The Minnesota Independent

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As transportation secretary, Republican LaHood travels well

By Andy Birkey | 12.18.08 | 7:44 am

President-elect Barack Obama is making good on his promise to include the opposition in his cabinet: He’ll be nominating Republican Rep. Ray LaHood as the next Secretary of Transportation. While some in the liberal blogosphere are outraged that Obama is naming a moderate Republican to the post, I’m not. I cast the first vote of my life for LaHood, a native of my hometown, Peoria, Illinois. And many others, from Central Illinois Democrats to my conservative mom, a self-described “dittohead,” are calling LaHood a solid, pragmatic choice.