Power and Perception – The Clinton-Obama Whitehouse

In a recent AP article Kevin Freking noted Washington Republicans were complaining that President-Elect Obama is choosing Washington Insiders for Cabinet Positions - like some groups from the left, there is a concern that the promised change may be tempered by moderate governing. One can understand Republican angst – should Obama govern from the center, his changes of success are increased, although given the current state of the nation, one is hard pressed to find anyone who would want to fill Obama’s shoes, especially a Republican. The media, who were somewhat less than objective during the two-years running up to the general election, failed to notice something lacking on the side of the Republican machine. The biggest new regarding Republicans is that they suffered a huge loss, they were fractured, they were out-campaigned – true Obama ran a remarkable campaign, funded to the hilt, and aided by the likes of Dean, Pelosi and Reid, with a host of other top players in the Party, all intent on undoing Hillary Clinton (hold that thought), while the Republican’s ran an unusually lackluster and somewhat frenetic campaign. John McCain’s emergence as the front-runner, a man known by the base and moderate Republicans’ as most like to caucus with the Democrats, did little to inspire the base – the biggest component that went missing from this election – the 501’s in defense of McCain. There simply were none – and no one seems to wonder why? It isn’t as though there wasn’t enough material. The divide between so-call cultural and social conservatives is being talked about as though it might be a factor, although leaders on both sides have banded together in past elections in order to get out the vote – this time – they stepped away -almost appearing to ‘lose by design”. Obama won the general by a 1 point margin over the previous general election, yet, the media persists in the delusion that this is some sort of land-slide. Obama, who’s general governing experience, was limited to say the least, has the sense and ability to choose top positions wisely, and he also appears to understand that he needs seasoned experts that are also moderate in temperament will help him succeed.

That said one starts to see a pattern developing with some of the appointments to date:
Eric Holder, Attorney General (Justice Department under Clinton), Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff (former 6 year advisor to Bill Clinton), Robert Reich, Obama Transition Team ( former Secretary of Labor under Clinton), White House Counsel, Gregory B Craig (former defense attorney for President Bill Clinton), Tom Daschle, Health and Human Services(vigorously defended Clintons Health Care plans in the 1990’s) and finally, Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State (pending formal rumored announcement).

The logical conclusion would be that Obama has chosen members and defenders of the Clinton administration based on their knowledge and established power in both the Party as well as in Washington. One can also wonder, Obama chose Clinton, over his mentor John Kerry (D-MA), as Secretary of State. Kerry will assume Biden’s old senate position as the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This non-appointment, though prestigious enough, speaks volumes. How long has Biden held that position and to what advantage? The old adage: “throw a dog a bone” may apply to Kerry in this instance.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Absolutely, Hillary Clinton has an established presence in Washington now that has the potential to push her vision and her policies through with seamless effort. She has transcended the Presidency –a women, who for all intents and purposes should, by popular vote, been the nominee, a woman that some post-election polls suggest would have won the presidency by a greater margin had she been the nominee – now may, if she chooses, become Secretary of State in and administration where she will be surrounded by friends and allies. In the early stages of the campaign, it was rumored that the Clintons had some damaging information on the President-Elect, a rumor only, however, one has to wonder, due to choices made so far – if this information existed and if it has been put to greater use. It is good to be a woman.