Obamarama? Tom Perriello eyed for Administration post
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The president tried to save Perriello’s old job with a Charlottesville rally on Friday, October 29.PHOTO BY TOM DALY
Nothing’s official yet, and the president has even delayed his announcement to the new year, but a report by the influential Politico news service suggests that outgoing Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello could be in line for job with the Obama Administration.
“The administration is looking for fresh blood and is super-grateful to Congressman Perriello,” says Politico’s Mike Allen. “So I can see him getting a great offer if he decides to serve in the federal government.”
Charlottesville-based pundit Larry Sabato notes the midterm elections created quite a swarm of ousted Democrats. Of the two outgoing governors that Politico depicted along with Perriello to illustrate its story— Ohio’s Ted Strickland and Michigan’s Jennifer Granholm (the latter turned out not by voters but by term limits)— Sabato contends that each would get precedence over Perriello as Barack Obama prepares to hire.
“I’m sure Perriello’s on the list,” says Sabato, “but there’s a long list.”
Perriello is a native of the Albemarle County community of Ivy, and his ascent to Congress two years ago included knocking off Virgil Goode, a veteran conservative in a conservative district, a point not lost on national strategists who poured millions into television ads during the most recent election.
Although Republican Robert Hurt of Chatham won the November election, Perriello’s high profile and experience in non-profit fund-raising have conspired to make him a hot commodity— and not just for the White House. A source says Perriello is fielding myriad private sector inquiries as well.
“What would make the most sense for him probably would be something in the State Department because of his background,” says Sabato, “He worked in Africa, and he’s done non-governmental organization work.”
“He hasn’t made any decisions yet,” says Perriello’s deputy press secretary Michael Kelly. “There’s plenty of work left to do in this Congress, and that’s what he’s focused on.”
Sabato, who heads UVA’s Center for Politics, says that the 36-year-old Perriello has hinted in interviews that he might consider trying to claim his seat in Congress. However, an impending redistricting by Republicans might make that a daunting challenge.
“Any sane person who’s not addicted to the roar of the crowd might well do something else,” says Sabato. “It’s a tough business.”
As sure as I knew he would lose after his healthcare vote, I knew Obama would take care of his boy. He’ll make room for Tommy, you wait.
Why not draft Maurice Jones? He can do anything!
Good riddance to Tommy Boy. Dear Leader can give him a job as payback for going against the wishes of his constituents in voting for the monstrosity known as ObamaCare. That job will last until Jan 20, 2013, when we finish off the Socialist Revolution.
I hope he takes a job in government. We need dedicated, principled public servants like Tom. I am grateful for the work (and votes!) he did as my Congressman, and I hope he can continue doing good on our behalf.
Tom is awesome.
He lost. Get over it hippies.
tom is not “awesome” Maybe he could see about getting a real job (never had one)and work for a paycheck. He is not that kind of guy, just a 36 year kid who thinks he knows something.
When are they going to start wearing their red arm bands in public?
You’ve got to learn the secret handshake first.
Nice socialist/Nazi images there guys. Just curious, can you elaborate on the difference between fascist, socialist, and Nazi? I doubt it, but maybe you Tea Baggers have more brains that I’m giving you credit for.
“Realist” @#3, yeah he went against the will of the people by voting for the thing that the presidential candidate that we voted for promised when he was running. That’s really logical. Run for office, promise X, get elected, vote for X, and then we say, “Hey! We never wanted X!” You should consider changing your screen-name to “still bitter Palin supporter” instead of the entirely inaccurate “realist”.
Seems very doubtful but at least they aren’t witches!
What a joke he was voted out because of being a socialist punk.
I thought you had to cheat on your taxes to get a job with obama
Yes they are “super grateful” as this kid was put in with John Podesta getting him outside money in 08, Tom followed his script and now he is being paid for his dedication to the cause. We are very lucky to have witnessed his ascendency and are grateful that he was willing to use us in his quest and to advance the “cause.” Too good to be true as Tom arrives at the Titanic and is told to enjoy the cruise on the Potomac.
Sad but between the Obama types with tom, and Bush types the Ivy League is a total joke. People that are brainwashed and believe that theory triumps over reality.
“The administration is looking for fresh blood…”
Perriello is as far from fresh blood as one could find. He is entirely old school Democratic Party hogwash. The party is completely out of touch with reality.
