This is significant. Yesterday's reporting doesn't appear to be the final word in regards to Elizabeth Warren getting nominated to the CFPB and contrary to HuffingtonPost's reporting, Assistant Sec. Barr (another possible nominee to the CFPB) told ON THE RECORD that he and Geithner BOTH think she's well qualified.
Assistant Sec. Barr: Warren is Extremely well Qualified
The Huffingtonpost's article on Geithner versus Warren was really shoddy. I'm not questioning whether the overall point of it was true or not, it might have been and still might be but the article was pretty poorly written and appeared to be more of a hit job rather than an actual article.
There were ZERO sources on the record and the only person commenting was a person "who knew of Geithner's thoughts". Whatever the heck that means.
Hence, it caused a bit of a stir, and during a conference call with bloggers, Barr stated that Warren is extremely well qualified and that Geithner thinks so as well. This is very tough to put this information out there on the record and then oppose her nomination. Next, it's also significant that the second highest member running, Michael Barr (an expert on consumer finances himself) is also saying that she's well qualified.
Barr totally denied this to me. "I don’t know where that (report) came from," he said. I asked him if he thought Warren was well-qualified for the position and if anyone at Treasury would stand in her way if she were the top choice. "I think Elizabeth is absolutely terrific," Barr said. "She’s been working closely with me and Secretary Geithner for a year and half to push for this consumer protection bureau. I believe and Secretary Geithner believes that she’s exceptionally well-qualified to run it."
That’s on the record now. Tim Geithner and his lead deputy at the Treasury Department think Elizabeth Warren is well-qualified to head the CFPB. It’s important that this information gets distributed far and wide.
It's on the record and it's hard to take off now.