Reuters: Warren associates considered for consumer agency job

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by Joan McCarter
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/28/970712/-Reuters:-Warren-associates-considered-for-consumer-agency-job

Elizabeth Warren "wants to give middle-class families a chance to survive economically with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau." So of course she's the most controversial woman in government. Can't have the middle class survive now, can we?

Because powers that be in Congress really want to see the financial sector continue to have the power to rip you off with impunity, the very existence of this agency is being threatened, much less the eventually agency head.

Reuters - The White House is zeroing in on close associates of law professor Elizabeth Warren, an outspoken critic of Wall Street, to head the new U.S. consumer financial agency, a source with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters....

Warren, who championed the consumer agency, has run into strong opposition from Republicans who say she would be too confrontational toward the financial industry.

But picking anyone other than Warren could be problematic for Obama because it would risk disappointing Democratic activists whose enthusiasm the president is counting on to help fuel his re-election bid in 2012.

Choosing someone with a close relationship with Warren might be one way to solve the problem for the White House.

Reportedly, Warren is still in strong consideration for the job. Other reports have said that other candidates, including former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, have taken themselves out of the running for the job because they think it should belong to Warren.

The fight over this agency isn't going to go away if the administration lands on another candidate. As Warren said on Tuesday's "Daily Show," the "fight isn't over. The fight moved from Main Street to the dark alley. And so now the game is let's just see if we can stick a knife in the ribs of this consumer agency." Warren may as well be the nominee, because she has proven remarkably effective thus far in its creation and ramp-up.

But if the White House, or Warren, decide otherwise, she certainly has other options open. Like, say, the U.S. Senate.


White House eyes Warren associates for consumer job
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/27/us-financial-regulation-warren-idUSTRE73Q2GF20110427?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Politics+News%29

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[ProSense]

1. Wow,

anonymous sources say WH zeroing in on anonymous associates, but Warren is still under consideration.

(Reuters) - The White House is zeroing in on close associates of law professor Elizabeth Warren, an outspoken critic of Wall Street, to head the new U.S. consumer financial agency, a source with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters.

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Sources close to the discussions have said Warren is still under consideration. She has also been asked for her input about other candidates the White House might consider and has had a number of consultations with officials on the subject of the consumer agency job.

Publicly released records of Warren's schedule show conversations in recent weeks with White House counselor Pete Rouse, senior White House aide Valerie Jarrett, White House economic adviser Gene Sperling and senior White House economist Austan Goolsbee, among other officials.

MENDING FENCES

The White House dilemma over Warren was underscored after two high-profile candidates for the consumer job, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, publicly took themselves out of the running, saying they felt the job should go to Warren.

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Pick Warren!