Obama picks third Republican for Cabinet

From NBC's Athena Jones WASHINGTON -- President Obama tapped Sen. Judd Gregg to head the Commerce Department, making the New Hampshire lawmaker the third Republican to be nominated for a Cabinet position. Obama ran on the notion of taking a pragmatic approach to problem solving that is not based on party. "We know the only way to solve the great challenges of our time is to put aside stale ideology and petty partisanship, and embrace what works," he said of Gregg, who would join his fellow GOPers Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Defense Secretary Robert Gates . The president again called for quick passage of the recovery package that is working its way through Congress and reiterated that the "vast majority" of the investments in the plan would be made within the first year and a half. ...( read more ) (link)