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Obama chooses Tom Daschle as Health and Human Services secretary

by Tina Kells | November 19, 2008 at 10:43 am

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President-elect Barack Obama is wasting no time in assembling Washington power players to lead key posts in his new government. Obama has chosen former South Dakota Senator and one-time Democratic Senate Leader Tom Daschle for the key Cabinet position of Health and Human Services secretary. Daschle and Obama share a passion for health care reform and are strong supporters of a universal health care system.

Daschle has accepted the Health and Human Services secretary position and will also play a role on Obama's transition team. When asked about his new appointment Daschle reportedly stated that he was interested in this role above those of Vice President and Secretary of State.

The position of Health and Human Services secretary is sure to be very important to Obama's presidency and Daschle is a fitting choice to head the HHS department. The President-elect's position on health care reform was one of the main reasons that Daschle threw his support behind Obama when he withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

President-elect Barack Obama's office announced this afternoon that Tom Daschle, the former US senator who was a key early backer, will oversee a transition policy working group on healthcare.

But several media outlets are reporting that Daschle's role will extend into the new administration as health and human services secretary.

Daschle, first elected to the US House from Iowa in 1978, moved up the Senate in 1986 and eventually became the Democratic leader. He is a fellow at the Center for American Progress, one of the most important Democratic-leaning think tanks in Washington, and is co-chairman of the ONE Vote ’08 Campaign to address health and poverty in the developing world in a more aggressive and successful way.

He was instrumental in Obama's victory in the Iowa caucuses in January that paved the way to the Democratic nomination, and then the presidency. But there's one potential hiccup -- Daschle's wife is a lobbyist in Washington, and Obama has promised to lessen their influence.

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genazu (not verified)

at 11:37 on November 19th, 2008

Tom Daschle is from South Dakota, and served as South Dakota senator in 1978. Not sure where you got the idea he was from Illinois or Iowa ... great journalism...

Tina Kells

at 11:57 on November 19th, 2008

Good point, my brain was off, Obama is Illinois. Iowa is from the Boston Globe.

Tom shij13 (not verified)

at 14:05 on November 19th, 2008

It's no surprise that Tom Daschle is part of the cabinet. Daschle is a Obama supporter since Obama arrived in Capitol Hill, the hidden patron who nurtured and protected Obama during his first steps in Washington. Daschle's former staff continued to work under the aegis of Obama, because Daschle had lost his bid. Rouse, the 101st Senator, is one to name.

Tom (the guy from FlickR)