If true, this would be an incredible turnaround for Obama.
Several Obama transition advisers are strongly advocating Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) for secretary of State, a move that would create the ultimate “Team of Rivals” cabinet, according to officials involved in the discussions.
President-elect Obama has narrowed the possibilities for secretary of State and Clinton is among those being strongly considered, the officials said. Some even call her the favorite.
It is not known what Obama himself thinks of the idea. But the fact that it is being entertained within his camp shows how much things have changed in the months since he defeated her for the Democratic nomination in a protracted primary marathon.
Back in June-July, we noted that there were only two positions, besides veep, which we felt Hillary would take over her Senate seat: Associate Justice on the Supreme Court or Secretary of State. While we spent a great deal of time discussing the possibility of putting Hillary on the High Court (ultimately determining that while she would be qualified for the position, she would be too old and her confirmation would be too difficult for Obama to ever nominate her), we dismissed the possibility of State out of hand. My initial feeling on the matter was that Obama would not place one of his biggest rivals in the top spot in his cabinet. After Obama never considered Clinton for his running mate, and his chilly relationship with Bill continued, I did not change my view one iota.
While I will believe this article when I actually see Clinton get the appointment, the storyline is nonetheless noteworthy. As the author states, the very fact that Team Obama is even talking seriously about Clinton -- as opposed to during the veep search when she was never formally interviewed or even vetted -- says a lot about Obama's mindset today. Has he moved past his mediocre relationship with the Clintons? I doubt it very much, but that's not the point. His consideration of Clinton for the job may be an important sign of both his confidence, and in turn his sense of magnanimity to reach out to his rivals, past and even present, and work to bring them into the fold.
On a personal level, I would be very impressed with Obama if he ultimately picked Clinton for the vital post. Not because I was supporting her in the primary. Not because I remain a strong fan of her husband's presidency. And not because I think she would be the very best choice. I would be impressed because it would show me vital growth on the part of the President-elect, and an ability on his part to be a good winner in the same way Winston Churchill was.
Up to now, one thing tht has disappointed me about Obama is his arrogant refusal to reach out to Bill Clinton and let bygones be bygones. Perhaps victory has changed his mindset some. We'll see if it happens, but this is intriguing and completely out to the blue for me.
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I don't get the idea of HRC as Secretary of State. I understand she and her husband carry a lot of international gravitas and would speak with instant authority for the U.S. when dealing with foreign governments. But, IMHO, my experience from observing the Clintons since 1994 is that they almost always thrive on drama (note how disorganized her presidential campaign was..though she was ill-served by the people she had with her).
You will have a new president whose secretary of state is the wife of the last Democratic president who recently ran for president herself and came very close to winning. You could have foreign governments, some of whom are still around when Clinton was in office, saying: (1) is HRC speaking for Obama or for BC? or (2) HRC is saying something different from what BC told me when he was in office; I'll disregard Obama and follow what BC said since I can't imagine Obama really challenging BC and/or HRC. Putting my BS detector hat on, I suspect this may be Clinton apologists trying to block John Kerry and/or Bill Richardson, who have both been mentioned as possible SOS, but who...tada... backed Obama when he was in a fierce battle with...tada.. HRC. Latinos want Obama to make Richardson SOS because he is eminently qualified and it would be a standout job rather than the convenient posts at HUD or the VA. Ted Kennedy may have backed Obama in Feb in exchange of Obama promising to name John Kerry as SOS, so the Mass Senate seat could open up for a another Kennedy or one of his close allies (you can tell from John Kerry's face that he's itching to travel aorund world capitals with his international oriented wife and be liberated in speaking French, German or whatever other language they know).
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