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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Daschle Still Working With Obama Behind the Scenes

Met with president to talk health care

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(Newser) – Tom Daschle may not be Health and Human Services secretary, but he still has President Obama’s ear. The ex-senator met with Obama yesterday to discuss health care reform, the Washington Post reports. Daschle has been informally advising senior aide Pete Rouse and health care czar Nancy-Ann DeParle throughout the process, but some Democrats say things would have gone better had he been at the helm.

Since stepping down, Daschle’s been an outspoken advocate for universal care and a public option. But he’s also worked for a law firm advising United Health Group, an insurance giant that opposes a public option. The White House says it’s not worried about any conflict of interest. “The president knows and expects that, when he asks Senator Daschle a question, that he’s getting the opinion of Senator Daschle and not anybody else,” said Robert Gibbs.

In this Feb. 2, 2009, file photo, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington.
In this Feb. 2, 2009, file photo, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
In this Dec. 5, 2008 file photo, former Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle is seen during the 2008 Colorado Health Care Summit in Denver.
In this Dec. 5, 2008 file photo, former Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle is seen during the 2008 Colorado Health Care Summit in Denver.   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Then-president-elect Barack Obama introduces Daschle as his pick for Health and Human Services Secretary, Dec. 11, 2008, at a news conference in Chicago.
Then-president-elect Barack Obama introduces Daschle as his pick for Health and Human Services Secretary, Dec. 11, 2008, at a news conference in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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No one in these jobs is truly unique, but he was about as close to it as possible. I think the loss of him from the inside is a factor in the way things have developed. - an anonymous senior Democrat close
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11 comments
VIEWING:
 
Forderon
Aug 22, 09 11:17 AM CDT
Well, it's not working, whatever they're doing. They've given in on the public option, which is kinda the whole point of it. They've lost the PR battle with the public--Dems trot out words like "public" and "single-payer" while Reps scare people about "death panels" and "Nazis" and "socialism". What do you think will resonate more with the generally retarded zombie populace of the US? Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
freethemall
Aug 22, 09 5:39 PM CDT
In profound sadness, I must acknowledge the truth of what you say. It would please me very much, if you and I were proven incorrect about this.
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+1
Timinator2K
Aug 22, 09 11:23 AM CDT
As if this administration didn't STINK enough with constitution-busting Czars and other Anti-Freedom sorts, now DUmb-as-a-Stump Dastardly Daschle, too. These clowns are DOOMED, Thank God. Reply
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-10
IN RESPONSE:
JonmarkP
Aug 22, 09 1:09 PM CDT
But Daschle represents everything you hold sacred-greed, corruption, backstabbing, deception, corporate dominance, self-promotion and unbounded ego. How could little Timmynator not love the guy?
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
schmidtkoff
Aug 22, 09 1:02 PM CDT
i think that daschle could have been an important voice in this health care debate. it is unfortunate that he withdrew his nomination for secretary of health. his failure to pay about $146,000 in taxes is unconscionable yet i do believe he still has some valid ideas and good advice to the current discourse on america's health policy. i hope he is contrite enough to render an unbiased opinion on how to lead he dems to a solution to the nightmare of the current health care situation in america. Reply
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-1

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