PrintHillary Clinton as Secretary of State?
The rumors are coming from the Obama camp so this isn't just idle speculation. Having said that, even if she is under "serious consideration" I have to think Obama is hoping that she shoots down this trial balloon he's sending up.
They are oil and water, those two. And considering how closely a president and secretary of state have to work (unless Obama plans to pull a Nixon and place the bulk of responsibility for foreign policy on the shoulders of his national security advisor), it doesn't ring true that he would be seriously contemplating choosing her.
On the other hand, getting her in the cabinet might be one way to forestall any challenge she might give him in 2012. But there you have the problem of adding to her resume which would make her a stronger candidate.
Then again, this could all be a little Obama worship coming from the press, reading too much into what the Obama camp is telling them. This from Mike Allen at Politico:
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.
A possible clue to Obama’s willingness to consider Clinton for chief diplomat can be found in a January interview he gave to Katie Couric, anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News.” As part of her “Primary Questions” series, she asked him what books besides the Bible he would considers essential if he were elected president.
“Doris Kearns Goodwin's book ‘Team of Rivals,’” Obama replied. “It was a biography of Lincoln. And she 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 and confident enough to listen to the American people and push them outside of their comfort zone. And I think that part of what I want to do as president is push Americans a little bit outside of their comfort zone. It's a remarkable study in leadership.”
Obama as Lincoln? Not hardly. Goodwin's book (an excellent read) shows that Lincoln reaching out to his rivals had as much to do with Republican politics as it did with him showing any strength of character. And the idea that Lincoln gathered people like Cameron, Stanton, Seward, Chase and the rest to advise him had anything whatsoever to do with pushing "the American people a little bit outside their comfort zone" is ridiculous. That's Obama boilerplate and is historically inaccurate.
Hillary would be crazy to give up her power base in the senate in order to take orders from Obama. Not if she's gambling that Obama will fall on his face and give her a shot in 2012.
I expect this idea to be shot down by one or both of them in the next few days.
