Recently in Rahm Emanuel Category

WASHINGTON--The three top Chicagoans in the White House (other than President Obama and First Lady Michelle)--Valerie Jarrett, David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel-- are deployed to the Sunday shows, the first time, I believe that the three have been on separate shows on the same morning.

Via Mike Allen's Politico Playbook:

From Mike Allen: DRIVING THE WEEKEND: Banks and bonuses, the Dow and jobs will be top topics -- along with health care and Afghanistan -- as the West Wing fans out on the Sunday shows. Rahm EMANUEL will be on CNN's "State of the Union" (in studio, live at 9 a.m.) and CBS's "Face the Nation." Valerie JARRETT takes "Meet," which says its topics include: "[Outrage] over Wall Street bonuses. Should the government step in?" David AXELROD will do ABC's "This Week," where George Stephanopoulos blogs that his topics will include: "Wall Street's back. How about you? The Dow hit 10,000 even while 15 million Americans are without a job."

BY NATASHA KORECKI
Chicago Sun-Times Staff Reporter

CHICAGO--It has long been claimed that Rahm Emanuel wanted to find someone to keep his congressional seat warm while he served as President Obama's chief of staff.

Now, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned that Emanuel wanted then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool to his 5th Congressional District seat.

Claypool would serve one or two terms and then be considered for a place in Obama's Cabinet, according to sources familiar with Emanuel's proposal. That would give Emanuel the option of returning to Congress, where he could vie to become House speaker.

WASHINGTON -- It's a Tuesday in June, and I am in one of the high-ceiling big rooms of the old office building next to the White House.

As I look around the room at the players assembled here -- including this scribe -- I'm thinking that with a few twists of fate, this all-Chicago gang could be huddling in Mayor Daley's City Hall.

WASHINGTON -- Ezekiel Emanuel is a noted oncologist, bioethicist, older brother of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, an Obama administration health policy adviser -- and the target of smears by Sarah Palin and other critics of Democratic health care legislation. He's now fighting back.

"I'm sure it doesn't hurt that he's my brother to make me a target," Emanuel, a former West Rogers Park resident, told me Thursday.

WASHINGTON--The Obama White House on Wednesday released a list of the salaries of 487 White House staffers. You can read the list here or check out the searchable database at www.whitehouse.gov.

The top Chicagoans in the Obama White House also earn the top White House salaries--capped at $172,200, according to a list released Wednesday.

WASHINGTON -- As Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan nears a decision on whether to run for governor or senator or to stay put, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel on Thursday called her "the most popular political figure in Illinois."

I asked Emanuel about Madigan's June 12 visit to the White House during a breakfast Thursday with reporters sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

(Emanuel's wide ranging session transcript courtesy of the Christian Science Monitor)

Sweet pitching at Dunk Booth with Robert Gibbs on the South Lawn of the White House on luau night, June 25, 2009 (Photos by David Corn)

Gibbs dunked, not by Sweet

WASHINGTON--As reporters were escorted to the South Lawn to take some shots at White House press secretary Robert Gibbs in a dunk tank (it's luau night), President Obama suddenly opened a door near his Oval Office.

David Corn, author and Mother Jones Washington Bureau Chief hollered out to Obama, come out for a pitch. Obama looked ready, but he said, "they won't let me take a shot."

The South Lawn was decorated with thatched huts serving food and drink and lots of palms; tonight is the congressional picnic and the luau theme is inspired by Obama's native Hawaii.

When I was being escorted to the South Lawn, the smell of whatever was cooking was overwhelming and delicious, perhaps barbeque.

The Gibbs in the dunk tank idea came from FOX News Wendell Goler, who suggested reporters take shots at Gibbs for charity.

Gibbs, in a mock long sleeve turtle neck and shorts--was sitting in the dunking booth when the reporters arrived. There would be four pitchers, each getting three tries. Gibbs said the White House counsel advised that no money could change hands. Gibbs suggested a voluntary donation to a local food bank.

Mike Emanuel from FOX News took three shots and missed.

The AP's Ben Feller hit the dunking paddle on his third ball and Gibbs went down. High fives.

I tried next, not having used my southpaw overhand pitch for years. I threw hard. I came close on my first two tries. I think some folks were surprised that I had a pitching arm. I always wanted to throw like the boys.

WASHINGTON--Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) is among the small group of members of Congress meeting with President Obama Thursday afternoon to discuss immigration reform. Don't get your hopes up if you are tracking the issue. The meeting is happening, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) said Thursday morning at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast, because "the votes aren't there."

Rahm's management rule: When you have the votes, you don't need a meeting.

WASHINGTON--White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel set the Obama administration's "test of bipartisanship" on Thursday morning, arguing the final vote tally alone on a bill is not the only factor.

"The test of bipartisanship is not just how many Republican votes you have," Emanuel said at the breakfast, sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. "If I can get one thing across to this esteemed group of Washington journalists," Emanuel said, it would be there are a "number of ways of grading bipartisanship."

Video courtesy of C-SPAN

Updated with video

President Obama's latest joke about longtime friend and chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, to be told Friday night at the RADIO AND TELEVISION CORRESPONDENTS DINNER

In Egypt, we had the opportunity to tour the pyramids. And by now I'm sure you've all seen the pictures of Rahm on that camel. I admit, I was a little nervous about the whole situation. I said at the time, "This is a wild animal known to bite, kick, and spit. And who knows what the camel could do?"

Photo by Jessica McConnell/GW

WASHINGTON--White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel shared two painful episodes of his life during his Sunday commencement address to graduates of George Washington University.

