It’s Hillary for Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton was named Secretary of State

As expected on Monday morning, Senator Hillary Clinton was named Secretary of State in President-elect Obama’s new administration.

While the Obama and Clinton camps had feuded during the primaries, this represents a bold leadership move by Obama in appointing a former rival with whom he has not always seen eye-to-eye.

I’m a pretty level-headed guy and I have to admit, I’m not sure I could be as magnanimous as he has been. On this very blog, on Nov. 5th I was calling for Democrat-turned-McCain supporter Sen. Joe Lieberman’s head. And while I like Sen. Clinton and have voted for her twice, I’m not sure I”m mature enough to appoint such a recent bitter rival to such a key cabinet post. A friened texted me last week and marveled that Obama is assembling a “dream team” of advisors to serve in his administration. Of this kaleidescope of stars, few shine brighter than Senator, soon to be Secretary, Hillary Clinton.

.chris{}

5 Reasons Why Hillary Will Take the Secretary of State Position

President-Elect Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton

Sen. Hillary Clinton will accept the offer to become Secretary of State. I know that there are many fans of Sen. Clinton who think she either will not, or should not, take the position but I think that even though it hasn’t “officially” been offered, she will “officially” accept it and for these 5 reasons:

1. The prestige of the position — Despite her having come extremely close to winning the Democratic nomination and garnering 18 million votes in the process, Senator Clinton does not have seniority in the Senate. She’s actually years away from being in a position where she has any. Sen. Edward Kennedy has already stated that HE intends to lead the way on health care reform and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said already that there is no committee chair for her in the immediate future. Becoming SOS, while it would cause her to give up her autonomy as a senator, she will have a much higher position as the nation’s top diplomat than she will as a senator in only her 2nd term.
2. 2012 isn’t likely — Many think Hillary won’t take the SOS position because it would lessen her ability to start running — essentially in 2 years — for the Democratic nomination for the 2012 election. It would take an extremely unusual set of circumstances for the atmosphere to occur in 4 years where it would be politically acceptable for Hillary to mount a primary challenge against then Democratic president Obama. I know that the cries of 2012 began in earnest after she did not become the party’s nominee and there were some democrats who supported Hillary that did not think Obama could beat Sen. John McCain in a general election. Now that Obama is the president-elect, I can’t imagine that the way will be clear for her in 2012 to run against him, without great political consequences.
3. She can make a difference — As I stated before, Hillary is not even the senior senator in her home state of New York, let alone senior in the senate as a whole. She serves on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee; the Special Committee on Aging; as well as the Senate Armed Services Committee. She does not chair any of these committees and is not in a position to lead many bold initiatives. As SOS, with her familiarity with many world leaders, Hillary is in a position where she could make a difference in ways she will not be able to do so in the Senate.
4. 2016 — OK I’m grasping bit here but consider this: sure Hillary will be 68 in 2016. That’s younger than John McCain is now. And after 1-2 terms of being what I’ll go ahead and assume will be a very effective SOS in a very successful Obama administration, she’ll have burnished her credentials as not only a Democratic visionary but also a world leader. I think Hillary has the smarts, respect and toughness to become one of the best SOS’s our nation has ever had. Someone who is talked about and studied for decades after she serves. If she wants to run for president after making that kind of impact, it will be easier for her.
5. Pragmatism — Add reasons 1-4 and even though SOS would have to seem like a consolation prize, it just makes the most sense. She win the nomination, she didn’t get the VP spot but SOS is the most prestigious position left out there. I know some have mentioned her name as a Suprem Court justice but that would slam the door on any possibility of a future presidential run. SOS would combine all of her immense talents at the exact time when the U.S. needs its best and its brightest minds. It’s the best thing out there and she’d be great at it.

.chris{}