NYT: Podesta a Seasoned Political Warrior for Team Clinton

NYT: Podesta a Seasoned Political Warrior for Team Clinton

Monday, 16 Feb 2015 01:36 PM

By Andrea Billups

http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/John-Podesta-Hillary-Clinton-2016-campaign/2015/02/16/id/625033/

When she rolls out her likely Democrat presidential campaign in full, Hillary Clinton is expected to have a powerful Democrat operative on her side — one with experience and a competitive streak that could offer both verve and discipline for a second White House bid, The New York Times reports.

In John Podesta, Clinton would have a focused campaign chief who is at the top of his class, top Democrats told the Times.

"Perhaps no other unelected Democrat has shaped his party as much over the last two decades," wrote the Times' Peter Baker of Podesta's skill, which he asserts will be needed to circle her family wagon, navigate its political history and create a fresh message that sidesteps any missteps of her failed 2008 run.

Podesta, 66, served as Bill Clinton's chief of staff and just recently left the Obama White House to move his efforts to Hillary Clinton's primary campaign. While he has held no elected office, Podesta has earned plaudits within his party as a guy whose organizational skills and fearlessness in politics will stand her in good stead, the Times said, describing him in a headline as a "right hand with a punch."

"He believes in and uses power in a way that many Democrats are too pusillanimous to do," said his friend and former White House aid Paul Begala to the Times.

"He's not afraid to use power, and ruthlessly if necessary. I think he's as good a political guy as I've ever seen. He's the real thing," said Begala.

Another longtime Democrat operative and Clinton adviser, Harold Ickes, said of the Podesta-Clinton confab: "When John speaks, both longtime Clinton supporters like me and people new to the circle will know that he's speaking for her. That's very important. That didn't happen in 2008, with some of the resulting consequences."

Podesta raised some eyebrows last week with a tweet about his side interest, UFOs, The Washington Post reported.

He wrote: "1. Finally, my biggest failure of 2014: Once again not securing the #disclosure of the UFO files. #thetruthisstilloutthere cc: @NYTimesDowd."

As he moves to enter the Clinton campaign fray, already some, including former Obama adviser David Axelrod, are urging Podesta to quickly get her organizational structure in place.

"John Podesta has to get control of the Clinton operation. And I think that's part of his job over there," Axelrod noted on MSNBC's "Hardball" as infighting over her early fundraising efforts had grabbed headlines.

John Podesta

John D. Podesta was William J. Clinton’s chief of staff, a temporary CEO for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, is the founder for the Center for American Progress, and a counselor for the Barack Obama administration.

Note: William J. Clinton’s chief of staff was John D. Podesta, is married to Hillary Rodham Clinton, and the founder of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is married to William J. Clinton, a director at the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and a potential candidate for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a co-chair, national finance council at Ready for Hillary, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Priorities USA Action is supporting the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, and was a super PAC supporting the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign.

Priorities USA is an affiliate of Priorities USA Action.

William A. Burton is a co-founder of Priorities USA, a co-founder of the Priorities USA Action, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and was the deputy press secretary for the Barack Obama administration.

Melody C. Barnes was the EVP for the Center for American Progress, the domestic policy council, director for the Barack Obama administration, a principal for the Raben Group, and is Barack Obama’s golf partner.

Raben Group was a lobby firm for the Washington Post.