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Who is Rahm Emanuel?

Amid widespread speculation over who might serve in an Obama Administration, the name most often mentioned is Rahm Emanuel's. The Chicago congressman and chairman of the House Democratic Caucus has been described as a "profane," "hyperactive" "party attack dog," but it's his steamrolling personality that President-elect Obama might most prize. As White House chief of staff, Emanuel could do some of the president's law-making dirty work, helping Obama maintain cordial relationships with legislators and others. There are few people in Washington D.C. who would be a more formidable gatekeeper to the Oval Office. Plus, with the 44th President having just four years of experience in Congress, Emanuel's relationships and knowledge of individual lawmakers — not to mention his fund-raising prowess — could make him a valuable asset.

A report that Emanuel had accepted an Obama offer for White House chief of staff has been retracted, but other reports have said the congressman is "agonizing" over whether to accept the position. He could be in line to replace Nancy Pelosi as House majority leader, which may be what's giving him pause. One thing is for sure: Emanuel will be a powerful force over the next four years no matter where he is.

Fast Facts:

• 48 years old, married to Amy Rule, a woman he met on a blind date. They have three children.

• He studied ballet in high school and was offered a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet, but went to Sarah Lawrence College instead, where he got a bachelor's degree. He has a master's degree in speech from Northwestern University.

• As a teenager, he severed his right middle finger slicing meat at a fast food restaurant and went swimming in Lake Michigan before getting stitches. The wound became severly infected, Emanuel almost died and the top of the finger was amputated.

• Has served in the White House before, as a senior advisor to Bill Clinton. On Emanuel's 38th birthday, Clinton gave him a photo with the following tongue-in-cheek inscription: "Now Mr. President, how many times do I have to tell you, say it this way?" Clinton wrote. "And, by the way, wish me a happy birthday. Always gently, Rahm. 11/29/97."

• Before working in the Clinton White House, Emanuel worked for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. He was first elected to Congress in 2002, and is the fourth-highest ranking House Democrat.

• In between his stints in Washington, Emanuel got rich working as an investment banker. He once sat on the board of Freddie Mac and recuses himself from any Congressional votes on the mortgage giant.

• Orchestrated the Democratic takeover of the House in 2006 and is known among colleagues as Rahmbo.

• A devout Jew, Emanuel was so intent on negotiating the passage of Congress $700 billion bailout bill that he got a special waiver from his rabbi to work through Rosh Hashanah.

• Has been known to send out cheesecakes from Eli's Bakery in Chicago to campaign donors. Once, when a pollster made him angry, Emanuel sent him a dead fish.

• His brother, Ari, is a high-powered Hollywood agent and the basis for Jeremy Piven's character in the HBO series Entourage, Ari Gold. Emmanuel himself was the basis for the character played by Bradley Whitford in The West Wing: Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman.

Quotes from:

• "I wake up some mornings hating me too."
— On his reputation as a Democratic attack dog (Chicago Tribune, Nov. 12, 2006)

• "In the White House, you can be on the pitcher's mound or you can be in the catcher's position. Put points on the board. Show people you can govern. Deliver on what you said you were going to deliver on."
— On Barack Obama's need for an aggressive agenda to fulfill his campaign promises (Politico, Aug. 27, 2008)

• "I'm weird. I do my office hours at grocery stores. I don't go do town halls."
— On his unorthodox method of connecting with voters — greeting and talking with them at supermarket entrances (New Yorker Conference, May 9, 2008)

• "I said to him, 'You're not one of those tri-bathletes, are you, Mr. President? You know - steam, sauna, shower?'"
— Recalling a 2005 conversation with George Bush in which each took jabs at the other's athleticism (Fortune, Oct. 2, 2006)

Quotes about:

• "We joke that someone should open a special trauma ward in Washington for people who've worked for Rahm."
— Jose Cerda, former Clinton staffer, on the notoriously enormous demands that Emanuel puts on his staff (Rolling Stone, Oct. 2, 2006)

