Hillary and Barack: A Good “Team of Rivals?”
Posted by Shannon LC Cate at 4:15 PM on November 17, 2008
Rumor has it that Hillary Clinton is at the top of the Obama cabinet short-list for Secretary of State. According to Politico, out of a field that includes John Kerry and Bill Richardson, Clinton:
"would be most attractive if Obama concludes that he will have to focus his early days in office on the domestic economy, and will have to essentially outsource heavy-duty foreign travel to his secretary of state."
Other gossip suggests that the sometimes acrimonious Democratic primary season is actually a mark in Clinton's favor, since Obama has made it clear that he believes in the leadership style Doris Kearns Goodwin described of Abraham Lincoln. Obama told katie Couric last January,
"[Goodwin] talks about Lincoln's capacity to bring opponents of his and people who have run against him in his cabinet. And he was confident enough to be willing to have these dissenting voices…It's a remarkable study in leadership.”
In spite of the points in Clinton's favor, there is concern among some that her husband, the former president would be too annoying a "back-seat driver" if Hillary were in the Cabinet. Then again, some say having Bill as a known quantity on the team is safer than having him lurking somewhere in the hedges outside the White House.
I think Hillary Clinton would make a terrific Secretary of State. She's tough, but also kind of charming, which seem to me like critical qualities for the job. John Kerry may or may not be tough, but I definitely don't find him charming. Who would you pick?
What, John Kerry not charming and Hillary Clinton is? That nasty, vindictive, self-serving person is? I have followed Senator Kerry for some time anhd I have met the man several times and he was always pleasant and charming. He is tough too.
I don’t know where you are getting your information, but in the area of charm- Kerry certainly has Clinton beat.
Oh, and add to this the fact that she really is not at all qualified for the demands of this positon and Senator Kerry is.
Clinton would be a strange pick at a time in our history when national security issues and global issues are so very, very important. A lot is at stake, both domestically and internationally. She could be a real danger representing us overseas.
I hope Obama is only open to giving her the benefit of the doubt right now and will ultimately decide against her. America really need to move past the Clinton’s. Frankly, I have had enough of the drama queen and her husband for a lifetime.