Obama defends choice of Panetta, who's mum

Published: Jan. 7, 2009 at 4:38 PM

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama defended his reported nominee for CIA director, saying Leon Panetta was one of the "finest public servants we've had."

Meanwhile, the man stirring the controversy was silent about the speculated nomination.

Current and former U.S. intelligence officials, as well as Democratic congressional leaders have expressed skepticism and resentment over Obama's apparent decision to nominate the former White House chief of staff for President Bill Clinton to head the spy agency, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

In Congress, Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee were ticked because they weren't consulted about Panetta's impending nomination and also questioned his intelligence experience. Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. Tuesday acknowledged that the transition team erred in not consulting or notifying congressional leaders, and Obama called to apologize to committee Chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and her predecessor, Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va..

Obama defended Panetta during a news conference, stressing he still hasn't made a formal announcement about his intelligence team.

"I have the utmost respect for Leon Panetta," he said. "I think he is one of the finest public servants

that we've had. He brings extraordinary management skills, great political savvy, an impeccable record of integrity."

However, one senior official said that "the process was completely opaque" and that CIA wasn't consulted or told of Obama's choice.

Panetta, meanwhile, in his first public appearance since speculation about his nomination began, had little to say about the potential nod from Obama, the Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel said.

Speaking to the Bay Area's Assessors Association Conference in Monterey, Calif., Tuesday, Panetta said he wasn't at liberty to discuss the potential nomination.

"If you want to know anything, I'll have to refer you to the president-elect," he said.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Watercooler Stories (<1 min)
Jockstrip: The world as we know it. (31 min)
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
Helicopter Moms: Little boys can be gross
COL BKB: California 95, Detroit 61
Legislation to guarantee paid sick days
fark
What does a death sentence really mean? If you're in California, it means years and years of living...
The curious case of heroin buttons
Pregnant teen arrested for burglary, goes into labor while being arrested. I hear mug shots make...
Photoshop this iguana
Ron Jeremy showing college campuses he's a master debater
A Massachusetts man is suing Bon Jovi, Time Warner and Major League Baseball for $400 billion because...