•"My first impression was, 'This guy is going to help us win.' And he did. I doubt we could have done it without him." — Bill Clinton, recalling Emanuel's role in his 1992 campaign (Chicago Tribune, Nov. 12, 2006)

•"Rahm smelled blood. He latched on like a pit bull and never let go." — Chuck Fant, press secretary for Representative John M. Spratt Jr. of South Carolina, on Emanuel's decision to attack the Bush administration for letting an Arab company manage U.S. Ports (L.A. Times, July 5, 2006)

•"I don't need an alarm clock anymore. — David Axelrod, political consultant, on Emanuel's early-morning phone calls during the 2006 Congressional race (TIME, June 4, 20060


http://www.time.com/time/politics/artic ... 65,00.html

The appointment of Rahm Emmanuel typified as a conservative Jew has engendered feelings of chagrin and misgivings. Suspicion is rife when high expectations do not quite jibe with one’s picture perfect epitome.

Foremost on some people’s minds would be whether Emmanuel would forge a pro-Israel policy, basically a continuation of Washington’s unquestioned support for Israel, which is largely influenced by Aipac and other Zionist lobbyists.

Rahm has been known for his persistence in getting many bills on domestic issues passed. With no inkling of his views on foreign policy and Israel, one could only presume but it would not be fair to prejudge him. That Rahm Emmanuel is a conservative Jew does not mean that he would necessarily act at the behest of the Zionists and deviate from the tenor of the Administration. Obama would seek the advice of other Secretaries and presidential aides and could certainly hold his own. Moreover, many American Jews can qualify as Zionists or extremists, and hope for a peaceful settlement to decades of conflict in the Middle East.

Critics cited Rahm Emmanuel’s father’s comment that his son’s appointment would be “good for Israel”. It is one of those motherhood statements which does not automatically translate into Rahm being pro-Israel. Rahm is known to hold independent views and not easily swayed. How many children are clones who think like their parents? It would be a non-starter to stereotype; equivalent to asserting that an American would fight for America’s interest or that an African America would be pro-Africa.

Obama presidency is likely to navigate an independent course and would try win the trust of both camps instead of appeasing one and snubbing other. Obama’s detractors have accused him of being a friend of Rashid Khalidi, the official spokesman for the Palestinian Liberation Organization and branded him a terrorist by association. Then the appointment of Rahm has made Obama pro-Jew and pro-Israel.
Sceptics are often obsessed with prejudices that are anachronistic. Irgun (National Military Organization in the Land of Israel) which Rahm’s father was allegedly a member operated as a militant Zionist group between 1931 and 194. Similarly, the PLO is no longer considered a terrorist organizations form part of legitimate governments now.

Rahm’s track record was the main criteria for Obama’s choice. His political professionalism as Congressman has been impressive, and he has been described as a pitbull, which underscores his loyalty, drive and dedication to achieve the goals set by the President elect Obama. Rahm is obviously no Dick Cheney, nor Obama a GW Bush.

Rahm would serve the incoming Administration well. He would instill confidence and silence those who are worried of giving away too much concessions to the Arabs in a peace agreement on the Middle East. At the same time, having a Jew would gain the trust of Israelis of America’s good offices in mediating a settlement. This is the sort of change envisaged : to project American soft power internationally.

© Copyright Reserved 2008

Sit back, relax and calm down.


http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=jEk4_4El8a4

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=U_yA8J-oGQk

Meet Rahm-bo.



http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/us_world ... _Man_.html

Rahm Emmanuel apologized to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee for comments disparaging Arabs made by his father in an interview that his son will influence the president to be pro-Israel.
While some political analysts have said Rahm Emanuel, a veteran Democratic congressman, should not be held responsible for the actions of his father, there was also a sense that an apology was unavoidable.
This has defused a difficult problem and shows that Emmanuel is sincere in wanting to heal misunderstanding and differences.