Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to be named to Obama Cabinet

[Dover]

Source: Dallas Morning News




WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama will name former mayor Ron Kirk the post of U.S. trade representative on Friday, thrusting the pro-trade former Dallas mayor into a sensitive balancing act between unions and business interests.

Mr. Kirk has been calling friends today to tell them about his selection to the Obama Cabinet. He told a reporter offering congratulations to “pack your bags.” A top Democratic official said the announcement will come Friday in Chicago.

“He’s an incredibly impressive guy with a wonderful background, particularly for this job,” said Mickey Kantor, who held the post under President Bill Clinton. “You’ve got to understand both substance and politics to be successful, and he certainly understands trade being from Texas.”

After eight years with Texans filling Cabinet seats and top White House posts, the Kirk appointment ends a near-drought as Mr. Obama and his Illinois-heavy team prepares to take over. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a holdover from the Bush administration, was president of Texas A&M but isn’t from Texas..cont'd

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/121808dnnatkirk.728e2f3c.html

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Wikipedia: Ron Kirk



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Kirk

[goclark]

1. Sounds great to me!

[McCamy Taylor]

2. Glad Ron Kirk is getting back into politics.

[TheWraith]

3. Waiting for someone to complain about him being pro-trade in 3... 2... 1...

You just KNOW it's going to happen.

[firedupdem]

4. Sounds good to me! n/t

[brentspeak]

5. More screwing-up on the part of Obama

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/121908dnnatkirktrade.3d94014.html

By TODD J. GILLMAN and JIM LANDERS / The Dallas Morning News

WASHINGTON – The choice of Ron Kirk as the nation's top trade negotiator disappointed Barack Obama's union supporters and left trade experts wondering Thursday how hard the president-elect will push against business interests in future deals.

Mr. Kirk, the former Dallas mayor and 2002 Senate nominee, is a pro-business Democrat who has been an outspoken booster of NAFTA and the benefits of free trade. But little is known about his views on forcing trading partners to abide by tougher labor and environmental standards, as Mr. Obama promised voters in Ohio and other Rust Belt states.

And it's unclear if putting a free-trade advocate in the Cabinet as U.S. trade representative – the announcement of Mr. Kirk's appointment is set for today in Chicago – means Mr. Obama is backing away from that vow. NAFTA has largely been beneficial for Texas, as trade with Mexico has fueled job growth.

"Not our first choice," Thea Lee, policy director at the AFL-CIO, said of Mr. Kirk, noting that he has also dismayed unions by calling for normalized trade relations with China. "We have some concerns."

[Dover]

6. In reality, the Dems have been as much pro-business/free trade as the Republicans.

The corporations don't care WHO is in power. Their lobbyists simply switch teams...no dif.

[damntexdem]

7. Kirk should be OK as the trade representative -- but Mr. Spock is a better diplomat than the Captain

;-)