Obama names Tom Vilsack, Ken Salazar to Cabinet
Vilsack is selected as the new secretary of Agriculture, and Salazar will head the Department of the Interior.
Barack Obama announced two more Cabinet selections today, as the president-elect held his third news conference in as many days.
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack was chosen for Agriculture secretary and Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar was named to head Interior. Both appointments had been leaked to reporters Tuesday.
Along with the naming of environmental and energy policy officials earlier this week, Obama said today's choices will help fulfill the agenda on which he ran for president.
"I am confident that we have the team we need to make the rural agenda America's agenda, to create millions of new green jobs, to free our nation from its dependence on oil and to help preserve this planet for our children. In the end, that is not only our responsibility as Americans, it is our obligation as stewards of God's Earth," he said.
Obama appeared with Vilsack and Salazar, wearing a cowboy hat at a televised news conference in Chicago. With the appointments, the Cabinet so far fulfills Obama's commitment to bring former opponents into the governing process.
Vilsack was a strong supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who lost the Iowa caucuses to Obama during the Democratic presidential nomination campaign. Clinton has been selected to be secretary of State. Other former foes include Vice President-elect Joe Biden and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, selected to head the Commerce Department.
Salazar is at least the fourth sitting senator to move over to the executive in the new government.
Vilsack, 58, is a strong backer of alternative energy including biofuels, an issue that benefits Iowa farmers.
The appointments came as the transition team rushed to complete the Cabinet selection before Obama heads to Hawaii for a Christmas vacation.
Obama was questioned Wednesday about the Illinois corruption scandal, though he has said repeatedly he would not comment until federal investigators give him a green light to talk about an internal examination of his staff's contacts with the Illinois governor's office.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces federal corruption charges for trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by Obama. Federal investigators have said there was no indication that Obama or his staff did anything wrong.
There have been reports that Obama's incoming chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, had contacts with Blagojevich's staff, but the details are unclear.
"It's a little bit frustrating," Obama said when asked at the news conference when the report will be released. "There's been a lot of speculation in the press that I would love to correct immediately. We are abiding by the request of the U.S. attorney's office. It's not going to be that long. By next week, you guys will have the answers to all of your questions."
Blagojevich appeared briefly this morning, telling reporters that he is eager to tell his side of the scandal.
"There's a time and place for everything," he said as he left his home for a jog. "That day will soon be here, and you might know more about that today, maybe no later than tomorrow."
An inquiry into whether to impeach Blagojevich is pending in Springfield.
michael.muskal@latimes.com
