Scarborough: Obama tapping Emanuel would be telling GOP to 'drop dead' David Edwards and Muriel Kane

Published: Wednesday November 5, 2008





Print This Email This The news that president-elect Barack Obama has offered the position of White House chief of staff to Congressman Rahm Emanuel has generally drawn praise as a canny political move.



However, former Rep. Joe Scarborough disagrees strongly, calling Emanuel "a harsh partisan" and saying on Wednesday that if he accepts the post it would be a "horrible symbol" for Republicans.



Scarborough got into a dust-up over Emanuel with the guests on his MSNBC program, beginning when Time editor Mark Haperin suggested that Obama will be "in a very strong position" when it comes to dealing with Congress because Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are "nice people ... but they're not the strongest figures in the world."



"Obama understands legislatures," Halperin explainued, "and he's not going to make the mistakes the way Bill Clinton did. ... The danger you're talking about -- going too left, letting Congress run roughshod over him -- I do not think's going to happen. ... He's now ... offered the chief of staff job to your friend Rahm Emanuel -- I think a very shrewd move."



According to Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post, before being elected to Congress, "Emanuel built a reputation as one of the savviest political minds in the party and also one of the most confrontational and sharp elbowed. His tactics and approach earned him the name 'Rahmbo.' ... In pursuing Emanuel, Obama is also sending a message to Capitol Hill that he recognizes the need to work with them by selecting one of their own but that he also will not be afraid to play tough."



Scarborough, however, apparently did not see the choice of Emanuel as a signal to Congressional Democrats that Obama intends to work with them while keeping the upper hand but rather as a slap in the face to Republicans hoping for a bipartisan approach.



"I don't think that's a shrewd move," Scarborough complained. "I respect Rahm politically ... [but] that is a very bad sign for a united America because Rahm Emanuel is all brass knuckles. ... Barack Obama, if he selects him, has just sent a message to Republicans, 'Drop dead.'"



"It is a horrible, horrible symbol ... to people that believe that Barack Obama's going to reach out to the center and to Republicans," continued Scarborough. He insisted that "they needed a Tom Daschle" -- referring to the mild-mannered former Senate Majority Leader who was an early Obama supporter.



It was not clear whether Scarborough was sincere in his objections to Emanuel or simply attempting to sow discord as he brushed aside his guests' objections that Emanuel is a "centrist" and a member of the Democratic Leadership Council.



Former Tennesee Rep. Harold Ford asserted, "Rahm would give him, give the president a credibility with Democrats. He could stand up to them on things that he's going to have to stand up to them on. ... Look at the candidates that Rahm recruited to win in '06. These were moderate, conservative Democrats. ... You want in a chief of staff somebody who can help push your agenda through."



"That's crap," retorted Scarborough. "Rahm Emanuel is a harsh partisan. ... This is a very clear signal to Republicans, 'Duck, because change means we're just changing administrations.' ... For people that don't know Rahm Emanuel, this would be the equivalent of a Republican putting Tom DeLay in ... as chief of staff."



"Tom DeLay was not personal friends with a single Democrat in the caucus," Halperin countered. "Not one. And Rahm has got close friendships with lots of Republicans -- and that's one way stuff gets done in Washington."



"I'm trying to come to terms with the new America," Scarborough concluded sourly. "Yes We Can -- beat the hell out of Republicans."





This video is from MSNBC's News Live, broadcast November 5, 2008.









Download video via RawReplay.com







