Barack Considers Hillary

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright November 14, 2008
All Rights Reserved.                    

         Moving quickly to put a Cabinet together, President-elect Barack Obama faces some tough choices, considering Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) for Secretary of State.  During the 18-month campaign, Hillary questioned Baracks’ readiness for commander-in-chief, citing his inexperience in foreign policy.  When Barack picked Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) Aug 23 as his running mate, he did so because of his impressive foreign policy credentials.  Obama’s pick proved wise, especially with the backlash McCain faced picking neophyte Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.  McCain never admitted how Palin hurt the GOP ticket.  While Palin muses over her role in national politics, including a possible presidential run in 2012, she continues to act like she leads the GOP.  Naming Hillary as a possible Secretary of State shows that Barack seeks the best talent and isn’t afraid to share the limelight.

            Showing her interest in the job, Hillary met Nov. 13 in Chicago with Barack, remaining mum to the press.  “I’m not going to speculate or address anything about the president-elect’s incoming administration, and I’m going to respect the process,” said Hillary, refusing to give any details.  During the primaries, Hillary won over 18 million votes, leaving some of her supporters voting for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Hillary’s reluctance to discuss the details indicates she’s under serious consideration.  While she stands to gain power in the senate, the Secretary of State job would burnish her case for another presidential run in 2016, if not sooner.  Running the state department offers the junior N.Y. senator a high-profile job, especially given today’s formidable foreign policy challenges.  With Barack’s recent exception, senators haven’t faired too well in presidential politics.

             Barack and his new chief-of-staff Rep. Rahm Emanauel (D-Ill.) plan to meet Nov. 17 in Chicago with McCain and his good friend Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in Chicago to discuss a future role in helping Barack advance his agenda in the U.S. Senate.  Desspite the fierce rivalry, Barack and McCain share the desire to change Washington’s partisan divide, in part caused by a split within the Republican Party, where evangelicals have gained the upper hand during the eight year reign of President George W. Bush.  His chief strategist Karl Rove believed evangelicals could create a permanent ruling coalition for the GOP, now shattered Nov. 4.  McCain’s pick of Palin clearly reflected that split, pandering to the religious right. Working with Barack, McCain could shift GOP power back to moderates, whose fortunes have been eclipsed by right wing extremists in recent years.

              Harking back to Lincoln, Barack sees value in bringing his rivals into the fold.  He expects to invite Republicans into his Cabinet, perhaps offering McCain the Defense Secretary job Monday, when they meet in Chicago.  Few expect McCain to accept, instead enlisting his support in the Senate to push Barack’s political agenda, especially immigration reform where they’re on the same page.  So far, Obama has reached back to old Clinton hands, picking Emanuel and former chief-of-staff John Podesta to run his transition team.  “Lincoln basically pulled in all the people who had been running against him into his Cabinet because whatever personal feelings there were, the issue was:  How can we get the country through this time of crisis,” Obama said, telegraphing his intent.  While that worked then, it’s not necessarily desirable or the best use of today’s available talent.

           Obama should pick his Cabinet not on political strategy but on who’s the most competent to get the job done.  Picking old Clinton hands does more to antagonize the opposition rather than build a working coalition.  Keeping Bush’s Defense Secretary Robert Gates would show more status quo, something inconsistent with Barack’s change message during the campaign.  On the other hand, picking a respected Republican like Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) would boldly match up the best talent, not emphsize political strategy.  Before Barack picked Biden as his running mate, Hagel was on the short-list of possible candidates.  No one in recent memory showed a better profile-in-courage than Hagel, a decorated Vietnam vet, who sacrificed his career, defiying Bush on the Iraq War.  Keeping Gates would send the wrong message about the administration’s new direction.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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