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How Obama Can Reboot Geithner

Treasury sec needs a freer hand and more staff to survive

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 19, 2009 7:55 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Three times in 3 days the president has had to offer a defense of Tim Geithner, who will almost certainly remain Treasury secretary despite calls to resign. As Eamonn Javers reports in Politico, the White House now has to perform some crisis management: Keep Geithner out of the spotlight, allow him to take tougher policy stances, and, at last, fill the vacant positions at the department. "They need to fortify him every way they can," said one presidential adviser.

Geithner, writes Javers, has the Dan Quayle problem: "Once the former vice president had been branded in the public mind as a lightweight, there was almost nothing to do to change that. For Geithner, time is of the essence." And if opinion hardens, the damage could extend beyond the Treasury and taint Obama, whose popularity remains high. As one veteran Democratic consultant said about AIG anger: "There is only one other place for it to go, and that's the White House."

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner looks on as President Barack Obama makes remarks on AIG, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner looks on as President Barack Obama makes remarks on AIG, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
President Barack Obama, and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Monday, March 16, 2009, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama, and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Monday, March 16, 2009, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama, accompanied by, from left, Economic Adviser Christina Romer, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and Economic Adviser Lawrence Summers.
President Barack Obama, accompanied by, from left, Economic Adviser Christina Romer, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and Economic Adviser Lawrence Summers.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
President Barack Obama, accompanied by Economic Adviser Christina Romer and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 18, 2009.
President Barack Obama, accompanied by Economic Adviser Christina Romer and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
woodyTX
Mar 20, 2009 2:13 AM CDT
A scapegoat who's now taking full responsibility for the AIG thing. His first gaffe was promising a detailed recovery plan and coming in with generalities and platitudes. I have no problem with generalities but don't build up expectations in a pressure cooker atmosphere then fail to deliver. People are looking to him for leadership. Silence would have been better. Obama has a tonne of goodwill. I 'm loathe to see Geithner squander it on fumbles and poor execution. Let's get the basics right.
woodyTX
Mar 19, 2009 2:30 AM CDT
Reboot or give him the boot. The guy appears to be floundering, with Obama running the cover operation. Geithner needs to step up to the plate, stop making gaffes and start making at least some visible progress. Gives us at least something to instil confidence. This has been all bad news.

Geithner gets Obama's full backing, again
Reuters

A defining moment for the Treasury secretary
New York Times

 
Barack Obama • AIG • Treasury Department • crisis management • Treasury secretary • Timothy Geithner

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