Obama to name Richardson to head Commerce Dept.(tomorrow at press conf)

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is expected to nominate New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to head the Commerce Department, a senior Democratic source said on Tuesday.

Obama is expected to announce the appointment during a news conference scheduled for 1140 EST/1640 GMT on Wednesday in Chicago, his fifth since he began naming nominees for his Cabinet.

The appointment of Richardson, a former U.N. ambassador and energy secretary who became an Obama supporter earlier this year after dropping his own presidential bid, would make him the first Hispanic named to Obama's rapidly filling Cabinet.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN0227045820081202

[sandnsea]

1. Commerce manages the trade agreements

I think Richardson is a bit more of a free trader than I'd prefer. But he also cares a lot about human rights, so maybe he will bring those concerns to his trade beliefs and we'll get some real change.

[Justyce]

4. That was my first thought - a free trader to head the Commerce Dept?

Yikes. I think there are more appropriate positions than this for Richardson. But hopefully you're right about the human rights issues swaying him.

[sandnsea]

5. Maybe there's a method to the madness

Hillary really does care about women's rights and children's health. Those are two key issues in changing the dynamics in some third world countries, and getting some of these crazy dictators to change and getting these societies to change. Empower women, and a lot of this local terrorist stuff will stop. I think Richardson also really cares about genocide and basic human rights, so maybe he'll make sure those issues really get addressed when we talk about trade. Interesting idea. We'll see how it works out.

[VeraAgnes]

10. Just wait and watch..........

Hillary will indeed surprise you.

[Blaze Diem]

2. Comparasions to Bush's Head of Commerce & Richardson..What change can we expect to see??

This is what I want to know.

[harun]

3. Awesome.

[Romulox]

6. More center/right DLCer in power = / = "change". More like status quo. nt

[GOPNotForMe]

8. How is Bill Richardson "center right"? Please explain.

And so many members of the Democratic Party are DLC members as well that membership does not automatically constitute a "center right" philosophy. Gavin Newsom is a member of the DLC! Are you suggesting he's "center right"?

[Romulox]

9. He's a huger supporter of "Free trade" and outsourcing, for one. nt

"membership does not automatically constitute a "center right" philosophy."

The raison d'etre of the DLC is to promote center/right policies in the Democratic Party.

[skeewee08]

7. I heard on the TJMS(Tom Joyner ) yesterday

that a lot of Latinos were upset with Obama for not selecting Latin's to his cabinet, do you think he needs to appoint more Latinos to his cabinet?