Google this: CEO Eric Schmidt wants to join the Obama cabinet

Posted Oct 20th 2008 12:50PM by Jonathan Berr
Filed under: Google (GOOG), Presidential Elections

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) Chief Executive Eric Schmidt appears interested in joining Barack Obama's cabinet. He's not campaigning for the job, telling the Wall Street Journal that he was "too busy" running the world's largest search engine company.

Of course, anyone who wants a cabinet position never admits it. It's considered a faux pas. Schmidt, though, seems to be interested in making a difference beyond Google. He does not want to sit back on some deserted island counting his billions as he downs exotic frozen drinks.

The Journal, citing unnamed tech and media executives, speculated that Schmidt "might desire a role in an Obama administration, possibly the chief technology officer post Sen. Obama has said he would create." Exactly what that job would entail is not clear. It sounds like the type of job where Schmidt would sit in an office somewhere in the White House thinking grand thoughts and writing grand reports that would gather dust almost as soon as they were published.

Schmidt's endorsement is hardly a shock. The Google co-founders are liberal in their politics. As the Journal noted, Google employees gave $487,355 to Obama's campaign compared with $20,600 to Republican John McCain as of Aug 31. Google is in much better shape politically than Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) whose CEO John Chambers is a big supporter of John McCain. Two other tech has-beens Meg Whitman of eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) and Carly Fiorina of Hewlett-Packard Co. (NASDAQ: HPQ) also support McCain.

Maybe Schmidt is playing politics. Google has some major issues pending in Washington including net neutrality and possible Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) dealings. You can bet that the Obama administration -- which will come into existence in a few weeks barring any shocking scandals -- will want to exploit its ties with the company that will one day rule the world.

Should he enter politics, Schmidt will have to quit Google because it will be tough to live up to the company's do no evil credo in Washington, where evil seems to have its own lobbyist.

Tags: BARack Obama, BarackObama, CSCO, EBAY, eric schmidt, EricSchmidt, featured, Goog, HPQ, inthenews, JOhn MCCAin, JohnMccain, YHOO

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-20-2008 @ 3:13PM

WebMonkeyDC said...

"You can bet that the Obama administration -- which will come into existence in a few weeks barring any shocking scandals --"

Where have you been? The truth beneath the veneer of the Obomination campaign is shining through. Reminds me of when everyone knew John Kerry was destined for the White House...

10-20-2008 @ 5:09PM

Snake Oil Obama said...

Hmm.....New Chief Technology Officer? No Special Interest? I first thought Obama was a neophyte, now has slick-willy beat.

Oh yeah, I've never met a plummer making $250,000.00, really? Try New York. So, divert the real issue: Let's excessively tax 5% of businesses who supply 95% of the good paying jobs. I am sure we all can find a job with full benefits and reasonable pay with a hobby part-time $250,000.00 business. If you believe this moronic $250,000.00 democratic approach, you are not really experiencing any intellectual discomfort, so good luck finding a real job.

Moreover, try Google on SBA small business definition: A bank with a 175 million in assets is a small business by goverment definition. Feeling any lights going on here?

Furthermore, if you like extreme intellectual dishonesty and esoteric trivia-vote democratic and enjoy the new wellfare state coming with guaranteed 15% or more unemployment and torturing new taxes.

Level playing field? Obama is a flat out prevaricator on campaign finance. If Obama would have kept his word he would be losing by -20 in the polls (without 150 million) this month.

Obama knew he could not beat McCain without the money advantage or on a level playing field. America, don't allow the Presidency to be bought.

10-20-2008 @ 6:16PM

NICK said...

I thought their was something wrong with this wacko Eric Schmidt. This nut is another one of those do gooders. He is one of the big spenders for Obama. He wants to take over from SIGNATOR.