Sen. Judd Gregg (Republican-NH) withdrew as President Obama's choice for Commerce Secretary this afternoon, citing differences with the administration over the economic stimulus bill and issues regarding the 2010 census (which the Commerce Department oversees).
In a statement, Gregg said:
...it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me.First and foremost, I hope the stimulus bill works because America needs it to work. But when I see shit like this, I also want it to work so that the President and his party can go to voters in 2010 and say, "these guys didn't want to fix the economy, and in fact hoped it would fail." If things are going at least nominally well by the mid-term, that argument will hand the GOP a third straight devastating loss. And it will be more than deserved.
Who Should Replace Gregg?
It can argued that Fred Hochberg, the openly gay former president and COO of the Lillian Vernon Corporation, is an ideal candidate. Last month President Obama named Mr. Hochberg chair of the Export-Import Bank, but that can be undone easily in order to install him in the Commerce post.
The man's resume speaks for itself: President Clinton's #2 guy at the Small Business Administration; several years as the Dean of the New School's Milano School of Management; and board member of the NY/NJ Port Authority. As the President continues to surround himself with experience and competence, Hochberg should be given serious consideration for Commerce Secretary.
Will Obama nominate him? Probably not. But Hochberg would be a tremendously better pick than fuckin' Judd Gregg.
