LAC News
The Usual Suspects – Obama’s Nominees Short on “Change”
By By Marian L. Ward
February 2009

As President Barack Obama selects his closest advisers, we need to pay very close attention.  Despite Obama’s wildly successful one-word campaign platform of “change,” his cabinet picks lead one to believe that “change” must be coming from somewhere else.  The criticism has been that much of the list of nominees reads as a “who’s who” of the Bill Clinton era.  However, the President isn’t just recycling staff, he’s also recycling long-standing, ill-conceived, and often-dangerous far-left ideology.  Let’s examine some of the major players.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle — Secretary of Health and Human Services

Thanks to a “$146,000 tax problem” (Washington Post-ese for “tax fraud”), America was spared the damage this former South Dakota senator would have done in the position.  Sen. Daschle was no friend to the unborn during his tenure in the U.S. Senate.  As Majority Leader, he even attempted to block passage of the partial-birth abortion ban by refusing to allow the measure to come up for a vote.

CNSNews reports that the former senator’s voting record is “largely pro-abortion,” citing his support for an amendment to repeal the Mexico City Policy (a ban on U.S. funding of abortions abroad) and another amendment that would have decimated the Hyde Amendment (a ban on taxpayer-funded abortions in the U.S.).  Daschle also supported funding abortions in U.S. military medical facilities and prohibiting peaceful demonstrations outside abortion clinics.

He introduced his first health care reform bill as a part of President Clinton’s “Hillarycare” overhaul.  Daschle’s appointed deputy, Jeanne Lambrew, is also a major advocate for government health care, such as Medicaid and children’s health insurance (SCHIP).

Senator Hillary Clinton — Secretary of State

Senator Clinton’s nomination signaled the ushering in of a radical pro-United Nations (U.N.) stance by the incoming administration.  Even as First Lady, Mrs. Clinton was heavily involved in the U.N. World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995.  The goals promulgated in the platform produced by the Beijing conference run the gamut of a leftist, radical feminist, and globalist agenda.

Senator Clinton has also been a vocal proponent of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).  UNFPA is the major international organization pushing population control, including funding of China’s forced abortion, one child policy.  So far, the United States has been prevented from funneling money into UNFPA because of the Kemp-Kasten law, which prohibits the United States from providing taxpayer money to any agency that engages in “coercive population control policies.”

Tagging along with Senator Clinton is Susan Rice, former staffer for the National Security Council and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during President Bill Clinton’s second term, who shares an affinity for “global governance” (a.k.a., one-world government).

Eric Holder — Attorney General

Eric Holder’s nomination ruffled feathers on both sides of the aisle.  Holder served as Deputy Attorney General under Bill Clinton.  During his time in the Justice Department, Mr. Holder pushed for pardons for terrorists, including members of violent Puerto Rican nationalist organizations and two members of the Weather Underground, an unrepentant domestic terrorist organization.  Considering President Obama’s executive order shutting down Guantanamo Bay, Holder should fit right in.

Mr. Holder added to his stellar record by signing a brief that argued, “[T]he Second Amendment does not protect firearms possession or use that is unrelated to participation in a well regulated militia.”  He was involved in the aggressive Justice Department storming of the home of young Elian Gonzalez.  If that isn’t enough, Holder advocated for the pardon of “fugitive financier” Mark Rich, the Bernie Madoff of the 1990s.

Arne Duncan — Secretary of Education

President Obama’s selection to head the Department of Education is actually not a Clinton Administration alumnus; he was playing professional basketball in Australia at the time.  Duncan does hail from Chicago’s Hyde Park, Obama’s home turf.  Mr. Duncan served as head of the Chicago Public Schools from 2001-2008.  During his five-year occupation of the office, Chicago schools failed to show Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) — minimum standards set for each state to receive federal education funding.

Duncan has shown some support for charter schools, but he hasn’t shown much support for school voucher programs.  He is also accused of making “questionable” purchases, including $67,000 worth of cappuccino/espresso machines for Chicago public schools.

Some (dis)honorable mentions include:

Bioethics advisor Jonathan Moreno, professor of medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania, strongly supports destructive embryonic stem cell research.  Though only adult stem cells have been shown to cure or treat human patients, Moreno contends, “[T]he gold standard continues to be human embryonic stem cells.”

Alta Charo, also named to Obama’s Health and Human Services transition team, is a former member of Bill Clinton’s Bioethics Advisory Commission.  Charo not only supports destructive embryonic stem cell research, but also leans in favor of human cloning.

Global warming alarmist and population control advocate, John P. Holdren has been nominated to be White House Science advisor.

Carol M. Browner, named to the new position of White House Coordinator of Climate and Energy policies, was listed as a leader of the socialist “global governance” group Commission for a Sustainable World Society until her recent appointment.

Fasten your seat belts, America.  This will be a bumpy ride.