Time’s Michael Scherer takes a look at the immense importance of the Center for American Progress saying "it is difficult to overstate the influence in Obamaland of CAP." The five year-old mega-think tank was founded by John Podesta who now heads Obama’s transition teams. Incoming Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Daschle is a charter CAP member. And CAP”s 600-page Change for America is basically a blueprint to run the Obama presidency.

I think I agree more with the recent assessment by the American Prospect’s Dayo Olopade that’s a touch more skeptical of CAP’s sway. For one, the Obama campaign laid out a set of policies distinct from the CAP line of policies. Related, what are the CAP line of policies? Daschle has (positively) called CAP not a think tank but an "action tank" and that sounds right. I’m not sure if CAP has recently distinguished itself with any novel policy prescriptions.

Also, Obama has stocked his economic team with the proverbial best and the brightest (Larry Summers, Tim Geithner, Paul Volcker) regardless of their establishment progressive bona fides. There is Melody Barnes, CAP executive vice-president as the new Domestic Policy Council. But in general Obama is choosing his cabinet on more traditional ideas of Washington meritocracy.  CAP is a big influence and part of that meritocracy. But I don’t think they’ve dictated his transition.-MB

Comment RSS - You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.