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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: commerce secretary

commerce secretary stories: 18 news summaries

(AP) - The Senate today confirmed former Washington Gov. Gary Locke as commerce secretary, handing President Obama an easy victory after his first two nominees for the post withdrew. Locke, 59, was America's first Chinese-American governor, serving two terms from 1997 to 2005. He has promised to focus on job creation and... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Washington state • Department of Commerce • governor • commerce secretary • Obama Cabinet • Gary Locke

Commerce Nominee Locke Sails Through Hearing

Sens. give him warm welcome at confirmation hearing

Mar 18, 09 2:38 PM CDT
(Newser) - Gary Locke, President Obama’s third pick for commerce secretary, faced an amiable crowd during today’s confirmation hearing, the Washington Post reports. Locke’s background check was “clean and happy reading” or “boring,” depending on the senator, but not controversial. The former Washington governor—who, if... More »

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confirmation hearings • President Obama • commerce secretary • Obama Cabinet • Gary Locke

Commerce Nom Locke a Rock Star in China

As Washington state governor, he cultivated deep trade ties

Feb 25, 09 9:44 AM CST
(Newser) - The third time was the charm for China—at least in terms of President Obama's picks to head the Commerce Department, reports the New York Times. Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke, to be introduced today as the administration's latest nominee, brings a reputation for pragmatism, a scandal-free resume, and deep... More »

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China • trade • Washington state • Department of Commerce • governor • commerce secretary • Gary Locke

Obama to Likely Tap Locke for Commerce

Ex-Wash. governor
will be his third pick
for the post

Feb 23, 09 5:38 PM CST
(AP) - President Obama's likely third pick for Commerce secretary is former Washington Gov. Gary Locke, a senior administration official said today. Locke, a Democrat, was the nation's first Chinese-American governor when he served two terms in the Washington statehouse from 1997 to 2005. Since leaving office, he's been working for a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • commerce secretary • Obama Cabinet • Gary Locke

Honest Abe for Commerce? Obama Pokes Fun at Trouble

Maybe Abe sat around waiting for a call to be commerce secretary

Feb 13, 09 9:39 AM CST
(Newser) - President Obama poked a little fun at himself and his own Cabinet-appointee travails last night during a tribute to Abe Lincoln in Illinois, notes the Chicago Tribune. Obama drew a long round of laughter when he described Lincoln's pre-presidential days as a Springfield lawyer, "his feet on a cluttered... More »

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Springfield • Abraham Lincoln • Judd Gregg • President Obama • commerce secretary

(Newser) - President Obama—now 0 for 2 on commerce nominations—said Judd Gregg's decision to back out today came as a "something of a surprise," the State Journal-Register of Springfield reports. "The truth, you know, Mr. Gregg approached us with interest and seemed enthusiastic," said Obama. The... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Department of Commerce • Obama administration • Judd Gregg • commerce secretary • Obama Cabinet

(Newser) - More bad Cabinet news for President Obama: Republican Sen. Judd Gregg is withdrawing from consideration to be commerce secretary, the Washington Post reports. Gregg, who represents New Hampshire, cited "irresolvable conflicts" with Obama on issues including the stimulus package. He's the second commerce nominee to withdraw, following Bill Richardson.... More »

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Obama administration • Judd Gregg • commerce secretary • Obama Cabinet

Analysis

Deep-Red Gregg Is a Strange Fit
for Obama

Commerce nom tried to get rid of agency, but is bridge to big business

Feb 4, 09 1:53 PM CST
(Newser) - Judd Gregg is a fairly bizarre choice for commerce secretary, Pete Engardio writes in BusinessWeek, considering the Republican senator once called for the elimination of the Commerce Department. Gregg is a true fiscal conservative, who’s voted against bills to tighten emission standards, raise taxes on gas producers, and negotiate... More »

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Barack Obama • Department of Commerce • fiscal conservatives • Obama administration • Judd Gregg • President Obama • commerce secretary

GOP Says It Will Keep Gregg's Senate Seat

Sources say Lynch would appoint interim GOP member

Feb 2, 09 7:30 AM CST
(Newser) - Republicans say they have a deal in place to make sure that if Barack Obama picks Judd Gregg to head the Commerce Department, they won't lose that 41st seat they need to mount a filibuster. Officials expect New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch to pick his former chief of staff Bonnie... More »

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Barack Obama • Senate • New Hampshire • Senate Republicans • John Lynch • Department of Commerce • Obama administration • Judd Gregg • commerce secretary • Bonnie Newman

GOP Desperate to Keep Gregg
in Senate

If he takes Commerce, they want NH governor to pick a Republican 

Jan 31, 09 11:26 AM CST
(Newser) - Republicans are stepping up efforts to keep Judd Gregg from jumping to Barack Obama’s Cabinet, or, failing that, to convince New Hampshire’s Democratic governor to pick a Republican to replace him. Otherwise, Democrats would gain a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority. “It would be a loss to the Senate... More »

