C M Y K A6
DAILY 03-02-10 MD SU A6 CMYK
A6 The Nation
S KLMNO TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010
Emanuel is voice of reason, and Obama should listen, insiders say
emanuel from A1 “Axelrod has a strong view of care less about what is happen-
the historic character Obama is ing on the streets of our districts.
what has gone wrong, influential supposed to be,” said an early That’s not Rahm.”
Democrats are — in unusually Obama supporter who is close to One early supporter of Obama,
frank terms — blaming Obama the president and spoke on the who has known Emanuel for
and his closest campaign aides condition of anonymity to give a years, did not give the chief of
for not listening to Emanuel. And frank assessment of frustration staff a pass. “The House members
this puts the 50-year-old chief of with the White House. The recruited by Rahm say to me, ‘He
staff in a very uncomfortable po- source blamed Obama’s charmed is supposed to know our needs;
sition. political life for creating a self- how come we are being cut off at
Listening to Emanuel would confidence and trust in principle the knees on so many issues?’
serve “all our overall goals,” said that led to an “indifference to do- They don’t understand why
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz ing the small, marginal things a Rahm is not being more aggres-
(D-Fla.). “I think that Rahm’s White House could do to mitigate sive.”
considerable legislative experi- the problems on the Hill. Rahm Emanuel has maneuvered
ence translates into advice that knows the geography better.” where possible. He has dis-
the president should heed.” Emanuel and Axelrod declined patched Vice President Biden to
Instead, Obama went for the to comment for this article. appear at 25 fundraisers and ral-
historically far-reaching, but “During this whole civilian- lies to assist the “frontline mem-
more legislatively difficult, trial debate, Rahm’s gut instincts bers” of the House, those most in
achievements that he and his knew that taking KSM to New danger of being bounced out of
campaign-forged inner circle be- York for civilian trials was going office. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.),
lieve they were sent to Washing- to be a misstep,” Graham said. who negotiated with Emanuel
ton to deliver. “He has a better ear for domestic during the shaping of the presi-
politics on this issue than any- dent’s budget, said he helped se-
‘Gut instincts’
body in the administration, quite cure assistance for projects “re-
In December 2008, Obama, frankly.” lated to my state,” including get-
Emanuel and Republican Sens. With the Justice Department ting the delayed construction of a
John McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsey in charge, Emanuel tried to keep dormitory back on track. “Not
O. Graham (S.C.) met in Obama’s tabs on the process through Gra- sexy stuff,” he said.
transition headquarters in Chica- ham. “He’d say: ‘How’s it going? That seemingly small, unsexy
go to discuss detainee policy. Ac- Did you tell them they were going stuff is, however, key to Emanu-
cording to Graham, Obama to lose you?’ And in terms a sailor el’s strategy of keeping the con-
turned to him at one point and could understand.” gressional majorities happy and
said, “ ‘I’m going to need your One administration official building up small achievements
help closing Guantanamo Bay. . . . close to Emanuel did not dispute into a substantial body of legisla-
I want you and Rahm to start that Obama had overruled Eman-
PETE SOUZA/WHITE HOUSE PHOTO
tion.
talking.’ ” They did, and as the uel on some key policy issues. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, center, meets with, from left, national security adviser James Early in the administration,
discussions progressed, Emanuel “It’s not germane what the dis- L. Jones, White House senior adviser David Axelrod, Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina and press Obama signed into law equal-pay
grew wary that closing the U.S. cussion was beforehand, what his secretary Robert Gibbs. legislation and expanded health
military prison in Cuba was pos- idea was, because once a decision care for children and credit-card
sible without opening a slew of is made, he puts himself whole- times to determine whether he Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Emanuel has clashed, are as ea- protections. When it came time
other politically sensitive nation- hog behind it,” the official said of can cross off an item. If not, it is who wrote Obama a letter of sup- ger as he is to make the civil war for the economic stimulus plan,
al security problems “ ‘This stuff Emanuel. “It would be difficult on the list the next day. port for Emanuel’s appointment, of the Chicago consiglieri story Emanuel — arguing that “you
is like flypaper,’ ” Graham re- for people to discern what his The official said Emanuel sur- now says it was “a mistake.” go away. never want a serious crisis to go
called Emanuel saying. “ ‘It will [original] position was.” veys colleagues’ opinions “more “For Rahm, power and preser- “Rahm has been a tremendous to waste” — was the White
stick to you.’ ” than people think.” Emanuel’s vation of power is always the chief of staff,” said Valerie Jarrett, House’s point man in the Senate.
Graham said Emanuel was
‘Taking flak’
initial reaction to criticism is number one priority,” Gutierrez a senior adviser to the president. There, too, he valued the plausi-
well aware that his and any other Emanuel’s allies say there is no likely to be slamming down the said. He said Emanuel corroded “We have all the good fortune of ble over the perfect.
