Obama Adds New Advisor

With approval ratings flagging and his healthcare law at risk, President Obama is bringing on board John Podesta “who helped guide President Clinton through the darkest days of his presidency,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

“The Democratic veteran arrives as the president scrambles to fix the troubled start-up of the Affordable Care Act and to recover public support for his most important domestic achievement. Sources familiar with the decision said Obama Chief of Staff Denis McDonough asked Podesta to take on the role of guiding healthcare implementation as well as advising on other big domestic and foreign policy matters.”

First Read: “Given his chief-of-staff work during Clinton’s second term (especially
during impeachment), Podesta is very familiar with how a White House can
rack up executive accomplishments when facing a recalcitrant Congress.
He also knows how to work all the departments and agencies within the
executive branch, which has been a weak spot for this administration.”