December 17th, 2008
05:40 PM ET
14 years ago
LaHood expected to be named transportation secretary
(CNN) - President-elect Barack Obama is expected to name Republican Rep. Ray LaHood of Illinois as his nominee for secretary of transportation, two sources told CNN Wednesday.
Fellow Illinois Republican Rep. Tim Johnson welcomed the selection of LaHood, whom he calls one of his closest friends in Congress.
"I think Ray has the ability to work both sides of the aisle well," Johnson said. "He's an extraordinarily talented legislator and from Illinois so from a provincial standpoint this would meet our needs well."
PE Obama...you are one funny person! This selection is perfect symbolism! The [R]s have been throwing the people of this nation under cars for more than 8 years now. LMAO! And LMFAO at all you neo-tard true-believers out there!
Oh great another tainted Illinois politician. If you think UAW, SEIU and ACORN are bad wait till you get a load of ATU.
I am not a fan of most republicans but Ray Lahood does seem to be a good pick. This shows again how the president-elect is able to reach across the aisle.
It should help with votes on critical bills in the house too. I am sure Ray has lots of friends in the house.
There Obama picks a republican, are you right wing nuts happy now?
Darn i thought that was going to work...
It's great to see a team of Americans from all corners of who we are in the cabinet, because that's what it will take to deal with our problems. Lahood may be from Illinois, but he can bring his experience to the table and the people can final see some results instead of talk. We have got action people here. Let's get to it!
Another good ole boy from Illinois. They should have just moved the White House to Chicago.
I love it!! I knew he'd reach accross the lines. He's the real deal ladies and gentleman.
Obama is so shady it is almost unbelievable.
Obama really needs to cut the whole only picking politicians from Illinois. Republican or Democrat, it's the shady politician capitol of the world...you would think Obama would realize this, I mean, he is one himself...not good for his image
It's been interesting and sometimes entertaining to read people's point of view on different picks for the cabinet. The most important thing for people to remember is that you actually get to talk about it, because its no secret like in the past.
I'm tired of hearing the phrase " Chicago Politics". So are you people saying that every single politician from IL is corrupt? Give me a break!!!
So since Chicago has the highest murder rate I guess you can call everyone who lives there a "Typical Chicago Murderer"
Ok....count down to some Republican moron saying:
Oh, finally we got a republican...but it's one we hate...why didn't he pick one of our really good republicans...like Stevens from Alaska?
I bet they are thinking of it too...they just won't say it now that I did!
Republicans just want to cry about everything. Is it any wonder we are so screwed after being led by these whiners for almost 60 years?
@ right-wing nut job:
Please explain how naming Ray LaHood is shady? Have there been promises of no-bid contracts already....oh, Bush and Cheney already blessed us with that. Have we got representativesof industries rewriting the regulations to the point where they are impotent-whoops, thats already been done. Do we have cooked intelligence that suits short-term political objectives: dangit, already been done.....what hasn't already been done in the last eight years? Oh, I've got it....competence, regardless of party, and irrespective of ideology.
Chew on that a while. We want results, not a patriotism lecture from the folks who gutted this country. Accept your failure and you can heal.
I'm dissapointed we only have one high profile republican in his administration. I'd like to see McCain with a big spot but none are left. Obama talks often of reading Lincoln and how he put this former rivals in his cabinet. Well he did put Clinton in there but she is less experienced than McCain and she and Obama largely agree on most issues. Pick true rivals, ones who disagree with some of your positions.
Lahood is a moderate Republican who boldly condemned the xenophobic attitudes of Palin supporters when few Republicans would. He is Lebanese-American, which adds Arab-American representation to this diverse cabinet. If these Illinois picks have something good to offer the rest of the country and world, then "more power to them. "
The point is not that he is a republican, but another from Illinois. Maybe this is Obama's way to rid Illinois of all the corruption by emptying the state and letting them start afresh.
This is funny, you right-wingers are upset that he chose a republican? Does that even make sense? Oh, you guys are still complaining about that "Obama=Blago" thing that Faux News told you about? There's a reason why we didn't vote Republican this year, all thanks to your friend Bush.
Good choice. Well respected on both sides. This moderate is soooo happy with the picks so far!
Patrick,
Name the Democrats in W's cabinet......