Barack Obama announced yesterday that Tom Daschle, the former Senate majority leader and a prominent member of Obama’s campaign, would be selected as Secretary of Health and Human Services. As the New York Times’  David D. Kirkpatrick reports, Daschle’s appointment appears to violate Obama’s rule not to select people to run a policy area they once lobbied on. After losing his Senate seat in 2004, Daschle became an adviser on health care matters to uber-lobbying firm Alston & Baird. Daschle was also a board member of the Mayo clinic, which receives numerous Health and Human Services grants.

I’m ambivalent about the Daschle choice. On the one hand, it makes Obama look hypocritical in his battle against lobbying. But appointing such a high-profile figure to lead HHS might signal that health care reform will truly be a priority. That or the pharmaceutical companies that Daschle advised will continue to run amok.-MB

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