The Washington Post today leapt to the defense of embattled Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
Hotheaded Emanuel may be White House voice of reason
Though he has gained a reputation as a sort of Village Sluggo, Rahm Emanuel is apparently just the Mr. Bill of administration policy.
A few choice quote from the article by Post reporter and Emanuel cousin, Jason Horowitz, and then a brief commentary:
The lead:
Rahm Emanuel is officially a Washington caricature. He's the town's resident leviathan, a bullying, bruising White House chief of staff who is a prime target for the failings of the Obama administration.
The strophe:
But a contrarian narrative is emerging: Emanuel is a force of political reason within the White House and could have helped the administration avoid its current bind if the president had heeded his advice on some of the most sensitive subjects of the year: health-care reform, jobs and trying alleged terrorists in civilian courts.
The rumor:
It is a view propounded by lawmakers and early supporters of President Obama who are frustrated because they think the administration has gone for the perfect at the expense of the plausible.
The smootch:
Listening to Emanuel would serve "all our overall goals," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.). "I think that Rahm's considerable legislative experience translates into advice that the president should heed."
The Heart of Gold:
As health-care negotiations inched along at the end of last year, Emanuel grew impatient about addressing national joblessness concerns.
The goat:
"It was the president's call," said [one Democratic] senator, who added that Emanuel showed no trace of objection. "A play was called, and he was running the play."
There you have it. If the President had only listened to Rahm, we would have ponies - but Obama wanted a big old horsey!