奥巴马提名华裔州长骆家辉为商务部长人选

Former Chinese-American governor nominated as U.S. commerce secretary

美国总统奥巴马25日在电视直播的白宫新闻发布会上提名前华盛顿州华裔州长骆家辉为商务部长人选。

奥巴马在宣布这一提名时说，在如何振兴美国经济和“美国梦”方面，骆家辉与他理念一致。骆家辉表示，他将全力支持奥巴马，并对奥巴马的经济振兴计划有信心。他表示，如果提名获得参议院批准，他将使商务部成为奥巴马施政纲领的积极推动者。

Gary Locke, the first Chinese-American who ever led a U.S. state government, was nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday as his third choice for Secretary of Commerce.

Announcing the nomination in a live-broadcast event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, the president said that the 59-year-old Locke has lived the American Dream and "shares my commitment to do whatever it takes to keep it alive in our time."

"Gary will be a trusted voice in my cabinet, a tireless advocate for our economic competitiveness, and an influential ambassador for American industry who will help us do everything we can, especially now, to promote it around the world," said Obama.

"The American people and I fully support you and have confidence in your bold strategy to turn our economy around," Locke told Obama, adding that he will become an "active and integral partner" to push forward the president's agenda.

"Our nation's economic success is tied directly to America continuing to lead in technology and innovation and in exporting those products, services and ideas to markets around the globe," he said.

"The Department of Commerce can and will help create jobs and the economic vitality our country needs," he added.

If his nomination gets confirmed, Locke would fill a post to which Obama has previously nominated New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Republican Senator Judd Gregg from New Hampshire.

Richardson withdrew in early January, citing an ongoing federal investigation in his home state, while Gregg pulled out of consideration on Feb. 12 because of "irresolvable conflicts" over the Obama administration's stimulus bill and the upcoming 2010 census.

Obama acknowledged the setback and said on Wednesday: "Now, I'm sure it's not lost on anyone that we've tried this a couple of times, but I'm a big believer in keeping at something until you get it right. And Gary is the right man for this job."

The young presidency of Obama has been beset by problems with Cabinet nominees.

He is still searching for a candidate to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, after former Senate Democratic leader Thomas Daschle ran into obstacles.

Both Daschle and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner were involved in tax controversies. Geithner, however, was ultimately confirmed by the Senate.

Locke was the country's first Chinese-American governor, elected to lead the Washington state in 1996 and re-elected in 2000.

Prior to governorship, the Democrat served 5 terms in the House of Representatives and one term as executive of King County, Washington.

He was chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 1989 to 1994.

Locke earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Yale University, and a law degree from Boston University.

Analysts said he is a Democrat who "is a comfortable ideological fit with the Obama administration."

While the Secretary of Commerce is not regarded as one of the top-tier power posts in the U.S. Cabinet, he could serve as a voice for the globalists in the new administration.

He comes squarely out of the free-trade mindset of the mainstream business community in the northwestern United States and has a good relationship with China.

Personally, Locke seems like he would fit in with the "No Drama Obama" approach to governing.

During his tenure as governor, he has the reputation of being a wonkish, pragmatic figure who was not unnecessarily combative.

A White House statement described Locke as a "tireless and successful champion of American products, services and jobs."

美国总统奥巴马25日在电视直播的白宫新闻发布会上提名前华盛顿州华裔州长骆家辉为商务部长人选。

奥巴马在宣布这一提名时说，在如何振兴美国经济和“美国梦”方面，骆家辉与他理念一致。骆家辉表示，他将全力支持奥巴马，并对奥巴马的经济振兴计划有信心。他表示，如果提名获得参议院批准，他将使商务部成为奥巴马施政纲领的积极推动者。

如果这一提名获得参议院批准，骆家辉将成为继能源部长朱棣文之后奥巴马政府的第二位华裔部长，并将主管美国的国际贸易政策、海洋政策以及人口普查。

骆家辉于１９５０年出生在华盛顿州西雅图一个华裔家庭，其父母来自中国广东省台山。他在耶鲁大学获得政治学学士学位，又在波士顿大学获得法学学位。

１９８２年，骆家辉当选联邦众议员，从此踏入政坛。１９９６年，他赢得华盛顿州州长选举，成为美国历史上首位华裔州长。４年后又获连任。

骆家辉是奥巴马提名的第三位商务部长人选。第一位商务部长人选新墨西哥州长理查森因卷入一起腐败案件调查而撤回提名，随后获得商务部长提名的共和党参议员格雷格以在重要政策上与奥巴马存在“不可调和的矛盾”为由撤回提名。