Cue the conspiracy theory. Sirota on why Daschle forced out

[ProSense]

Blacklisting Progressives: The Untold Story Beneath the Daschle Headlines

by: David Sirota
Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 16:46

Amid the swirling headlines about Tom Daschle withdrawing his nomination for Health and Human Service Secretary is a very dark, very foreboding story that tells us a lot more about what to expect from the Obama administration than a single nomination fight. It is a story that every single voter who supported Barack Obama because of his progressive economic platform should know about - and worry about.

As every newspaper in America has been happy to report, Daschle worked with venture capitalist Leo Hindery after he left the Senate. Hindery was a top economic adviser to John Edwards and later to Barack Obama, and many had floated his name for U.S. Trade Representative or Commerce Secretary. Now, though, that won't be happening, as anyone mentioned near the Daschle flap is being shunned by the Obama administration.

But is that really why someone as accomplished as Hindery was never seriously considered for a top economic post in the administration? The media and the Obama administration would like us to believe yes - but the answer is no. It has far less to do with the Daschle situation and far more to do with Hindery's progressive economic ideology.

Buried in a Politico dispatch, we get the real story:

Hindery did his best to carve out his own public profile, with generous contributions to a range of Democratic-leaning organizations and a 2005 book, "It Takes a CEO," decrying outsourcing, Wal-Mart, and "an ethical and aesthetic 'race to the bottom'" in the media industry.

He also hoped to land a job in the Obama administration, and he had a close Obama adviser - Daschle -- in his corner, the two Democrats said. United Steeelworkers union officials also backed him.

But while Hindery complained that he "waited for the phone to ring," a source said, Obama's aides appear never to have taken his bid seriously. One possible source of friction: Hindery had set himself up in opposition to Obama's top economic advisors, many of whom were associated with The Hamilton Project, an economic think tank that was the inheritor of former Treasury Secretary Rubin's generally pro-trade position.

In the same story, of course, we get hedge fund shark Steve Rattner - a huge Democratic fundraiser on Wall Street - bashing Hindery for backing populist Democratic candidates for local and national office.

link

Thought I was the only one who remembered that Hindery was a top Edwards advisor. Still, Sirota is claiming Hindery is the reason Daschle was pushed out. Yet all the stories from the MSM and most of the left are taking Daschle to task about his ties to Hindery.

[Occam Bandage]

1. Of course, had Daschle made it in, Sirota would be complaining about how

"the progressive base has been slapped again by the DC machine, which has today confirmed that profits are more important than people when it comes to health care."

He's just a wannabe Nader.

[FrenchieCat]

2. I'm confused.

Is Daschle a progressive then? Cause the "conspiracy" would suggest
that this is why is was made gone.

and hasn't Obama cavorted with same said progressives?

I'm rather not follow this one. Sirota kind of does this sort of thing.

[ProSense]

11. If Daschle had made it through, Hindery would have been part of the process.

Amazing isn't it?

[KittyWampus]

3. Sirota wrote this to show off how much he knows... it's silly speculation based on nothing.

I dislike that kind of "journalism".

[Life Long Dem]

4. I agree. Obama was never serious with Daschle.

Daschle cries to Obama and Obama says no.

[Teaser]

5. Amazing how zero factual content can be expanded into many,many paragraphs.

.

[ellacott]

6. I used to like Sirota

[Thrill]

7. I don't believe anything from Politico.

[anonymous171]

8. Damned if he does, Damned if he doesn't. nt

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Unless I'm really missing something, this whole premise is goofy.

Surely Obama didn't just now find out about a Daschle-Hindery connection. He had to know all about that when he offered the nomination. Therefore he didn't just now pull it because of some new Hindery revelation. Also, to imagine that the nomination wasn't meant "seriously" is ludicrous under the circumstances. It was a NOMINATION, for Chrissake, not a feeler. I think two things: First, Obama knew more about Daschle and his intentions in HHS than we do; and second, the nom was pulled when all this other stuff hit the fan. And even then, if Daschle had wanted to stick it out, we don't know that Obama wouldn't have continued to support him.

So, to Dave Sirota, BULLSHIT.

[elizm]

10. Sirota bashed Obama all the way through primary and election...

Why should we think he would be any different now. He is still whining because neither Edwards nor Hillary got the nomination.