“Just a home-run choice,’’ said Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina. “The president made a very wise decision.’’
In a statement, Panetta thanked the Senate for its strong vote of confidence and promised to ensure that the United States maintains the strongest military in the world.
Panetta, 72, a former congressman, chairman of the House Budget Committee, onetime director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Bill Clinton’s White House chief of staff, faces several high-stakes assignments, starting with Obama’s initial withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan this summer. American troops also are slated to leave Iraq by year’s end.
Also, Gates has indicated that he’s likely to certify that gays can serve openly in the military, implementing the new policy.
Obama has called for some $400 billion in cuts over the next 12 years amid intense budget pressures, a certain test of Panetta’s skills. “He is the most qualified individual to tackle the huge budgetary issues,’’ said Senator Jack Reed, Democrat from Rhode Island.
Obama Commerce nominee raps NLRB on Boeing move
WASHINGTON — President Obama’s pick to head the Commerce Department criticized a federal lawsuit against the Boeing Co. yesterday over the aerospace giant’s decision to locate a plant in South Carolina.
The nominee, John Bryson, recently stepped down from Boeing’s board.
Bryson’s comments came at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on his nomination to succeed Gary Locke, whom Obama has nominated to become ambassador to China.
The National Labor Relations Board has accused Boeing of opening a plant in South Carolina in retaliation against union workers in Washington state, who went on strike in 2008.
At the hearing, Republican senators complained about the NLRB suit.
Bryson said that he believed the suit was “not the right judgment” and that he was surprised by the NLRB’s suit. He said Boeing officials believed they were doing the right thing when they picked South Carolina for their assembly line.
