Comments on: Obama appointments a lobbyist as Deputy Defense Secretary?

By: olive mai

olive mai — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:20:14 +0000

Maybe this is a way to get him to stop lobbying? WE shall all find out sooner or later! We have almost nothing left to lose!

By: Annie Kate

Annie Kate — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:55:31 +0000

Many lobbyists are extremely intelligent people and very proficient in their fields. They shouldn't be excluded from consideration because of their lobbying experience – to work in the Administration they would have to give the lobbying up as a matter of course. With the appropriate safeguards and oversight this could work out quite well for the country. Having someone in an office who actually knows what they are doing and know the background of the problems they face will be a different experience after the past 8 years. Let's give it a chance to work – I'm sure that if it doesn't Obama will be the first to admit it and to replace the person.

By: Betty, Virginia

Betty, Virginia — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:43:27 +0000

Yea... like having experience worked for us so well the last eight years. I"d rather have leaders iintelligent enough to make decisions than those entrenched on the wrong path.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:36:26 +0000

How about Obama the hypocrite.......

By: Jim M

Jim M — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:34:38 +0000

Am I missing the point. Aren't the presidents and vice presidents of all firms having government business, directly or indirectly lobbiests?
When the CEOs of GM, Ford and Chrysler appeared before Congress, weren't they lobbying?
Since when is tapping a top executive from a commercial enterprise an error in judgement – other than Dick Chaney?

By: Joanne, Solvay, NY

Joanne, Solvay, NY — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:30:45 +0000

Oh please, tell me this isn't so!

By: JC- Los Angeles

JC- Los Angeles — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:09:22 +0000

Obama is the master of perception is reality and the ultimate face man while his wife is his brain.

He was going to change the way things were done in Washington and started by selecting a Clinton? Rham Emanuel? Leon Panetta? A TV doctor? and now a lobbyist?

This is too hilarious for words; Michelle seems to be slipping; I can't wait to hear what role he has planned for Keifer Sutherland.

By: Charlotte D

Charlotte D — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:18:41 +0000

Is this cherry picking or is this sound judgement? I was more confused after I read the article than before. Maybe this means that in the arena of defense there are no clear lines between lobbyists and those who are lobbied–the black and white of it is not crystal clear. Do people float between the two sides of the coin with ease depending on who is in office or what wars are going on? Does Raytheon have competition that could gain or lose with this pick? E.g., Raytheon may lose out on some contracts that they should have gotten because Lynn has to bend over backwards to show that he is not playing favorites.

Whatever, this bears further scrutiny and if Lynn is appointed I hope that CNN will "keep them honest" as always.