At this point, I wouldn’t WANT to be associated with Obama (too busy to address the nation, gotta get to that Christmas Party, you’re in good hands with Clinton (provided Monica isn’t hanging in the crowd))….Tom would be better off hanging out somewhere else for a term or two and try again later.
Tom Periello is awesome. Silly Virginia got mad at him because he actually supported and voted for the same issues he defended in his campaign platform! Imagine that! Good for him for sticking to his guns and shame on the 5th district for voting in another ignorant good ol’ boy.
Why is Soetoro always sweatin like a flakehead everywhere he goes?
It’s a lock. Tom will be named Platitudes Czar and will continue to mouth what we want to hear while doing the opposite until this administration is booted from our National Nightmare. But maybe I’m too harsh - after all, the c-villians all think he’s “awesome”. Why not dreamy, too?
realist Get off the pipe will ya . try watching something else besides the faux news network for you information
jeezlouise He didn’t loose he got out spent big business bought most house seats in this one. Italy 1939 look it up
gman the all you righties must be fascist pigs right?
….are you serious, Carter? Here’s a nice blurb, since you seem to not realize anything about the career Tom Perriello had before going into politics.
“From 2002-03, Perriello was Special Advisor to the international prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where he worked with child soldiers, amputees, and local pro-democracy groups, and helped to prosecute warlords. He later became the Court’s Spokesman and helped to indict Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, peacefully forcing him from power. He has worked as a consultant to the International Center for Transitional Justice in Kosovo (2003), Darfur (2005), and Afghanistan (2007) where he worked on justice-based security strategies.”
In other words, he’s lived overseas for years on the job, and handled work of an extremely emotionally, physically, and mentally stressful nature. So what if he hasn’t in recent years held down a regular minimum wage or 9 - 5 job, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t worked. Until you’ve devoted years of your life to a major cause, and been away from home and family for your career….I suggest you stop throwing stones.
I am so truly embarrassed to call myself a Charlottesvillian. The way my fellow brainless citizens have treated Tom is horrible. How many of you would walk repeatedly into a room filled with signs announcing how much you were hated? Anyone? You are a bunch of gutless, spineless cowards who don’t have any clue what a good person looks like. My support of Tom will never change. Period.
I hate Tom Periello because he voted for the bailout. I don’t need any more reason than that. I don’t need to look any further than that.
It’s obvious that anybody who still supports Tom Periello after the bailout is someone who will support Tom Periello even when he calls for bar-b-queing children on the steps of the capitol. Sure, assume he won’t after you just gave him carte blanche to do so.
PERFECT!!!! Lose a job and get a losers job.
I would volunteer to help pack Perriello away to a do nothing job out of this area.
Perfect as an administrative waterboy/cheerleader. I think it’s a GS-15, Step 10 job, plus the DC differential. Just another 2 year job for him.
Do you hate GW Bush for starting the bailout?
To be fair I think ole TP was given a bum rap. Sure he sold us out on healthcare but I feel he was between a rock and a hard place. If he voted for it he took the chance of not getting reelected and if he voted against it he definitely was not going to get any Dem support for his election.
He rolled the dice and lost.
Right now we have the dems and the pubs screwing all of us with the tax cut bill. Neither care about the country. They only care about their inflated egos and the lobbyist that really run the country.
We do need change but until the career politicians are sent packing we will never have it. That my 2 cents before tax.
@ idontknowjustaskmywife:
We don’t need to ask your wife. Your postings make it crystal clear that you don’t know anything.
@adamius: Here’s a clue since you obviously don’t have one: The offices of President and U.S. Representative are two distinct jobs. Your Representative isn’t supposed to represent the President. He is supposed to represent his constituents. The majority of voters, including those in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, were against ObamaCare’s passage. Tommy Boy didn’t care…..he had his own agenda which was dictated to him by Stretch Pelosi. He voted for it and combined with all the bribes, kickbacks and assorted skullduggery, it became law. Thankfully, a combination of court rulings and defunding by the Republicans will eventually make the issue of ObamaCare null and void. The only useful purpose it served was to rid the Congress of Tommy Boy and over 60 other libs like him. There now, doesn’t it feel good to get some education on this matter? You don’t have to thank me.
colfer- no, I don’t hate President Bush because the bailout started with his administration, but I do have a lot of disdain for AH’s like Dodd and Franks for what they did to put the plan together that required the bailouts.