Hope and Fail

President-elect apologizes for snubbing Feinstein

President-elect Obama and Veep-elect Joe Biden apologized to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., for not consulting her on their pick of Leon Panetta to head the CIA. Feinstein is the incoming chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

MSNBC reports that, “They’ve apologized profusely.” Also, from the Associated Press:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Tuesday that President-elect Barack Obama apologized to her for not notifying her ahead of time that Leon Panetta was his pick for CIA director.

His name leaked to the press before Obama informed Feinstein, a California Democrat and incoming Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, who will oversee Panetta’s nomination hearing.

“I have been contacted by both President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden, and they have explained to me the reasons why they believe Leon Panetta is the best candidate for CIA Director,” she said.

Feinstein complained Monday she had not been told about Panetta and expressed doubts he has the necessary experience.

And the Huffington Post reports that on the floor of the Senate, Biden said the transition team should have consulted Feinstein:

While visiting the Senate, Biden was asked if Feinstein, the incoming intelligence committee chair, should have been part of the process. “I’m still a Senate man and I always think this way: I think it’s always good to talk to the requisite members of Congress,” said Biden. “I think it was just a mistake.”

As former members of the Senate themselves, shouldn’t Obama and Biden had realized they weren’t following protocol?