From Bloomberg on the Economy, Stanford economist Thomas Sowell on Obama and politics:
His recent appointment of Leon Panetta to head the CIA shows that he is far more interested in having politically savvy people around him than in having people who are professionally qualified.
Obama's focus on politics instead of qualifications is not limited to the CIA. I've lamented before the fact that Obama's appointment for our top diplomat, Hillary Clinton, is a corporate lawyer with limited experience in the Senate but no experience as a diplomat (but she provides domestic political benefits); his choice to oversee healthcare, Tom Daschle, has no training in healthcare economics (but, like many politicians, he has written a book!). Only in government can people get top jobs for which they have no training or experience; in the private sector, as a general rule, people have to be qualified for jobs.
He has made a few selections who are qualified, but their previous opinions have been silenced by the Obama agenda - confirming my suspicions that, just as on the campaign trail, Obama listens more to his political advisers than the actual experts. Christina Romer has already modified her landmark findings about taxes to conform with Obama's stimulus plan, and his choice for Energy Secretary has abandoned his previous support for Pigovian gas taxes.
Supporters of Obama who, after all the campaign posturing and rhetoric and these political appointments, still believe that he will rise above politics as he promised will not be deterred by evidence. But, for the rest of us, hopes that Obama would keep any promises are falling apart.