Republican support for closing such thing as Rahm at rest. Ac- phone. But usually, he calls back Obama’s commitment to immi- working for President Obama. Snowe said he was “respon-
Guantanamo Bay hinged on cording to almost everyone who after a few minutes, the official gration reform, and he gleefully We’re a good collegial team.” sive” to her interest in removing
keeping alleged Sept. 11 master- has ever worked with him, he has said, and says, “ ‘Okay, let’s talk.’ ” compared the renewed scrutiny $100 billion in spending from the
mind Khalid Sheik Mohammed an insatiable need to be in the His weighing in on a mind- on Emanuel, and the popular
‘Ally in the effort’
stimulus bill. “He understood it
out of civilian court. mix, and he is deeply concerned boggling swath of governmental Washington parlor game of when What makes Emanuel’s posi- operationally and legislatively,
According to a person familiar with the news of the day. His of- and political activity adds to his he’d return to pursue other op- tion so difficult is that his job re- what needed to be accomplished,
with the conversations, who dis- fice is the White House nerve outsize image as chief of staff of portunities in Chicago, to “vul- quires him to bridge the compet- and was very straightforward,”
cussed the confidential delibera- center. “In order to get a final de- everything. As a result, he can be tures circling.” ing interests of the White House she said.
tion on the condition of anonym- cision, everything needs to go blamed for almost everything, es- Suffering that sort of opprobri- and Congress. When health-care reform be-
ity, Emanuel made his case to through Rahm’s office,” said a for- pecially as health-care legislation um — what Rep. Rosa DeLauro “All our members are up for came the administration’s focus,
Obama, articulating the political mer administration official who became stuck, the president’s ap- (D-Conn.), Emanuel’s friend of election this year, and the presi- Emanuel’s public persona was
dangers of a civilian trial to con- thinks Emanuel should delegate proval ratings dipped and wide- three decades, described as “tak- dent is not up for election until that of a partisan field marshal.
gressional Democrats. Attorney more. spread angst about the economy ing flak” for the president — 2012,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen But before Obama and his ad-
General Eric H. Holder Jr. pre- Every morning, Emanuel leads fueled a GOP resurgence. hasn’t visibly bothered the chief (D-Md.). “Sometimes there are visers settled on a policy of ex-
sented a counterargument rooted a 7:30 meeting with about 10 sen- “When the going gets rough, of staff. He has always showed a tensions because of the different pansive scope, Emanuel back in
in principle, for civilian trials. ior administration aides, pushing the chiefs of staff are always on brash side. As a young operative timetables.” August suggested a smaller bill
David Axelrod, senior adviser through the president’s priori- the firing line,” Sen. Olympia J. in Illinois, he sent a dead fish to a Van Hollen, who is Emanuel’s that would be easier to pass, ac-
to Obama, supported Holder, the ties, all listed on index cards em- Snowe (R-Maine) said last week. pollster. As an aide to Bill Clin- successor as DCCC chairman and cording to another administra-
source said. The president agreed bossed with the title “Chief of Emanuel’s aversion to distrac- ton, he stabbed a knife into a ta- is charged with protecting the tion official who spoke on the
that letting the Justice Depart- Staff.” Throughout the day, one tions from the president’s agenda ble while screaming the names of House majority Emanuel helped condition of anonymity to dis-
ment take the lead was the right senior administration official has caused conflict, and disap- the president’s enemies. win, said: “There has been some cuss private deliberations.
thing to do. said, Emanuel might call six pointment, on the Hill. But the Rahm-knows-better- frustration with the administra- When the larger measure
than-the-president notion, in- tion,” especially in the slow pace stalled, Emanuel harangued Sen-
creasingly spread by his allies of tackling unemployment. ate Finance Chairman Max Bau-
and articulated in a Washington “From my discussions with cus (D-Mont.) and later argued to
THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, MARCH 4-6 AT STEIN MART Post column by Dana Milbank Rahm, he has been an ally in the Majority Leader Harry M. Reid
last month, is, regardless of its re- effort to get these things moving (D-Nev.) to strike the public op-
lation to reality, creating more quickly and understands it’s im- tion from the legislation to expe-
tension for the chief of staff in- portant that there be progress.” dite passage, the source said.
side the White House and draw- Asked about that tension, Reid insisted on putting it in.
ing more scrutiny from outside. House Majority Leader Steny H. “One thing that has frustrated
Emanuel, ever attuned to the Hoyer (D-Md.) said: “I’m sure Rahm,” said Sen. Robert P. Casey
politics of self-preservation, has there were discussions back and Jr. (D-Pa.), “is how the Senate
assumed a lower profile. His on- forth, and Rahm, being the op- works.”
