RNC Continues Attacks On Obama Just Like In The Campaign

While many Republicans are giving President-elect Barack Obama some breathing room as he makes his appointments, the Republican National Committee has continued its attacks just as if the campaign was ongoing.

Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have praised Obama: “I think the new administration is off to a good start. They’re saying, in my view, all the right things. They want to govern in the middle and tackle big things.”

McConnell sounded as if he welcomed the Obama administration. “Our members, in one way, are kind of relieved by the departure of an administration that became unpopular and made it very difficult for us to compete.”

The New York Times rolled out a list of attacks by the RNC on Obama appointments:

On Representative Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff: “Barack Obama’s first decision as president-elect undermines his promise to ‘heal the divides.’ Rahm Emanuel is a partisan insider who played a lead role in breaking Washington.”

On David Axelrod, Mr. Obama’s campaign strategist, as White House senior adviser: “For a president-elect who promised to change the tone in Washington, it’s disappointing that he is filling his White House with partisan bomb-throwers. When people think of ‘change,’ they don’t think of political consultants like David Axelrod.”

On Tom Daschle, the former Democratic majority leader in the Senate, as secretary of health and human services: “For voters hoping to see new faces and fewer lobbyist-connections in government, Daschle’s nomination will be another disappointment. Obama promised to change America’s health care system, but his nominee to be secretary is no change agent.”

On Eric H. Holder Jr., the former deputy attorney general, as attorney general: “Instead of bringing the bipartisan ‘change’ to Washington that he promised voters, Barack Obama is rewarding yet another one of his political loyalists in Eric Holder. The only person who thinks Eric Holder represents ‘hope’ is Marc Rich,” the convicted financier pardoned by President Bill Clinton with Mr. Holder’s acquiescence.

That is a lot of criticism for a man who has yet to sign one bill or rescind one executive order. Yet while it would be welcome for the country to come together in the peaceful transition period over the next two months, the RNC does have a job to do. There is still a Senate election in Georgia. The Republicans are trying to halt a filibuster proof Democratic supermajority in the Senate. That is their job.

However, that election will end on December 2. At that point, the partisanship should step aside. If Bush and Obama can work together for a smooth transition, then the parties, the Republicans in this case, can ease the partisan sniping. The goodwill will not last and should not, but it should be there at least until Obama becomes President and starts to do something.