Barack Obama calls on gov. to resign, nominates Daschle

President-elect Barack Obama called again on Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign following his indictment on corruption charges during a press conference Thursday in Chicago. Obama said that he never met with Blagojevich regarding his replacement and that his team was investigating whether any staff members had contact with the governor on this subject.

Obama also announced today that former Senator Tom Daschle will be his pick for secretary of Health and Human Services. Daschle was one of Obama's earliest high-profile supporters and is a leading figure in the movement toward univeral health care and healthcare reform.

Obama is also expected to announce Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu as his Energy secretary and former New Jersey environmental protection commissioner Lisa Jackson as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.


Video: Obama: Resign Blagojevich CBS


Blagojevich's Promise to Mom: 'I'll Never Take Bribes'
ABC News - 2 hours ago
By RHONDA SCHWARTZ and KATE McCARTHY Governor Rod Blagojevich promised his mother he would always be honest and "never take bribes," according to a 2006 video posted online by the Democratic National Committee.

Illinois First Lady Faces Scrutiny New York Times

USA Today

Obama to Name Former Lawmaker as Health Secretary
Voice of America - 1 hour ago
By VOA News US President-elect Barack Obama will name former Senator Tom Daschle as his secretary of health and human services during a press conference Thursday in Chicago.
Obama taps Nobel physicist for energy secretary: reports AFP
Nobel Physicist Chosen To Be Energy Secretary Washington Post