John Kerry: Secretary Of State?

The Washington Independent reported before the election that John Kerry is a leading candidate for Barack Obama's Secretary of State:

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the Democratic nominee for president in 2004, has emerged as a leading candidate for secretary of state -- should Sen. Barack Obama win the presidency Nov. 4.

Obama campaign advisers declined to comment on the record for this story. Nor would many Democratic foreign-policy experts who might join an Obama administration. But off the record, Obama aides made clear that Kerry's name is on a very short list of contenders to become the country's top diplomat. Another person talked up by the great mentioner is Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), a Vietnam War veteran whose foreign-policy views align surprisingly well with Obama's.

Asked about the position, Kerry has refused to say much.

"I have no job I'm looking for in the Cabinet at this point in time," Kerry told WCVB-TV just moments after he delivered his victory speech. "If the president talks to me, I'll listen to him and talk to him, but there's very little I would leave the U.S. Senate for."

Asked specifically about secretary of state, a position mentioned because of Kerry's interest in foreign affairs, the senator replied, "Well, I'd talk to the president if he called me and asked me about it. But I never heard anything. It's speculation. We don't have a president yet. Let's get down the road and see where we are."

Comments

[Sock]

Hmm, as a democrat I have to be honest and say I can't stand John Kerry.

Pick Hagel or Richardson PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[outsider26]

Why can't dems have a dem as secdef-and not act as if only repubs can handle security!

[Sock]

The best person for this incredibly important job cannot be chosen because they are from a certain party, personally I would choose Richardson. But I wouldn't mind Hagel.

[khaleef49]

I don't have a problem with Kerry but I think Hagel or Richardson would be great. Hagel would show America that he is not interested in parties but the best person for the job.

[edwarvir]

KERRY IS THE ONE! Hagel didn't even have the guts
to endorse him. Np Hagel No way!

[KillTheMessenger]

Kerry is not a great pick. I would find it rather unlikely that the Obama administration would go there. But who knows. We voted him in, now we will let him decide.

[LisaMarieC]

Um, my senator said he wouldn't leave his senate seat for an Obama position if he were re-elected. Come on, guys--let's not decimate this thin majority we have in the senate. There's no guarantee that we would elect a dem to replace him.

[democrattotheend]

It's Massachusetts. There's a very solid bench of Democrats in the House who have been waiting 20 years to run for the Senate. I think we'll be fine.

[joshuahmcdonald]

Hagel, Hagel, Hagel!

Seriously, how better to make clear that Pres. Obama truly intends to be bipartisan?

[GeorgeP922]

BIPARTISAN!?!??!

HAHAHAHA, Doesnt exist in DC buddy, either you are a republican, or dem who is a little too young.

[Starr69]

It worked for Lincoln. Perhaps you are a bit too cynical.

[joshuahmcdonald]

Look, and I'm going to talk slow you can understand, we invested in, worked hard for and elected Barack Obama to CHANGE our politics. Haven't you been paying attention? What did you think that meant on those signs? Did you think he was kidding? Did you think we were?

All of you who think that DC isn't going to change, that we have not entered a new era where partisanship in our politics WILL NOT be tolerated by the electorate, then you are in for a VERY rude awakening.

[OverIt]

Kerry for State. Hagel for Defense.

[boing007]

Obama doesn't have to choose Republicans to fill up cabinet positions to show that he is bi-partisan.

[joshuahmcdonald]

While I agree, I think that this is the sort of action that he will make not to SHOW that he is bipartisan but because he IS bipartisan.

Democratic Party partisans who think that the keys to the vault have been dumped in their laps are in for a VERY rude awakening.

[JL-PICARD]

Bill Richardson would be a good choice also.

[OverIt]

i have not been too impressed by the good governor's tv appearances.

[DrPaulProteus]

Noooooooooooo

[onlyyour2]

The Work Of Our Better Angels:

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/11/work-of-better-angels.html

[ceasenake]

Good choice! He's already got a mansion to stay in over in France.

[GuyFawkes]

Only if Obama thinks he's qualified, not as payback for letting him make that speech at the DNC in 2004. Competency over political payback.

[GeorgeP922]

"Letting him" give Kerry or whoever picked him in 2004 for that speech the SMARTEST DEM alive!

[brooke276]

Oh God, YES!!!!!!!

This would be a fantastic pick. Kerry is level headed, has foreign policy experience already and would just be a stellar choice.

[markoglub]

CHUCK HAGEL!!!

it would be a great bi-partisan move, and chuck hagel shares so many of obama's views on foreign affairs. (i read the recent new yorker profile, it seems like it would be a great match)

[holyhandgrenaid]

I prefer Hagel as SecDef