Trump picks Elaine Chao for transportation secretary

CNN ^ | 11/29/2016 | Phil Mattingly

[usafa92]

(CNN)President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Elaine Chao, the former labor secretary and wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to be his choice for transportation secretary, an official briefed on the matter told CNN on Tuesday.

The announcement is expected to come this afternoon. Chao served as secretary of labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 through 2009 -- the longest tenure in the position since World War II -- and has been married to McConnell since 1993. She was the first Asian-American woman to serve in a Cabinet position.

Chao also served as the deputy secretary of transportation under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1991. Following her time in government, Chao has held a position as a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation in addition to conducting media appearances.

At the Transportation Department, Chao would have a key role in helping Trump get an infrastructure spending bill passed through Congress and start government-backed works projects -- a role likely to be complicated by her relationship with McConnell, who will also be a critical player in any infrastructure bill negotiations.

[usafa92]

I guess this is part of the price to keep Mitch on the team. Interesting pick with Trump's stated goal of modernizing our infrastructure. Not sure what to make of this.

[Paladin2]

Kentucky payoff.

[Yaelle]

So the turtle will know everything that goes on in cabinet meetings?

[MNJohnnie]

Chao has held a position as a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation

It would appear the Mrs is more Conservative then the Mister.

[teeman8r]

we know who wears the pants in that relationship.

[HarleyLady27]

Considering it is coming from CNN...I’ll wait until I hear something from Trump or his Transition Team...

[xzins]

It's the China connection: "Elaine Chao was born in Taipei, Taiwan. The eldest of six daughters, Chao was born to Ruth Mulan Chu Chao (趙朱木蘭 Zhào Zhū Mùlán), a historian, and Dr. James S.C. Chao (趙錫成 Zhào Xīchéng), who began his career as a merchant mariner and later founded a successful shipping company in New York called Foremost Shipping.[5] Chao's parents had fled to Taiwan from Shanghai, mainland China, after the Chinese Communists took over after the Chinese Civil War in 1949. When she was 8 years old, in 1961, Chao came to the United States on a freight ship with her mother and two younger sisters. Her father had arrived in New York three years earlier after receiving a scholarship.[6]" (Wikipedia)

[Lurkinanloomin]

Not a good sign. The more establishment figures are in the administration, the more they can screw things up.

[BAW]

Yawn. If this keeps Mitchy onboard the Trump Train, okay.

[knarf]

Me neither, but I have faith in Trump's ability to select the right people of the correct character.

I HOPE I don't have to be worried about "selection burn-out"

Take a break, chief ... a day or two on the links will do a world of good

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yep sometimes ya gotta play ball. There was likely no way around it after Mitch announced the Senate was not likely to entertain infrastructure bills.

[plain talk]

I guess this is part of the price to keep Mitch on the team.

Yep. Trump is no fool. But this will help and I am sure she will do what Trump wants and do OK.

[.45 Long Colt]

Does he hate women and immigrants or not?

[RummyChick]

Wasn’t there some kind of scandal over her shipping company?

[TiGuy22]

“Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”...

[ptsal]

Part of the swamp

[Walkingfeather]

This is about compromising your enemies position... Think Mitch will be on sunday shows saying negative things about his cabinet choices before confirmation? ???? So this neutralizes him. He plays way way beyond the horizon that most can see.

[Buckeye McFrog]

If the quid-pro-quo here is the Nuclear Option, I’m all for it!

[NKP_Vet]

Damn sure ain’t draining the swamp. I’m tired of these political payback appointments from Trump. Chou and her worthless husband should not be rewarded in any way. Both are RINOs of the first degree.

[Maine Mariner]

She is actually a very good choice, an excellent choice in fact. She knows a lot about transportation. She was the head of the Maritime Administration, served as a member of the Federal Maritime Commission, and served as the Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

Let’s judge her on her experience in the transportation field, not to whom she is married too. She will be head of a department for which she is well qualified to serve.