Rahm Emanuel's hire by Barack Obama sparks predictable -- and surprising -- GOP responses

Rep. Rahm Emanuel's reputation as a hard-core, hard-charging Democratic partisan preceded him in most of the Republican reaction to his selection as White House chief of staff for Barack Obama.

The choice prompted a terse, negative statement from GOP House Leader John Boehner:

This is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center.

A far lengthier -- and unrelentingly negative -- missive came from the media staff at the Republican National Committee. It can be perused here, but the RNC also conveniently provided a synopsis:

After Promising Change, Obama Selects Hyper-Partisan Wedded to Special Interests as His White House Chief of Staff.

But then there were these words, from Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina and John McCain's frequent traveling companion in the just-completed presidential campaign:

This is a wise choice by President-elect Obama.

Graham, praising Emanuel for "great political skills," continued:

I worked closely with him during the presidential debate negotiations which were completed in record time. When we hit a rough spot, he always looked for a path forward. I consider Rahm to be a friend and colleague. He's tough but fair. Honest, direct, and candid. These qualities will serve President-elect Obama well.

So much for a unified Republican message.

For a video report on who else will join the newly-forming Obama administration, click the video below.

-- Don Frederick

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Comments

[rok]

is weird, republicans still don't realize that election is over, and they need to change their mind before strategies. rahm will be burried only by is fellows dems from senate, because he is lethal. and effective

[john afraidi]

Obama's PRESIDENCY has been praised by the entire world hoping that being a just, fair and decent human being, the way he has portrayed himself, he will bring respect for America and he will established America as the kinder, gentle, peace loving, fair and just Super power.
But within 24-hours he is losing the respect from some of the world Nations including the oppressed Palestinians by appointing the harsh and right wing Israel leaning Jew as his Chief Of Staff. IF HE WILL CONTINUE SUCH APPOINTMENTS, PEOPLE WILL FIND OUT VERY SOON, WHETHER HE IS CAPABLE OF MAKING ANY POITIVE CHANGES IN THE AMERICAN POLICIES OR WILL USE THE SAME OLD CARDS? AND LIKE BUSH, HE WILL ALSO LOSE HIS AND AMERICA'S IMAGE WITHIN FEW DAYS OR MONTHS.

[steve rodriguez]

The same Rahm Emanuel who sat on the board of Fanny Mae & Freddie Mac when they were under investigation!
Some kinda change!!!

[Badmutha]

We ain't playin' softball this time. The Supreme court won't be able to hand the Republicans the Presidency in 8 years like they did in 2000. This time, much like Karl Rove had hoped for the GOP, we will not only seize the power we will hold it. Long enough to develop a whole nu generation of politically active liberals. Gen Y came thru this time and we are already planning the 2010 election cycle and how to set up offices in EVERY STATE IN THE UNION. Alaska? We're coming to get you too!

[PNW Trojan]

Hey, Obama has far, FAR more to worry about with self-serving extremist Dems like pelosi, clinton, frank, reid,dodd, feinstein, boxer, and a score of truly 'lessor' thugs . If Obama goes the middle or MODERATE route, he'll get lots of support from people and pols SICK of the self-serving extremists on BOTH sides, but clearly, we ALL want him to SUCCEED!!!

[David Blackburn]

Funny that Boehner is complaining. We need a pitt bull to deal with the likes of him.

[Liz Jacob]

Wow, Rahm Emanuel is an ADL member, an AIPAC man and a "Psychopath" - His father was a jewish terror group member in Palestine too.

[Guy]

I do not believe that President-elect Barack Obama will govern from the center or will he be a consensus builder.
He will be have a socialists agenda will listen exclusively to the liberal idealogues of the Democratic Party.
The truth in the matter is the pick of the Chief-of-Staff
Rahm Emanuel, an enabler of the financial crisis while he was a board member of Freddie Mac.