Spring Break
Obama forms "Team of Rivals?"
Patrick Fancher
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: Forum
President-elect Barack Obama could be in the midst of bringing change to our nation's capitol at an almost unprecedented level. According to abcnews.com, Obama has extended an offer to Senator Hillary Clinton to become the Secretary of State of his administration and is currently awaiting the decision of his former rival.
It is also believed that New Mexico Governor and Obama campaign supporter Bill Richardson may be in the running for the position as well. Richardson previously held a position as former President Bill Clinton's Ambassador to the United Nations. The Secretary of State serves as the President's principal adviser on U.S. foreign policy, as defined on the U.S. Department of State website. After such a contentious primary between Obama and Clinton, it comes as a surprise to me that Obama would consider adding someone who constantly brought up his lack of experience regarding foreign affairs during their primary debates. I stated in a previous column that, "Obama goes against the grain of traditional politics." Adding Clinton to his cabinet would be another example of that.
Unlike the Bush administration, Obama is not surrounding himself with "Yes Men," though he has included some members of the previous Democratic administration. He is rumored to be considering individuals with opposing points of view, even some Republicans, for high-level cabinet positions. After all, Obama did select one of his rivals in Joe Biden as his VP pick. If this possible addition of Clinton is true, it is a bold move with more moves like it to come.
According to a story on msnbc.com, Obama may be following the precedent set by former President Abraham Lincoln, as described in the book "Team of Rivals" by presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, in which he would plan on giving some of his rivals positions in the administration. Lincoln named three of his rivals for the Republican nomination to his cabinet.
Obama said at one point on the campaign trail, "Lincoln basically pulled in all the people who had been running against him into his Cabinet because whatever personal reasons there were, the issue was: How can we get this country through this time of crisis?"
It is also believed that New Mexico Governor and Obama campaign supporter Bill Richardson may be in the running for the position as well. Richardson previously held a position as former President Bill Clinton's Ambassador to the United Nations. The Secretary of State serves as the President's principal adviser on U.S. foreign policy, as defined on the U.S. Department of State website. After such a contentious primary between Obama and Clinton, it comes as a surprise to me that Obama would consider adding someone who constantly brought up his lack of experience regarding foreign affairs during their primary debates. I stated in a previous column that, "Obama goes against the grain of traditional politics." Adding Clinton to his cabinet would be another example of that.
Unlike the Bush administration, Obama is not surrounding himself with "Yes Men," though he has included some members of the previous Democratic administration. He is rumored to be considering individuals with opposing points of view, even some Republicans, for high-level cabinet positions. After all, Obama did select one of his rivals in Joe Biden as his VP pick. If this possible addition of Clinton is true, it is a bold move with more moves like it to come.
According to a story on msnbc.com, Obama may be following the precedent set by former President Abraham Lincoln, as described in the book "Team of Rivals" by presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, in which he would plan on giving some of his rivals positions in the administration. Lincoln named three of his rivals for the Republican nomination to his cabinet.
Obama said at one point on the campaign trail, "Lincoln basically pulled in all the people who had been running against him into his Cabinet because whatever personal reasons there were, the issue was: How can we get this country through this time of crisis?"
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