Is Obama drawing a wild card?

Hillary Clinton...Secretary of State?

For the last couple of days the news has been full of the story (once a rumor only, but since confirmed) that Barack Obama was possibly going to offer the job of Secretary of State to Hillary Clinton. Remember her? The one who told us that Obama was not prepared for the infamous 3 A.M. phone call? The one who hammered away at Obama’s lack of experience before John McCain ever weighed in on the subject? The one who fought him tooth-and-nail for the Democratic nonination? Yep, same woman.

This strains one’s credulity for several reasons. First of all, there’s all of those unflattering things she had to say about Obama back when they were still contesting the nomination. Did she actually feel this way, or was all that just electioneering? Politics being what it is, I can believe that it was all just election hype, and that hardly matters now since Obama has won, does it? If it was just hype...

And another thing...Hillary Clinton made it a practice to point out the differences between what she believes (believed?) about foreign policy, what she would do in foreign policy once she had the authority of President, as opposed to Obama’s stated positions. Given that Obama hasn’t changed his stance much (he’s been remarkably consistent for a Presidential candidate, and has remained so even after winning the election) will Hillary Clinton now willingly put aside her own strongly-held beliefs in the service of Obama, once she has his the President’s authority if not his job?

I don’t know. And, since she hasn’t said she’d actually want the job, perhaps these are questions she’s asking herself right now.

But this is a smart move for Obama, as well. Obama’s (potentially) greatest challenge might not come from the Republicans in congress, but from within his own party. Remember that those in Congress tend to feel themselves fundamentally responsible to those at home first, not so much to the nation as a whole. You can’t expect that their goals and ambitions will always mesh well with his. By bringing Hillary Clinton on board, he removes a strong personality from the ranks of his potential adversaries.

And remember that he’ll be facing election again in four years; if Hillary stayed outside of his circle, she could become a potential rival for the nomination in 2012. A focal point for those dissatisfied with Obama’s first term (and there will be those unhappy with Obama’s first term, no matter how well he does; that’s one reality of politics in America). By making her a part of his administration, sure she’ll share in the laurels from his successes but she’ll also shoulder some of the blame for his failures. (Potential successes and failures, that is; nothing has happened yet.)

But it remains to be seen if Hillary Clinton will even want the job. If she had been thinking about another run in 2012, she would be as much as saying that she would be putting it off now until 2016. And if thae Presidency is still her ambition, she has to be aware that riding Obama’s coattails could become an uncomfortable perch if Obama’s popularity nose-dives.

Is she willing to take that risk? I don’t know...and, I suspect, neither does she.

The Blues Viking

The opinions here expressed are mine and if you don’t like them you can get your own damn blog.