Senator Gregg

Senator Judd Gregg, Repubican of New Hampshire, is said to be President Obama's top choice for Secretary of Commerce. As everyone knows by now, New Hampshire's governor is a Democrat and could appoint a Democrat to replace him in the Senate. Once Al Franken is finally seated, this would give Democrats the magic number of 60 votes to override Republican filibusters.

This sounds like very smart politics. In addition, Senator Gregg is considered a moderate Repubican and would add more bipartisanship to the Cabinet.

Just one thing is missing: in two days of news stories and comments, I have not seen one word about whether Senator Gregg has any special qualifications to run the Commerce Department. If this were Republicans doing this, I would not be surprised; it would only increase my cynicism.

Given that this stands out as the exception, rather than the rule, for the Obama administration, I raise only a mild concern. And Gregg may turn out to be just fine for the job. Let's see.

Obama does allow for exceptions in his very high principles, as in the rules he set to bar former lobbyists from working in areas they had previously lobbied for. One of his key second tier appointments at Defense is a former lobbyist for a defense contractor, who also happens to be the most highly regarded person for the job at Defense.

Admitting that this does not follow the strict guidelines he had set, Obama did the next best thing: put strict limits on what the appointee must recuse himself from in awarding contracts and promised regular oversight and transparency as to what he is doing.

Republicans have yelled 'hypocrisy' and tried to tarnish Obama's reformist image, saying he is already violating his principles. They have no standing to make that claim. What Obama is doing is a rare exception to the strictest standards ever, and the exception is openly acknowledged with built in oversight safeguards.

This is so far superior to anything the Republicans ever did that it makes their complaints laughable. First, they routinely appointed lobbyists to key positions where they influenced policy and contracts, without the justification that they had unique qualifications for the job. And they did everything possible to conceal the facts and to avoid transparency and accountability.

So far, the Republicans are not wearing their minority status well -- neither with grace nor with constructive participation. Let's hope the voters are taking notes and not just listening to Rush Limbaugh's narcissistic diatribes.

Ralph