by Devin Barber
Member since:
November 25, 2006

LEFT OF THE RIGHT: Gary Locke Tapped For Commerce Secretary. But will his Republican Style Approach To Taxes Be Popular With Dems?

February 23, 2009 07:58 PM EST (Updated: April 17, 2009 12:37 PM EDT)
views: 211 | rating: 8/10 (5 votes) | comments: 30

President Barack Obama has chosen Gary Locke to be his Secretary of Commerce. Locke is Obama's third choice after Governor Bill Richardson had to drop out because of a federal investigation into state contracting and Senator Judd Gregg, a Republican from New Hampshire, withdrew his nomination because philosophical differences.

 

Locke was born and raised in Seattle Washington, a third generation Chinese American.

After graduating with honors from Seattle's Franklin High School in 1968, he attended Yale University earning a bachelor's degree in political science in 1972. He then went on to Boston University School of Law and earned his Law Degree in 1975.Locke was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1982 where he served as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. In 1993 he was elected County Executive of King County. In 1996 Gary Locke made history by being elected the first Chinese American Governor.

This choice seems a little confusing. In 2001 Governor Locke embraced the Republican Parties "no new taxes" approach to the budget woes Washington State was dealing with at the time. His proposals included cutting thousands of State jobs, and freezing the pay of others. He also wanted to reduce funding for programs like health care, nursing homes, and programs for the developmentally disabled. Gee, what a nice guy. Kind of hard to believe this guy is a Democrat.

In 2003 Locke made the surprising announcement that he would not seek a third term as governor. He said "Despite my deep love of our state, I want to devote more time to my family." It was suggested by the Seattle Post Intelligencer that the reason for Locke's surprising announcement was the racial slurs and death threats he received after his rebuttal to President Bush's State of the Union address in 2003. As a Washington State resident I can tell you that Locke was facing almost certain defeat in 2004. You can reach your own conclusion about why he left, but the fact he decided not to fight on concerns me.

If he acts the good soldier and does what he's told I suppose he'll do fine. He IS a fine manager.

*************

 

Devin Barber, Politics Correspondent

Devin's column, "Left Of The Right" published weekly or more to Gather Essentials: Politics is a Blue Collar Democrats take on current political news.

Devin was raised by proud Roosevelt Democrats. Being the son of parents counted among the throng of Americans displaced by the Great Depression has given Devin a deep rooted passion for causes dealing with the poor and the working class.

You can find all of Devin's columns at http://gather.com/leftoftheright

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Comments: 30

Larry M. Feb 23, 2009, 9:22pm EST
Well, we'll see. Obama is certainly bringing in a diversity of points of view. But the question is do any of them have the ability to think outside the box. All the options inside the box are bound to fail as they always have in the past.
Winston Smith Feb 24, 2009, 8:34am EST
We will have to see first if he paid his taxes first.

So, "bipartisanship" really means, "going along with the Democrats"?

You can't tax yourself into prosperity.
Jared P. Feb 24, 2009, 9:08am EST
Does not matter. He will be at commerce. The only serious thing he will do will be the Census, which is a really big deal. Unless they change his portfolio. Time to make this department relevant.
Winston Smith Feb 24, 2009, 10:03am EST
It's like they are a bunch of stoned college students at an all you can eat buffet with dad's credit card!

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/House-Democrats-propose-410B-apf-14450221.html
Winston Smith Feb 24, 2009, 10:22am EST
Obama administration took census out of Commerce so they can twist the census to help in gerrymandering with the census results. That's why the other guy left.

Using the census for politcal gains. That's change for ya!
Jeannie B. Feb 24, 2009, 10:57am EST
Gerrymandering is not unique to the Dems, Winston. GOPs do it too, but of course on a much larger scale.

I, too, hope that Locke does a good job managing Commerce, and that his background is clear of possible political land mines.

Good luck to us all.
Devin Barber Feb 24, 2009, 11:24am EST
I know you love to yammer on about this experience thing Rich. But did it occur to you that all GW's experience amounted to was; Not showing up for duty in the National Guard and running a baseball team into the ground.
Winston Smith Feb 24, 2009, 5:04pm EST
"Gerrymandering is not unique to the Dems, Winston. GOPs do it too, but of course on a much larger scale."

Examples please.
carolina m Feb 24, 2009, 7:44pm EST
I hope he is
Devin Barber Feb 25, 2009, 12:13pm EST
In a recent Gallup poll voters were asked whether they approved or disapproved of the way the three key political groups; President Obama, congressional Democrats, and congressional Republicans have handled the push for a stimulus bill.

President Obama 67% approve 25% disapprove
Congressional Democrats 48% approve 42% disapprove
Congressional Republicans 31% approve 58% disapprove

I think somebody disagrees with you Rich.
Devin Barber Feb 25, 2009, 12:17pm EST
Rich,
You are the biggest dumb ass of all. President Obama is the MOST capable president we've had in decades. The fact you do not recognize this proves what a dithering idiot you truly are.
Jeannie B. Feb 25, 2009, 7:16pm EST
Just for you, Winston: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2003/12/08/031208fa_fact

Rich, how can you have conclusively determined ANYTHING regarding Obama in the short time he's been in office? Most administrations had some rough going in the first few months of their term; this one has a pile of s**t to shovel before they can even get to fixing the cause of the pile. They did not create the pile, but you're blaming them for doing so!
Jeannie B. Feb 26, 2009, 2:59pm EST
yeah, maybe. But, Rich, you still can't tell after EIGHT YEARS that GWB was a collossal failure.
Devin Barber Feb 27, 2009, 12:17pm EST
Let's see, President Obama proposes 4 trillion dollars in spending over the next 10 years. And that somehow translates into a 24 trillion dollar debt. Man Rich, you should be more careful. Pulling numbers that big out of your ass could cause permanent damage.
Devin Barber Feb 27, 2009, 12:21pm EST
President Obama has already found 2 trillion dollars that can be cut from the budget. And it's no surprise that a lot of it is money voted in by the Republicans to protect us from an attack from the USSR. That's right, you heard me. Republicans were spending money on weapons systems to protect us from a country that no longer exists. Gee, do you think perhaps they were just protecting their cash cow.
Gene P. Mar 23, 2009, 1:02am EDT
Thanks for posting your content to the group Whatever!

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