the-record output has reduced to erational guy in the room, said, As health-care negotiations
a trickle. The other day, he made ‘Look, this is what we can get, inched along at the end of last
an unusual visit to the movies let’s get this now, we can pare it year, Emanuel grew impatient
(“We saw ‘Ajami,’ ” a film about down, et cetera.’ And I’m sure about addressing national job-
social divisions in Israel, said his there were those in the room who lessness concerns. One Demo-
friend Joel Johnson, a former said, ‘Look, we said during the cratic senator who wanted to piv-
Capitol Hill official.) He’s taking campaign we were going to do ot to unemployment said Emanu-
on help in a new senior adviser, this; we need to get the whole el shared his thinking. “ ‘I
Robert Nabors, currently deputy ball of wax.’ ” understand, I understand. We
director of the Office of Manage- Another senior member of the have to get to jobs,’ ” the senator,
ment and Budget. House Democratic caucus put it who spoke on the condition of
Receive up to
“Rahm can appear to correct more bluntly. “I don’t think the anonymity to discuss private con-
course better than anybody,” said White House has listened to him versations, recalled Emanuel
4 coupons good for
one senior administration offi- enough,” said the member, who commiserating. In a meeting
cial. “When the heat is on, he spoke on the condition of ano- with the president and chief of
20% OFF
shows a spirit of camaraderie and nymity to discuss frustration staff, the senator stated his case,
working well with the team. In with the White House. “There is but Obama decided the priority
the last few days, he’s been a little this growing sense in the House was seeing health-care reform
ANY ONE REGULAR PRICE,
bit more solicitous about opin- that this White House is tone- through.
SALE OR CLEARANCE ITEM
ions on the health-care summit, deaf and doesn’t care about 2010, “It was the president’s call,”
about inviting people into the that it is sacrificing members for said the senator, who added that
conversation about how things 2012 and that the president Emanuel showed no trace of ob-
when you bring your
get shaped.” thinks he doesn’t need to get en- jection. “A play was called, and he
Obama’s key campaign advis- gaged, or that he thinks politics was running the play.”
gently used clothing
ers, even those with whom don’t matter and that he could horowitzj@washpost.com
to Stein Mart
during our
Employer alters spousal benefits
event.
*
benefits from A1 legalize same-sex marriage, said been at the forefront of worker
the charity had the right to benefits, so this move cuts
facilitating city-sponsored adop- change its health insurance plan. against their understanding of
tions. Being forced to recognize “Catholic Charities is a private, social justice and health benefits
*Limit 4 coupons per customer, but you can same-sex marriage, church offi- nonprofit corporation. They can to all possible,” Tuttle said. “But
donate as many items as you’d like. Earn and cials said, could make it impos- choose to provide benefits to fam- obviously, you can see they felt
redeem coupons March 4-6, 2010. Bring your garments to any
sible for the church to be a city ilies and spouses or not,” he said. there was a real conflict between
participating Stein Mart. Tax receipts are available.
contractor because Catholic “I hope that it’s not just a run- those values. They feel they we-
teaching opposes such unions. around to keep from doing things ren’t left with much of a choice.”
After the council voted to legal- they should do, but it’s within Staff members at the charity
> Get 2 hours free parking
ize gay marriage, Catholic Chari- their purview to decide what to were not given advance notice of
in the Chevy Chase Pavilion
All garments received
ties last month transferred its offer their employees.” the new policy and will not be
foster-care program — 43 chil- The church faced two options able to add a spouse now because
parking garage with any
will be donated to
dren, 35 families and seven staff with the approval of the new law, the most recent open enrollment
Stein Mart purchase
members — to another provider, said Robert Tuttle, a George period ended in November.
the National Center for Children Washington University professor Those who use their health
and Families. who studies the relationship be- benefits to cover spouses will be
Orzechowski said Monday that tween church and state. One grandfathered into the new pol-
the change in health benefits will choice was to expand the defini- icy.
be the last move necessary in re- tion of domestic partner, as the Catholic Charities, which oper-
sponse to the legislation. Archdiocese in San Francisco did ates in the District and five coun-
“We do not anticipate any fur- years ago, to include a parent, ties in Maryland, employs 850
ther changes whatsoever,” he sibling or someone else in the people. Fewer than 100 use the
said. “Taking the action we have household. spousal benefit option, charity of-
on foster care and spousal we feel The second choice was to do ficials said.
has addressed everything the what the Washington Archdio- wanw@washpost.com
new law requires of us.” cese has done: eliminate benefits
D.C. Council member Tommy for all spouses. Staff writer Michelle Boorstein
Visit steinmart.com for store locations and to view our Fair Pricing Policy • 1-888-steinmart
Wells (D-Ward 6), who voted to “For decades, the church has contributed to this report.
C M Y K A6
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48