Many times these “condition of anonymity” leaks are made to give a chance for it to be a trial balloon so if it fails it doesn’t reflect badly on Obama. If everyone laughs, they just claim it was only a rumor and never really true. Often the “anonymous” leaker is the official spokesperson, but just tells the press “now this is spoken on condition of anonymity”.
He is all in all a very good and tough soldier and the purpose of this trial balloon may be for the One to see how much his taking his leftist supporters for granted will serve him by appointing tough soldier.