CAMPAIGN 2008

A Bid for an Obama Cabinet

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On the Job Market: Sen. Kerry hopes to take his foreign-relations experience to the State Department
 

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They both ran for the White House, though one got closer—much closer—than the other. They both sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with their junior colleague Barack Obama. And if the Illinois senator is elected president in November, they both apparently would like to be his secretary of State. A source close to Massachusetts' John Kerry, who asked for anonymity when discussing the senator's political aspirations, says the Foreign Relations Committee's third-ranking Democrat (and 2004 presidential runner-up) is keen to be the nation's top diplomat. That also could well be the case for Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, the committee's second-ranking Democrat (and 2008 presidential also-ran). The committee's chairman, Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, is also frequently mentioned by Democratic insiders as a potential secretary of State—though, like Dodd, he might have his eyes on a bigger prize: the vice presidency. (Kerry does not appear to harbor veep aspirations.)

Kerry is a decorated Vietnam War veteran, but because his Senate experience is in foreign relations rather than military affairs, he's more intrigued by the State Department than the Pentagon, according to the source. (He also speaks fluent French.) Dodd, meanwhile, has recently been showcasing his expertise on Latin America: at an April conference at the U.S. Naval Academy, he laid out a blueprint for a "new relationship" between the United States and the region. Dodd's plan would include efforts to "dramatically improve" relations with Raúl Castro's Cuba by lifting a U.S. trade embargo and travel ban. While Dodd's office had no comment on his ambitions, an aide did confirm that Dodd is a fluent Spanish speaker and noted that he chairs a subcommittee on Western Hemisphere affairs. Biden speaks no foreign languages but is regarded as one of the Democrats' foremost foreign-policy wise men. He has said he wouldn't turn down an offer to run as Obama's VP, and while his spokeswoman had no comment, another Biden adviser, who asked for anonymity, says that he likewise would not decline an offer to become secretary of State.

Of the three senators, Kerry endorsed Obama first. Biden and Dodd both abandoned their presidential bids after poor showings in the Iowa caucuses, but only Dodd has endorsed Obama. During the primaries, Biden said he would support the eventual nominee but remained neutral in the race between Obama and Hillary Clinton. How diplomatic.

© 2008

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: Briansm66 @ 02/05/2009 5:28:36 PM

    You are not the only person that wanted to work in the Obama cabinet poca55. I read an article on this site and on CNN that showed hundreds of thousands of people apply to work for Obama. Why wouldn't you want to work for the guy he is the new face of change. Even with some of bumps he has been taking from the GOP on his new stimulus bill he seems like he would be a great boss. Obama has come under some flack as of late do to some of his party members not paying there tax's maybe these guys should have taken out an <a title="Get your Easy Payday Loan Now!" href="http://easypaydayloanslive.com">easy payday loan</a> It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming years but hopefully the country moves in the right direction.

  • Posted By: poca55 @ 11/10/2008 1:30:03 PM

    I would like to work on the obama cabinet!

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 07/01/2008 10:51:35 AM

    KOOL-AID??????..From the kitchen of the obama sheeple!! take one heaping spoonful of an inexperienced elitist white male seeking self validation through exploitation of his african-american genetics. Combine two parts black liberation theology clerics spewing intolerance! With two parts of unrepentant intellectuals committed to the destruction of America. Stir in one cup of militant black wife harboring the overwhelming desire to stick it to whitey and one spoonful of typical white person grandmother mix well. Pour a gallon of anti-patriotism into tall glasses and sprinkle with naïve foreign policy ideations. Serve on a platter of meaningless oratorical hyperbole with a generous dollop of wealth re-distribution. Sprinkle liberally with zest of white guilt flip it and flop it till it tastes right. Serve large portions to the undiscerning and spellbound masses convinced that the Second Coming is upon America and now you have a complete recipe for disaster!

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