Emanuel picked up an honorary doctorate at the ceremony. "Doctor," said Emanuel. "I just want you to know that you've made one Jewish mother happy in Chicago, who spent many a sleepless night wondering what would happen to her middle son."

The stories Emanuel told--how he sliced off half of one of his fingers--and getting fired from the Clinton White House as political director--are often related in Emanuel profiles. What's interesting in recounting is that Emanuel is talking about his personal traumas in his own words.

WASHINGTON -- First lady Michelle Obama for the second time has talked about how alienated she was from the University of Chicago when she was growing up on the South Side.

Mrs. Obama commented about her relationship with the U. of C. in a commencement address she delivered Saturday at the University of California, Merced -- echoing remarks she made to children in March at a school here.

WASHINGTON--While President Obama makes a controversial visit to Notre Dame in South Bend on Sunday to deliver a commencement address, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel heads to the National Mall to keynote the graduation ceremonies for George Washington University.

GW President Steven Knapp will present Emanuel with an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.

WASHINGTON--White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel on Monday night addressed the Anti-Defamation League, hosting a conference here. The ADL released several excerpts from his talk.

On Israel, Emanuel said, "We are committed to seeing the peace process through to a two-state solution, so that there will be a homeland for the Palestinians and a secure state of Israel for the Jewish people.

By Abdon Pallasch
Sun-Times Political Writer

CHICAGO--The newest extortion allegation against ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich is that he tried to hold up a $2 million state grant for a Northwest Side school unless Rahm Emanuel would get his Hollywood agent brother to throw a campaign fund-raiser for Blagojevich.

As with some of the other alleged Blagojevich schemes, it's unclear whether his aides ever followed through on his purported orders to shake down then-U.S. Rep. Emanuel, now chief of staff to President Obama. Emanuel's brother is Ari Emanuel, inspiration for Jeremy Piven's brash Ari Gold on HBO's "Entourage."

The school is Chicago Academy, a Chicago Public school in which student teachers learn to teach. Rahm Emanuel was a patron saint of the school. He appeared at the dedication of the $2 million football field/track built out of a former parking lot three years ago.

WASHINGTON--President Obama signed an omnibus spending bill for fy 2009 on Wednesday, loaded with thousands of controversial earmarks. Obama campaigned against these clout projects--many very worthy, some not, all clouted in outside the regular approps process--but did not veto the bill because it would mire him in a battle he did not want to fight now. Rather, he outlined in a speech Wednesday a process to bring some order to the allocation of special projects--next time.

Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has taken incoming because he was the sponsor or co-sponsor of 16 earmarks. Other members of the Obama administration who are former members of Congress also had their pet projects in the bill.

Obama's defenders note that the much larger stimulus bill passed with no earmarks. One bill with earmarks. One bigger bill without.

Here's a list of all Illinois earmarks. Source: Taxpayers for Common Sense.

WASHINGTON--University of Chicago medical center executive Eric Whitaker--close friend of President Obama and White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett-- has a seat at the table at today's Obama White House health care forum. Whitaker was in D.C. a few days ago to take in a Wizards-Bulls game with the president.

The panel Whitacker is on is moderated by Jarrett, the former chair of the U of C medical center board--and the facility where First Lady Michelle Obama used to work. The other chair is Zeke Emanuel, the noted bioethicist who is the brother of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

(AP)
President Obama and First Lady Michelle

(AP)
Left, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

WASHINGTON--President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama entertained congressional leaders at a White House dinner on Wednesday night. The Obamas have carved out a new "tradition" already. Each Wednesday, they have been asking members of Congress over to the White House for cocktails or dinner.

CHICAGO--White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel called Mike Quigley after the Cook County Board member clinched the Tuesday Democratic primary for the House seat Emanuel held before he left to join the Obama administration.

White House senior advisor David Axelrod also phoned in congratulations last night.

Quigley's plurality victory in the 5th congressional district race is tantamount to winning the seat. The April general election again nominal rivals is just a formality.

"Rahm called--good advice on constituent service," said Quigley spokesman Billy Weinberg.

Footnote: Axelrod handled media chores for three former congressmen from the fifth c.d., anchored on Chicago's Northwest Side: Emanuel, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and former Rep. Dan Rostenkowski.

Read it here

WASHINGTON--While the Obama White House is searching for a replacement for health czar Tom Daschle, policy work on health care reform--a priority for the administration--Is ongoing with one key advisor especially well connected.

The brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a noted bioethicist, is advising the Obama administration on health care reform.

Dr. Emanuel is the Chair of the Department of Bioethics at The Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health and a breast oncologist.

Dr. Emanuel is a special advisor to the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget for health policy. He told me he is "working on (the) health care reform effort." He is "detailed" to the OMB spot and is still officially an employee of the NIH.

Until last August, Dr. Emanuel was commuting between his Chicago home in West Rogers Park and Washington. He moved to Washington last August after his youngest daughter graduated from Northside College Prep at Bryn Mawr and Kedzie.

One of three wildly successful Emanuel brothers (Ari is a Hollywood superagent) Dr. Emanuel also advised the Clinton White House on health care issues. He is a graduate of Amherst College, receiving his masters of science from Oxford University in Biochemistry. His M.D. is from Harvard Medical School. He holds a Ph.D. in political philosophy from Harvard University. In addition, in 1987-88, he was a fellow in the Program in Ethics and the Professions at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

WASHINGTON--White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is retaining his $1.76 million political warchest, I've been told, with Emanuel keeping his options open for a return to an elected position some time in the future.

"The account will obviously remain dormant during the time that former Congressman Emanuel is serving as President Obama's Chief of Staff," Emanuel spokesman Sarah Feinberg told me. "No decisions have been made about what will be done with the account or the funds in the account in the future."