SAN FRANCISCO - The presidential election now behind us, what might the next four years hold?
Two former White House chiefs of staff, Andrew Card, who served as chief of staff to President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006, and Leon Panetta, chief of staff for President Bill Clinton from 1994 to 1997, offered some answers to those questions during the California/Nevada leagues' annual meeting here.
Card said the election of Barack Obama as president was "not a landslide" and "does not represent a significant mandate, but it does represent change." Panetta replied, "I disagree with Andy, it was a landslide."
According to Card, exit polls indicated America is still "center/right." He characterized Obama as "center/left." He said Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was "on my list of vice presidential candidates, but it was a long list and she was not near the top, so I was surprised" when Republican nominee Sen. John McCain tapped her to be his running mate.
"She energized the campaign and brought a lot of eyeballs to the Republican National Convention," Card asserted. "Her nomination was a good tactic for the moment, but I'm not sure it was a good strategy.
"The election was what it was," Card continued. "It was very exciting. McCain exceeded expectations by coming as close as he did with little chance for Republican success given an unpopular president and an economic crisis."
Panetta, who, like Card, praised credit unions for their positive role in the current economy, attributed Obama's win to four factors: timing, strategic mistakes, money and message. With the economy in a "freefall" and people worried about their jobs, "in that situation, people are going to vote their pocketbook and vote the party in power out of office," he said. "Bush's popularity was the lowest in modern times."
Obama's strategy during the primaries of going after caucus states-several of which were "Red" or Republican-leaning states-put him on the offensive, Panetta continued. He said Obama raised huge amounts of money, while in fund raising "McCain never was competitive."
"The message for change Obama put out was the right message at the right moment," he said. "McCain talked about his experience, then he was a 'maverick,' then he talked about change. He never had one consistent message, as Obama did."
Later, Panetta addressed the question of: What now? "Barack Obama walks into the Oval Office facing a recession, a huge deficit and a need to implement a $700-billion rescue plan. The real question is, does he have the leadership to govern? During a campaign, you try to please everybody. When you are president of the United States, you have to make decisions that make some people mad at you."
The keys for success for the Obama administration will be getting a White House team in place rapidly, starting with economic and national security advisors, offered Panetta.
"There has got to be a smooth transition. Obama must move forward in a bi partisan way by appointing Republicans to his cabinet. In the first 100 days, he must address the economy and work on a budget that restores balance in four to five years. He also must address energy and unify the country."
CU Members In High Places
Both Leon Panetta and Andrew Card identified themselves as CU members during a general session at the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues' Annual Meeting and Convention here. Panetta told the audience he has been a member of the Congressional CU for 40 years, later was in the White House CU, and currently is a member of Monterey CU. "You've got me in your pocket," he quipped.
