What's wrong with the commerce Dept ?
After Bill Richardson ;proving that pay-for -play is not just an Illinois problem , withdrew his name from consideration ,there have been many names floated . To date all of the candidates have rejected the idea;many of them emphatically.
John Kerry's name surfaced early last week ,so did Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm .Others are Rep. Xavier Becerra,Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius,Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire,Iowa's former governor, Tom Vilsack(already nominated for agriculture secretary, a less prestigious cabinet post),Citigroup director and Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons have all turned the offer down .Even incumbent Carlos Gutierrez says he plans to return to the private sector after his term is up.
Commerce has been a plum Cabinet appointment in the past .It is seventh in presidential protocol, loaded with top business contacts and full of opportunities for multiple exotic travel junkets standing up for American business.
Could it be that the current Congress and incoming President believe that Government and not the private sector is the answer to the nations problems ?
Becerra thinks so .When he turned down Obama's offer for US Trade Rep.a few weeks ago, he said his concern was "how much weight this position would hold." "I came to the conclusion that it wouldn't be priority number one, and it might not be number two or number three."
Columbia University trade economist Jagdish Bhagwati has stated his concern that Obama's appointments have been top heavy with protectionists .
Obama and Trade: An Alarm Sounds - Council on Foreign Relations
With more businesses facing threats of higher taxes or Stalinist-like show hearings on Capitol Hill making hard decisions about moving their base of operation overseas to more business friendly environs,it is extremely important that Obama pick a very pro-business advocate for the position... someone like Mitt Romney perhaps ? Obama has championed the concept of a "cabinet of rivals " .So far that means Robert Gates and a slew of Clintonoids. Romney would make a perfect fit for the position.