The Obama campaign has just recently started making political appointments. First was his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.
Emanuel was chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Comittiee , and credited with some of the success of the democrats in 2006, but is known as being fairly partisan and cutthroat (it was reported, among other things, that he sent a dead fish to a pollster who crossed him) He was also a (Bill) Clinton adviser.
People on both the left and the right are talking about how divisive Emanuel can be and how his appointment is runs counter to Obama’s promise of reaching across the aisle.
Not to mention the “who do you know” game is already being played, as Emanuel’s father was part of a military Zionist group.
Obama probably made the pick because Emanuel, aside from everything else, is known for getting things done, and while his presence may be opposite to Obama’s bi-partisan efforts, Obama needs somebody to get things done in his administration. Without some strength pushing from the left in Obama’s White house, Obama may be worried about getting pushed around too much in an effort to please both sides.
In that sense Emanuel is a good pick, and while those on the right may decry it for exactly the same reasons (Obama is getting Emanuel to do his dirty work) it is nonetheless a prudent move by Obama.
