Leon Panetta was rumored to be on Obama's short-list for Commerce Secretary when the vetting process began, and now that Governor Bill Richardson has backed down, it is President-elect Obama's chance to appoint a seasoned political veteran to the post. I had a chance to interview Leon Panetta for my upcoming documentary film "California Greening." He cared enough to give me, a low budget documentary filmmaker, his time, and that to me is important. Panetta may not have the charism of a Bill Clinton, but he works behind the scenes to get things done.
This is someone who understands the economy inside and out, and was instrumental in creating the Clinton surplus. He also understands that creating green jobs and green businesses will help the environment. I should not give away too much of the interview because I want you to watch the five part film series coming out in a few weeks. But I will say that Leon Panetta would be a fantastic pick to head to Commerce Department. He will create jobs and work to "green" businesses, and we may even see sustainable seafood producers flourish while he is in charge. We would probably see an increase in environmentally friendly products, and hopefully make them more affordable so that low and middle income Americans can afford to protect the environment. It would be great to see him hold the post. Please, Mr. Obama, choose Leon Panetta to head your Commerce Department. He has the experience and will deliver real change.