!
Wow, it's pretty priceless that you think the media would ever try to harm Obama. It's also priceless that so many of you believe Obama does anything except for show. He doesn't want dissenters. That's why this whole thing is being forced down our throats without Congress, let alone the American people, getting time to read and consider every aspect of the bill. That's why the health care changes are being slipped through rather than debated out in the open. That's why the next bank bill is being hidden until they can ram that through too. All Obama has to say is that "this is a new era of transparency" and all the sheep buy it and then look the other way when it's just the opposite.
Breaking News: The Sky is Blue. Story at 10.
Explain to me how a railroad from L.A. to Las Vegas (Pelosi & Reids Home States)gets $4 billion, and a Coal plant in Illinois(Obamas Home State) gets $2 billion and the home buyer program gets cut?
Last I heard we have a mortgage crisis in America and not a pet project bill to fill politiicians wallets.
This is not "Change", this is just straight up wrong.
I live in New Hampshire and I can say with rough confidence from listening to folks that Gregg will not get re-elected. People are not happy with him, seem to think of him as a sell-out and, more importantly, putting his career ahead of country. It's so ironic because now his senate seat will be most likely replaced with a democrat or independent in 2010. The harder the GOP tries the more they fail. Unfortunately, they are dragging us down with them. I pray we do not befall the fate of Rome.
What a moron. He did not know that he will have to work with a democratic president. Why does'nt he tell the truth. He is spine less and caved into the coersion by the GOP leaders.
Not to worry, this is all going to backfire on them. Change has and will continue to come to America. Mark this day and comment down so that when the backfire happens, you will know that God is in charge of this Presidency and you can't fight with God.
oh plz . this guy is nuts. he is the one that ASKED TO BE Commerce Secretary. President Obama didn't ask him. the repubs are a bunch jealous haters. they wants the president to failed. He is trying to reach across the aisle. they don't care the cost. they only think of themselves. that is what is wrong with those losers. busy/cheney mentality. liars, cheaters and war mongers. It is so sad, they just don't get it. BIG TIME LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!
The news media needs to investigate Obama and the census. The White House is up to no good.
Yes Deborah and your out of touch with the american people idiot
What happened to no pork? Museums, high speed railes and things being spent in 4 years. That is not a stimulus.
He should vote against it, if that is his conscience. I will also vote against him, given the chance... as is my conscience.
Heaven forbid a Republican vote outside the peer pressure. Whimps.
Surprise, surprise! Another Republican against Obama. And this is news because...???
Judd Gregg knew Obama position before he asked for the job.
He didn't want the job. He wanted the spotlight.
If Reoublicans are not going to help Obama with this country's problems, they can just go home.
Gregg you are pathetic. Obama brought you to the cabinet position exactly because your different views will provide balance as he seeks to guide this country out the economic conundrum the GOP has put us in. Instead, you chickened out because the GOP saw you as a traitor? Shame on you for choosing party over country.
CNN could you please tell me the total cost $ of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ?
This Stimulus Bill is to restructure "our " country after 8 years of neglect and abandon by the Bush blue NEOCON dog republicans .
I can't believe House Republican Leader John Boehner's statement.
He feels rushed , as like into a war for WMDs ?
He hopes the stimulus package works , yet wont vote for it, what kind of BS is that ?
The republicans hope for economic failure , and dream of the 2012 election.
@ Ann, who said "Mr. Obama and Emanuel changed the rules regarding Census Bureau after the nomination."
Newsflash: He's the President and that is his prerogative. Moreover, Gregg has been a Senator for a couple decades...he knew very well that Obama woul dbe his boss and that his job would be to perform his duties according to the way Obama wanted them to be performed. And WITHOUT ANY DOUBT, Gregg also knew well before he even thought up this silly GOP scheme, that he and Obama would not see eye to eye in most things concerning the economy. They've know each other for quite some time and unless he lived under a rock for the past 2 years, he knows what Obama campaigned for. His attempt to get the position was motivated by trying to control the census and his withdrawal was politically motivated because he didn't get the census, the GOP needs his vote to block the bill and because they simply wanted to throw egg in Obama's face.