Bold Move by Obama: New White House Chief of Staff Can Hit the Inside Pitch!

Who Needs the Hall of Fame? In a bold move that has surprised Democrats, confused traditional Republicans, and caused a few Tea Partiers’ heads to explode, President Obama has just tapped 69 year old baseball legend Pete Rose as his new Chief of Staff, replacing Rahm Emanuel who is off to Chicago to run for mayor. Mr. Rose, known as “Charlie Hustle” for his aggressive play, finished his 23 year playing career (1963-1986) with the all-time major league record of 4,256 hits. Also, he earned one Most Valuable Player award, appeared 17 times in the All Star game, and owns three World Series rings. Indisputably, by all measures, Mr. Rose hustled to one of the greater careers in baseball.

However, in one of the sadder episodes in baseball history, the term “Charlie Hustle” took on a more sinister meaning, when, in 1989, Mr. Rose accepted a lifetime ban from baseball for gambling on games, although he denied betting on his own team, the Cincinnati Reds. In his 2004 autobiography, however, he admitted to betting on Reds games, although he claimed he never bet against the Reds. This led to Mr. Rose being permanently barred from induction into the Hall of Fame, although recently sentiment has softened somewhat.More guts and hustle for the White House. President Obama’s choice, though unexpected, is at least a bold one. Rahm Emanuel, who Mr. Rose replaces, struck too many presidential and democratic insiders as too tight-fisted with access to the Oval Office. Even cabinet members felt frozen out. In addition, progressives felt that Emanuel pushed compromise rather than aggressively fighting for the President’s agenda of change. Moreover, responsibility for a number of diplomatic missteps were laid at Mr. Emanuel’s doorstep. Finally, his sometimes brittle and autocratic style offended many within and without the White House. By the time Mr. Emanuel signaled his departure, a sigh of relief was audible.

Against that backdrop, one can understand the choice of Pete Rose to the Chief of Staff post, the official most identified with pushing a president’s agenda through Congress. The President’s agenda for change has been hijacked to limbo by obstruction within the GOP and his own Democratic party Blue Dog wing. For example, GOP senator James Coburn (R-OK) is a virtual Dr. No, having personally put on hold scores of proposals, without a vote, using one of his individual privileges as a senator. Double crossing GOP legislative have become commonplace. And the Democratic party itself is bereft of discipline. The compromises and defeats of Congressional Democrats – even though they hold a “technical” majority – are well known, and with the Midterm elections coming up, a game changing move was needed. And no one can change the game like Pete Rose. Obstructionists of both parties will face a high energy, fearless, and determined man:

Chief of Staff Rose will demand much of his staff and will, most importantly, have his eyes on the win not the tie. About his years as a manager, Rose opined, “The manager of a team is like a stagecoach, he can’t move unless he has the horses.” That metaphor signals a Chief of Staff with a whip in his hand, stirring on a re-dedicated White House crew – exactly what a frightened and moribund White House needs. Coming with only a month remaining before the Midterms, Mr. Rose may very well energize White House communications and concentrate efforts on messages of power rather than apology, of fearlessness rather than kowtowing, and of strength rather than weakness bordering on wimpiness. Rose’s effect on the Midterms may be considerable. As he said, “Somebody’s gotta win and somebody’s gotta lose and I believe in letting the other guy lose.”

Yes, with your inspired choice of Pete Rose as Chief of Staff I’m putting this blog on record: