Marathon Pundit: Obama nominates Boeing board member to be commerce secretary

Here's a surprising bit of news. From a Workforce Fairness Institute press release:

President Obama Names Boeing Board Member To Cabinet

Washington, D.C. (May 31, 2011) – The Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI) today released the following statement in response to President Obama naming Boeing board member John Bryson as his nominee for Commerce Secretary:

"Weeks after the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against Boeing for building a facility in South Carolina, President Obama has decided to name a member of the company’s board as a nominee to his cabinet. This comes on the heels of disclosures showing Bill Daley, the White House chief of staff was also working with Boeing when the company decided to set up shop in a right-to-work state in order to meet demand for their 787 Dreamliner aircraft," said Fred Wszolek, spokesman for the Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI). "President Obama has a choice to make, either stop hiring individuals from a company his regulatory agency believes violated Federal labor law or tell Lafe Solomon to cease action against Boeing. Either way, President Obama must choose one as he can't have it both ways."

BACKGROUND:

Obama Names John Bryson, Boeing Board Member, Commerce Secretary:

"President Obama will name a noted utility executive, John Bryson, to be the next Commerce Secretary later Tuesday. If confirmed, Bryson would replace Gary Locke who Obama has named as the next U.S. ambassador to China." (Matthew Cooper, “Obama To Name John Bryson As Commerce Secretary," National Journal, 5/31/11)

John Bryson Has Been A Boeing Board Member Since 1995. (Website, Boeing, Accessed 5/31/11)

"According to his biography released by the White House, Mr. Bryson is also a director of several major corporations, including Boeing, Walt Disney and Coda Automotive, and is a senior adviser to Fohlberg Kravis Roberts. He is chairman of the board of BrightSource Energy, the Public Policy Institute of California and the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Board of Overseers. He also serves as co-chairman of the Pacific Council on International Policy." (Jackie Calmes, " Obama To Pick Energy Executive For Commerce Post,” The New York Times, 5/31/11)

White House Official Says Mr. Bryson "Will Play A Key Role" As A Member Of President Obama's Economic Team:

"'Mr. Bryson will play a key role as a member of the president's economic team, bringing decades of knowledge and experience in the public and private sectors, and will provide valuable ideas and initiatives to strengthen America's competitiveness around the world,' a White House official said. 'Mr. Bryson will continue the (Commerce) Department's mission to drive U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace, strengthen the international economic position of the United States and facilitate global trade by opening up new markets for U.S. goods and services.'" (" Boeing Board Member To Helm U.S. Commerce Dept.," Crain's Chicago Business, 5/31/11

William Daley Resigned From Boeing's Board Of Directors To Become Obama's Chief Of Staff:

"William Daley has resigned from Boeing’s board of directors, following his appointment as President Barack Obama's chief of staff. The resignation was effective Friday. Daley, 62, joined the board in 2006. His public career includes serving as President Bill Clinton's commerce secretary from 1997 to 2000." ("Daley Goes From Boeing To White House,” St. Louis Business Journal, 1/10/11)

The Workforce Fairness Institute is an organization committed to educating voters, employers, employees and citizens about issues affecting the workplace. To learn more, please visit: http://www.workforcefairness.com.