TPMDC Bob Bauer
Bob Bauer
Bauer Out As White House Counsel, Obama Names Ruemmler As Successor
Kathryn Ruemmler
White House counsel and veteran Democratic attorney Bob Bauer is heading back to private practice and to serve as the top lawyer for the President's re-election campaign at the end of July and will be replaced by his deputy, Kathryn Ruemmler, according to an administration release.
While Bauer will return to private practice at Perkins Coie, he will serve as general counsel to the President's reelection campaign, general counsel to the Democratic National Committee, and personal lawyer to President Obama.
Topics: 2012, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Bob Bauer, Democratic National Committee, Kathryn Ruemmler, White House
Bob Bauer
White House Counsel Calls For Senate To End Judicial 'Cold War'
Robert Bauer
The Obama administration will try to forge a new path forward to get their judicial nominees through the Senate confirmation process, White House Counsel Bob Bauer said Tuesday. That plan would supposedly solve what Bauer termed a long-running "cold war" between Democrats and Republicans on judicial nominees.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Bob Bauer, Judicial nominees
Barack Obama
White House: Kagan Is A Worthy Successor To John Paul Stevens
Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan
The White House is moving quickly to portray Elena Kagan as a worthy successor to the retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, emphasizing that her "leadership qualities" are what set her apart from the other contenders on the Supreme Court short list. The implication is that the President sees in Kagan someone who can be an intellectual counterweight to Chief Justice John Roberts.
"You can't overnight replace 34 years of experience," presidential adviser David Axelrod told reporters, but Kagan "shows the prospect over time of stepping into those shoes and being a leader on the court."
Axelrod and White House Counsel Bob Bauer briefed a small group of reporters in the Old Executive Office Building next door to the White House about an hour after President Obama publicly unveiled Kagan in a ceremony in the East Room.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Bob Bauer, David Axelrod, Elena Kagan, Senate, Senate Judiciary Committee, Supreme Court, Supreme Court vacancy, White House
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: 'These Reforms Would Put An End -- Once And For All -- To Taxpayer Bailouts'
In this weekend's presidential YouTube address, President Obama touted progress in the recovery of the auto industry, and also promoted his proposed reforms to the financial sector.
"In the absence of common-sense rules, Wall Street firms took enormous, irresponsible risks that imperiled our financial system - and hurt just about every sector of our economy. Some people simply forgot that behind every dollar traded or leveraged, there is family looking to buy a house, pay for an education, open a business, or save for retirement," said Obama. "That's why I went to New York City this week and addressed an audience that included leaders in the financial industry. And I once again called for reforms to hold Wall Street accountable and to protect consumers. These reforms would put an end - once and for all - to taxpayer bailouts. They would bring greater transparency to complex financial dealings. And they will empower ordinary consumers and shareholders in our financial system."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Bob Bauer, Campaign Finance, Citizens United, Financial Reform, Hillary Clinton, Immigration, John McCain, Roundup, Sarah Palin
Steve King
Rep. King: New White House Counsel Brought In To Protect...ACORN!
Rep. Steve King (R-IA)
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is attacking the appointment of Bob Bauer as the new White House Counsel -- saying that it's all a plot to protect ACORN!
In a new press release, King declares:
"Bob Bauer has a public record of defending Barack Obama's relationship with ACORN. Bauer has acted as the agent between Obama and ACORN, and now he will be perfectly positioned to be tasked with erasing the tracks between Obama and ACORN. Bauer's hiring appears to be a tactical maneuver to strategically defend the White House exactly one week after Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell raided ACORN's national headquarters in New Orleans and seized paper records and computer hard drives that may lead to the White House."PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)
Topics: ACORN, Anita Dunn, Bob Bauer, Steve King
Greg Craig
Eric Holder: 'Unfair' To Blame Greg Craig For Gitmo Delay
Attorney General Eric Holder
Reporters asked Attorney General Eric Holder about the departure of White House counsel Greg Craig, and Holder said he was "a little surprised" by the news.
Holder also said Craig was getting "unfair proportion of the blame" for the delay of closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay.
"Greg Craig is a great lawyer, he has been a great friend to the Justice Department," Holder said.
Holder also thanked Craig for his role in the "success" of the Obama administration, including the "effort" to close Gitmo.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Bob Bauer, Eric Holder, Greg Craig, Guantanamo Bay, White House
Barack Obama
Obama Says He's 'Indebted' To Greg Craig As Counsel Leaves White House
White House Counsel Greg Craig
President Obama has made official what broke late last night - White House counsel Greg Craig is leaving and being replaced by longtime D.C. lawyer Bob Bauer.
"Greg Craig is a close friend and trusted advisor who tackled many tough challenges as White House Counsel," Obama said in a statement announcing the move, effective Jan. 3.
"Because of Greg's leadership, we have confirmed the first Latina justice on the Supreme Court, set the toughest ethics standards for any administration in history, and ensured that we are keeping the nation secure in a manner that is consistent with our laws and our values," Obama said. "I'm indebted to Greg not only for leading the Counsel's office but for his many decades of service to this country as well. He has been a huge asset in the White House, and he will be missed. I will continue to call on him for advice in the years ahead."
The move had been expected - and written about - for more than a month as details leaked out there was inner-White House tension over Guantanamo Bay. Today White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in Asia that had nothing to do with the departure.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Bob Bauer, Greg Craig, Guantanamo Bay, White House
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