Transcript: Rahm Emanuel on Meet the Press, January 18, 2009

(Source: NBC’s Meet the Press)

MR. DAVID GREGORY:  Our issues this Sunday:  the transition ceremonies are under way, and in just two days the historic inauguration of Barack Obama as our nation’s 44th president.  He’ll inherit a country in economic turmoil, an ongoing multifront war on terror and renewed violence in the Middle East. What will be his first priority?  And is he already facing his first fight on the Hill, as Democrats and Republicans clash over a proposed stimulus package?

(Videotape)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH):  Oh, my God.  I don’t even–my notes here say that I’m disappointed.  I just can’t tell you how shocked I am at what we’re seeing.

(End videotape)

MR. GREGORY:  Will Mr. Obama be able to find a bipartisan solution?

Plus, a bump on the road to the Cabinet; Obama’s Treasury pick admits a taxing mistake.  What could this mean for the nomination of Timothy Geithner?  This morning, an exclusive interview with the man who will be by Obama’s side in the office:  the gatekeeper of the president, incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Then, Inauguration Day will be a time of great significance in this country. How will Mr. Obama capture the moment?  And will his presidency be able to live up to the high expectations?  Insights and analysis from our special roundtable:  NBC News special correspondent Tom Brokaw; columnist for The New York Times David Brooks; presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin; host of PBS’ “Tavis Smiley” and PRI’s “The Tavis Smiley Show,” Tavis Smiley; and NBC News political director and chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd.

But first, incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Welcome back to MEET THE PRESS.  As we look forward to an historic day, Inauguration Day and the inaugural address, the president-elect has spoken about the need to capture the moment that Americans are in.  What does he want to say on Tuesday?

MR. RAHM EMANUEL:  Well, I, I don’t–at one level, I don’t think it’s different than what you’ve heard over the campaign.  On the other hand, it’s a–the inaugural and the inaugural address is something significant in American history and its culture.  I think the–what you will hear is a time and a place in which we all have an era of responsibility, that too long there’s been a culture of anything goes, and that to do what we need to do as a country, to, to regain America’s greatness and continue to move forward and be an example around the world, that we need that culture of responsibility not just to be asked of the American people, but that its leaders must also lead by example.  And so that for–in both business, in the corporate boardroom, to in government offices, that there has been a culture of–that anything goes and is permissible, and that we want–must once again restore a values system that respects and honors a sense of responsibility, and that we all have something to give to our country and have an obligation to do that, to return it to its greatness.

Read more

Obama Transition Team Investigates Themselves: Surprise! Everything’s Cool

• Obama Report: No improper contact with Governor – New York Times
• Obama team releases report on Blago contacts – Washington Post
• Obama review clears staff - Reuters

Full Text: Obama Transition Office Report on Contacts with Blagojevich

Click Here for PDF of the Obama Transition Team’s Report

What Did Rahm Emanuel Get Caught Saying on Tapes? Probably Nothing.

News reports this morning are saying that President-Elect Barack Obama’s chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel’s voice was captured during wire taps of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.  Surprise, surprise.

The speculation in the media will begin about what Emanuel said to Blagojevich or his staff, and it may border on hysterics.  Ultimately, I don’t think they’ll find Emanuel did anything wrong. Read more

Obama Transition: Meet the New Team, Same as the Old Team

Progressives and others who backed Barack Obama for president are pulling their hair out a bit as the Obama presidency begins to take shape as … the Clinton presidency.

Here’s what we know and what we think we know:

• White House CoS – Rahm Emanuel – Clinton Alumni
• Secretary of State – Hillary Clinton – Former First Lady
• Secretary of HHS – Tom Daschle – Former Senate Leader from Clinton Era
• Secretary of Homeland Security – Janet Napolitano – Actual Newcomer
• Secretary of the Treasury – Larry Summers – Clinton Alumni
• Attorney General – Eric Holder – Clinton Alumni

Now some are looking at this list and wondering where the change is coming for the top cabinet spots.  Here’s where the benefit of the doubt has to come in.

If you voted for Barack Obama and believe that he means what he says and that he’ll work toward a different Washington, one more responsive to the needs of regular folks and less so to the special interests – remember that he’s not even in office yet. 

When these prospective Cabinet members worked for or in the Clinton administration it was in the heady days when the Democratic Party first fell in love with Wall Street and its money.  They were smitten.  These smart people were tired of ceding the “business” argument to the Republican Party.  Except for perhaps Robert Reich and James Carville every Democrat in Washington during the nineties bent over backwards to deregulate and tear down firewalls because Goldman Sachs and their favorite Republican, Alan Greenspan, said it was good for business.

Here’s what’s different: Obama.  Despite all the crap that John McCain and the Republican Party threw at Barack Obama during the campaign, he stayed on message.  That’s integrity.  That’s steadiness and steel.  I believe the guy when he says things are going to change.

As for the retreads – other things have changed.  The Democratic Party is still heavily funded by the investment class and its economic brainpower is still a little too tied to Wall Street for my comfort, but these people aren’t stupid.  They got caught up in the same high flying economy so many did during the nineties.  The difference was they were in power and we can trace some of today’s financial crisis to the policies they pursued back then.  We can only hope they’ve learned their lesson and the great talent of people like Rahm Emanuel and Tom Daschle will be fully aligned with Barack Obama’s world view and public policy.

One thing I do wish they’d try again from the nineties.  Remember when they deregulated cable TV?  I’m still waiting for the “competition” to lower my cable bills.

Obama Transition: News Roundup – November 6 – PM

Emanuel accepts White House job – Politico

Rahm Emanuel: Political Pit Bull– Forbes

Emanuel: Tough Guy Rep– Associated Press

The New Team– New York Times

Several early choices have Clinton pedigrees– New York Times

Bush and Obama to discuss wars, economy– Washington Post

Federal workers could face shake up– Washington Post

Op-Ed, Dan Froomkin: A different kind of White House– Washington Post

Democrats drafting list of Bush rules to change– Washington Post

Obama works phones to build Cabinet– U.S. News & World Report

Barack Obama faces tough choices during transition – The Guardian (U.K.)

Rahm Emanuel and Israel – The Atlantic

Who will fill Obama’s Senate seat? – Chicago Tribune

Keep Gates at the Pentagon– Chicago Tribune

The Transition Begins – National Public Radio