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Barack Obama • Senate • New Hampshire • John Cornyn • Department of Commerce • Obama administration • Judd Gregg • commerce secretary

Obama Mulls Republican for Commerce

Tapping NH's Gregg could give Democrats 60 seats in Senate

Jan 30, 09 10:40 AM CST
(Newser) - Democrats may get their 60-seat Senate majority after all. President Obama is considering New Hampshire Republican Judd Gregg for the Commerce Secretary post Bill Richardson declined, sources tell Politico. New Hampshire’s Democratic governor would then get to appoint Gregg’s successor. Asked if he’d been offered the job,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Bill Richardson • Cabinet • Senate • New Hampshire • Obama administration • Judd Gregg • Cabinet secretary • commerce secretary • Obama Cabinet

Caucus Pushes for Black Commerce Secretary 

 Obama considering Symantec CEO—and a GOP senator

Jan 30, 09 1:44 AM CST
(Newser) - The Congressional Black Caucus is lobbying President Obama to name a black commerce secretary. The caucus is pushing for technology executive John Thompson, CEO of software security company Symantec and an Obama contributor, to fill the post, reports the Hill. Obama has so far appointed only four African Americans to... More »

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Bill Richardson • Department of Commerce • Obama administration • Congressional Black Caucus • President Obama • commerce secretary • Symantec Corp • National Infrastructure Advisory Committee • John Thompson

Richardson: Not So Easy Going Home Again

Mixed reactions greet return of Santa Fe's political dynamo

Jan 6, 09 12:31 PM CST
(Newser) - His cushy Cabinet post yanked out from underneath him, Bill Richardson is heading home to the state that made him a national player, reports the New York Times. And while New Mexico might be a let-down for Richardson, (“Sometimes your own dreams and plans must take a back seat... More »

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Bill Richardson • New Mexico • governor • commerce secretary • pay to play

Keep Richardson Cabinet Spot Hispanic, Leaders Urge

Latino activists disappointed NM governor won't head Commerce, push new list

Jan 5, 09 10:50 AM CST
(Newser) - Bill Richardson’s Cabinet nomination was big for the Hispanic community, and with the New Mexico governor backing out, Politico reports, Latino leaders are pushing Barack Obama to choose another of their own for the Commerce slot. Says the head of one group, “We hope we can keep that... More »

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Bill Richardson • Cabinet • Bill Clinton • nomination • grand jury • George W. Bush • Hispanics • President Obama • commerce secretary • Manny Diaz • pay to play • Xavier Becerra • Marty Chavez


 Richardson 
 Camp Mum 
 to Vetters 
 on Pay-to-Play 

Gov. tight-lipped about investigation

Jan 5, 09 7:42 AM CST
(Newser) - Bill Richardson’s sudden exit from the prospective Obama Cabinet is causing some Democrats to question the transition team’s vetting process. Sources tell Politico that Richardson evaded the team’s questions about the “pay-to-play” investigation he cited as his reason for backing out. The investigation has been public... More »

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Barack Obama • Bill Richardson • New Mexico • grand jury • political scandal • transition team • President Obama • commerce secretary • pay to play

(AP) - Bill Richardson has withdrawn his nomination to be commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation into a lucrative state contract awarded to a firm that backed the New Mexico governor's political activities. Barack Obama's transition office said today that Obama has accepted Richardson's withdrawal. More »

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Bill Richardson • New Mexico • nomination • grand jury • commerce secretary • pay to play • CDR Financial Products

 Richardson 
 Picked for 
 Commerce 

Former Obama rival had eyed gig at State

Nov 23, 08 2:20 PM CST
(Newser) - Bill Richardson's consolation prize will be commerce secretary, Politico reports, after Hillary Clinton nabbed his desired post at State. The addition of the New Mexico governor brings yet another Clinton veteran to Barack Obama's administration. But Richardson's resume is among the strongest in the party, including stints as energy secretary... More »

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Hillary Clinton • Bill Richardson • secretary of State • Obama administration • President Obama • commerce secretary • Obama Cabinet

UPDATED

Billionaire Passes on Commerce Post

Top Obama fundraiser Pritzker takes herself out of the running

Nov 20, 08 12:49 PM CST
(Newser) - The hotel heiress Barack Obama was seriously considering as commerce secretary has taken herself out of the running, the Chicago Tribune reports. Penny Pritzker—whose family empire includes Hyatt hotels, casinos, and banks—led Obama's record-breaking fundraising effort, but the vetting process bogged down for “business reasons,” an... More »

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Barack Obama • Hyatt • President Obama • Cabinet secretary • commerce secretary • Penny Pritzker • Obama Cabinet

18 Stories


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