bobbyw24
02-05-2010, 05:37 AM
The White House had hoped Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's apology for maligning the developmentally disabled would be the last word of his latest verbal kerfuffle.
But as debate of the incident persists, it's being fueled by liberal groups and bloggers as much as conservatives including Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.
"Rahm apologized and we're looking to move forward," said deputy press secretary Bill Burton. "This is something that happened in August."
In an incident recounted in the Wall Street Journal, Emanuel in a private meeting last summer castigated liberal groups opposing President Obama's health care reform as "F-ing retarded."
The disclosure prompted Emanuel to apologize to the Special Olympics and invite a delegation representing advocates of the disabled and others to the White House -- textbook steps for crisis management.
But the incident and its churning aftermath underscore the extent to which Emanuel, Obama's notoriously profane top staffer, has become a flash point for the Left and the Right.
A former member of the Democratic House leadership, Emanuel has angered the Left in part for his compromises on issues like health care and what some perceive as a dismissive attitude toward party liberals who supported Obama.
As a key architect of the 2006 Democratic takeover of Congress, Emanuel also has few friends in conservative circles.
As chief of staff at the White House, Emanuel's alliances often appear to be shrinking as his power increases. But his close relationship to the president means his position is largely secure.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Is-Emanuel-a-liability-or-an-asset-for-Obama_-83595052.html#ixzz0ef1RAhyY
But as debate of the incident persists, it's being fueled by liberal groups and bloggers as much as conservatives including Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.
"Rahm apologized and we're looking to move forward," said deputy press secretary Bill Burton. "This is something that happened in August."
In an incident recounted in the Wall Street Journal, Emanuel in a private meeting last summer castigated liberal groups opposing President Obama's health care reform as "F-ing retarded."
The disclosure prompted Emanuel to apologize to the Special Olympics and invite a delegation representing advocates of the disabled and others to the White House -- textbook steps for crisis management.
But the incident and its churning aftermath underscore the extent to which Emanuel, Obama's notoriously profane top staffer, has become a flash point for the Left and the Right.
A former member of the Democratic House leadership, Emanuel has angered the Left in part for his compromises on issues like health care and what some perceive as a dismissive attitude toward party liberals who supported Obama.
As a key architect of the 2006 Democratic takeover of Congress, Emanuel also has few friends in conservative circles.
As chief of staff at the White House, Emanuel's alliances often appear to be shrinking as his power increases. But his close relationship to the president means his position is largely secure.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Is-Emanuel-a-liability-or-an-asset-for-Obama_-83595052.html#ixzz0ef1RAhyY