Chief Of Staff Bill Daley’s Interesting Take On The Obama White House  
 

Daley: Obama “Doesn’t Know Why He’s As High As 44 Percent”:

Daley Joked That Obama Doesn’t Know Why He’s As High As 44 Percent Approval.  “‘Considering the debacle that he came in with, the tough choices he’s made and how there have been few, if any breaks, he says it himself all the time,’ Daley says. ‘He doesn’t know why he’s as high as 44 percent.’ That is supposed to be a laugh line, but, indeed, the RealClearPolitics average of leading polls currently has Obama at 44.0 percent approval and 50.7 percent disapproval.” (Roger Simon, “Exclusive: Bill Daley, Unplugged,” Politico, 10/28/11)

Daley: “It’s Been A Brutal Three Years”:

Daley Blamed Everything And Everyone Under The Sun For Obama’s Woes. “That is due to many factors, Daley says, and he starts reeling them off: trying to stimulate the economy; trying to save the auto industry; trying to increase the debt ceiling; passing health care legislation; fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; and dealing with Syria, North Korea, Egypt and Iran. To name a few. ‘It’s been a brutal three years,’ he says. ‘It’s been a very, very difficult three years, an incredible three years. And we are doing all this under the overhang of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. F—k! It wasn’t like all this was happening in good times.’” (Roger Simon, “Exclusive: Bill Daley, Unplugged,” Politico, 10/28/11)

Daley: Democrats “Have Really Made It Very Difficult” For Obama:

Daley Blamed Democrats For Making It “Very Difficult For The President To Be Anything Like A Chief Executive.” “‘On the domestic side, both Democrats and Republicans have really made it very difficult for the president to be anything like a chief executive,’ Daley says. ‘This has led to a kind of frustration.’” (Roger Simon, “Exclusive: Bill Daley, Unplugged,” Politico, 10/28/11)

Daley: Rahm Emanuel Wasn’t As Beloved As People Say And I’m Not A “Leaker In Chief” Like Rahm, But “I’m All For Leaking When It’s Organized”:

Daley Says Rahm Emanuel Wasn’t As Beloved As People Think He Was. “People are asking if you are as good as Rahm, I say to Daley. ‘It’s pathetic, isn’t it?’ Daley responds, laughing. Rahm wouldn’t say it, I say. ‘Rahm would say it!’ Daley says. ‘Maybe I missed it — I wasn’t here the first two years — but I don’t think Rahm was as beloved (as people now say.)’” (Roger Simon, “Exclusive: Bill Daley, Unplugged,” Politico, 10/28/11)

Daley Says He’s Not A “Leaker In Chief” Like Rahm Emanuel Was, But Is “All For Leaking When It’s Organized.” “Rahm was famous for calling reporters, do you call reporters? I ask. ‘I call; I’m not as aggressive leaking and stroking,’ Daley says. ‘I’m not reflecting on Rahm, but I’m not angling for something else, you know? Rahm is a lot younger [Emmanuel is 51], and he knew he was going to be doing something else in two years or four years or eight years, and I’m in a different stage. I’m not going to become the leaker in chief.’ You’ve got others for that, I say. ‘Yeah, and hopefully in some organized leaking fashion,’ Daley says, laughing. ‘I’m all for leaking when it’s organized.’” (Roger Simon, “Exclusive: Bill Daley, Unplugged,” Politico, 10/28/11)