S.C. Dems possibly in line for jobs
Hodges, Tenenbaum among those touted
By Schuyler Kropf
Former Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges and former state Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum are two of the more prominent South Carolina figures who could land positions in the new Obama administration, party faithful say.
"Jim Hodges could be an ambassador if he wanted to," said former state Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian, an early Obama backer.
Speculation about Tenenbaum includes a possible Cabinet-level appointee as secretary of education, a post held by former South Carolina Gov. Dick Riley during the Clinton years.
Hours after victory was declared
Tuesday night, thousands of Obama supporters, and some Democrats in general, began brushing up their resumes.
No one knows for sure how many positions need to be filled, but on Tuesday night Obama did make a positive remark on the reception he received in South Carolina during the primaries, referencing campaigning "on the front porches of Charleston."
Other names that have surfaced as possible administration appointees include recent party chairman Joe Erwin of Greenville.
Harpootlian said he might be interested in doing something with the administration, though he added that many of those in the Obama camp might seek posts that are part time or don't require moving to Washington.
Possibilities include serving on a board or commission related to the various branches of government. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., also likely will have great sway in consulting with the White House, including in naming any federal judgeships that come open.
"South Carolina played a significant role in securing the Democratic nomination for Barack Obama, and I am sure he will consider many qualified candidates from our state when filling positions in his Cabinet," Clyburn said Wednesday. "I believe the talent pool here is very deep."
Tenenbaum "would make an excellent secretary of education," he said.
Eventually, Obama will appoint a new U.S. Attorney for South Carolina. Clyburn and fellow Democrat U.S. Rep. John Spratt will have the White House's ear on that nomination, and one name already in speculation is Columbia lawyer Bill Nettles.
Former Charleston County Democratic Party Chairman Waring Howe Jr. also could gain a spot in the Obama presidency, some observers said.
Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551, or skropf@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
cwmcpa (anonymous) says...
So much for change we can believe in
November 6, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steve (anonymous) says...
I wouldn't count out Ketner in Housing or FEMA. She bolted pretty quick yesterday, and her working in affordable housing has Republicans and Democrats interested in her.
November 6, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
As a fellow democrat, I say to Obama that Jim Hodges is not worthy of any office, so do not even consider it.
November 6, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NumbersSCcom (anonymous) says...
Might as well get Republicans from South Carolina to serve in an Obama administration. I can't really tell that there's much difference in this state.
The SCDP seems content to be a bunch of country club Democrats serving at the pleasure of war-mongers like Lindsey Graham who seems intent on getting us involved in another Cold War with Russia.
I'm ALL for a strong defense and I'm a veteran, but I cannot and will not approve of our policing the world and rebuilding countries to the tune of trillions of dollars going, for the most part, to political donors to Lindsey Graham and other corporate welfare statists.
Over the past six years, Carol Fowler could have been working to find a strong candidate against Lindsey Graham. Instead she let Graham's lawyer buddies put up Michael Cone as the pre-selected loser.
When that didn't work out as planned, she could have supported the candidate against Lindsey Graham. But because she and Clyburn disagreed with him on a couple of social issues (abortion and gay marriage) we're now stuck with someone who will continue to flood Wall Street billionaires with OUR tax money and continue to inflate our dollar until we're at Weimar Republic levels of inflation.
As an independent, I don't see anyone in South Carolina politics who's earned a place in the Obama administration nor anyone who is deserving of running a political party at the national level.
No one I've met in this state is willing to FIGHT for what's right in politics. They're all bought out by special interests and the corporate welfare crowd--Democrats and Republicans both.
I pray I'm mistaken but I haven't seen much evidence to the contrary yet.
Who will go into politics to fight for US, the CITIZENS of this state and this country?
November 6, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
islandbenzbc (anonymous) says...
Liberaltime: Will you be on your way to DC to help the messiah or are you giong to stay here with the rest of the "trash"?
steve: I thought Linda K went on vacation with her "partner"...
November 6, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Liberaltime; "The trash will be left here in South carolina where they belong."
=============================================================
Rest assured you'll be left here.
November 6, 2008 at 6:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Carolina_Politics (anonymous) says...
I hope this is a joke. The Democrats, more so than the Republicans, seem to be the ones who complain about the poor education in the state, but some of them want to install the woman who presided over all of this in the President's cabinet? So now education in the entire nation can suffer?
http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com...
November 6, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justjerry (anonymous) says...
President Elect Obama, PLEASE, PLEASE take Jim Clyburn!
November 6, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
Good grief, one look at the names of the possible appointments from our state, and you can bet we will be considered even bigger hicks by the rest of the country if he takes them.
Good post, justjerry!
November 6, 2008 at 9:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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