Granholm's name pops up in Obama Cabinet discussions
Hillsdale professor analyzes likelihood of Mich. governor landing a position
Brandon Muri
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Beyond
|
Granholm supported Obama during his presidential campaign. Since then, she attended Obama's economic transition meeting two weeks ago in Chicago as an economic adviser. Now, rumors circulate about a possible position for her in Obama's Cabinet.
Granholm's name has been mentioned as a possibility for several Cabinet positions, including Trade Representative and Energy Secretary.
Several political commentators have mentioned Granholm as a possible candidate for the Cabinet, citing her recent appointment to the economic transition advisory board and her staunch support for the president-elect as factors. And with Congress' consideration of a $25 billion loan to the Detroit Big Three automakers, Granholm is receiving even more national attention.
However, Liz Boyd, a spokesperson for Granholm, would not confirm the rumors.
"All Gov. Granholm is willing to say is that she is looking forward to serving as governor with a partner in the White House," Boyd said.
Speculations and explanations abound. Meanwhile, not all in Michigan are pleased at the governor's prospects.
Professor of Political Economy Gary Wolfram attributes recent nods from Washington to Granholm's long uphill battle for the Michigan economy, not to mention her considerable success with Michigan voters.
"Michigan was a battle-ground state, and she did a lot to help the Obama campaign," Wolfram said. "Not to mention that she beat the pants off of Davos [the annual world economic forum held in Switzerland], making the people believe the declining trend of the auto industry was caused by Bush."
Some Hillsdale students are baffled by the recent faith in Granholm.
Junior Drew De Jong said it is impossible to miss the irony in Granholm's position on the economic advisory board.
"She drove the Michigan economy into the ground," he said.
And several Michigan residents, both Democrats and Republicans, voiced shock and disbelief online after news articles reporting her possible national positions.
"Granholm needs to leave - but not for Washington," one Web contributor said in an anonymous blog.
Wolfram said he was skeptical that Granholm would be appointed as an economic adviser on the Cabinet.
"She will be [on the economic advisory board] to get a feel for the auto industry and the politics of labor unions," Wolfram said in an e-mail to The Collegian. "Any suggestion that she should be an economic adviser is ironic," he said.
Be the first to comment on this story