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

[Rhia]

I don't believe that Kerry would oblige. Senate Dems were unable to reach the filibuster proof majority. And they will face major challenges from Senate minority. Even Hillary Clinton had begged off in case she will be offered a Cabinet post because Dems need to solidify their majority number in the Senate.

[TrueIndy08]

if Kerry were to go.... the Gov.. Patrick would appoint someone to take his place.. and since he is a DEM... he would naturally appoint a DEM.... we wouldn't lose anything there!!!

With that said, I hope Kerry does not get the nod from O

[democrattotheend]

Actually, I think it would go to a special election. The irony is that the Democrats in the Massachusetts house changed the law in 2004 to have a special election to prevent Mitt Romney from appointing Kerry's successor if he won the presidency. But it's Massachusetts, so I am not too worried.

[CatoTheCensor]

Hagel. Please, God, Hagel. I'm sorry, I don't think Kerry is a bad guy, but I do think he's a bad choice. He had his credibility handed to him in 2004, along with his head, and he's never really gotten either back. Hagel, on the other hand, would be a brilliant choice. He knows his foreign policy, he'll be the right combination of tough-minded and diplomatic, and perhaps best of all, it would give Dick Cheney hives.

Sorry. I'm trying not to do the schadenfreude thing, I really am. Sometimes it just...sort of...can't be helped.

[RockySoldier]

when joe biden was tapped for VP, i said he was the best sec of state guy now off the chart. now, it's kerry or richardson. they would be incredible- either one.

[mpeachhead]

I've got to go with Hagel or Lugar or Sam Nunn. I want someone with a reasonable position and a lot of respect around the world, but I also want someone with conservative credentials if for no other reason than to silence the rightwing nutjobs that would suggest that Obama is a bleeding heart liberal with a "secret" liberal agenda. I want the cabinet to be bipartisan because I truly want the rhetoric to be true: one of these choices would go a long way towards uniting the country. Kerry's not going to do it. Conservatives and liberals despise him.

[RockySoldier]

i'd take hagel or lugar. they're truly decent GOP.

[mrcontinental]

Uh... that's Bill Richardson's job; hopefully.

[ErnestineBass]

Richardson would be the better choice, IMHO. Besides, we need to keep as many Dems in the Congress as possible. Obama's gonna need them to back his programs.

[criticallythinking]

There are plenty of reasons why Kerry would be a good Secretary of State. So I disagree with all this Kerry bashing.

There are very few people who can understand foreign policy in relation to a domestic agenda in the way John Kerry can. Not only does he have a wealth of foreign policy experience but he has a depth of understanding of domestic issues that could be crucial to being a good secretary of state.

Moreover, he is less charismatic than Obama at the same time that he's a well known figure internationally and has plenty of respect.

Of course the downside is that he has lost a lot of respect from the electorate. Or should I say the Democratic party's liberal base? The dissatisfaction with Kerry's failure to grab the presidency in 2004 should be old news but I suspect a lot of the negative comments here are expressions of just that disappointment. We need to let go, people. Even those of you who think Kerry is too "elite" don't understand that as a diplomat that is hardly a shortcoming, even if it is an accurate charge.

Id like to see some more reasoned arguments against Kerry, who has devoted his career to service. It's rather selfish to write him off so easily to similarly minded people while hiding behind a pseudonym.

[Ron1951]

No to Kerry.

[Lotus19]

Whatever Obama's choices, I'm sure they will be brilliant moves.

[BeatrixK]

Agreed. One of my business professors in college said 'a great manager knows how to put great people around him in areas that strengthen the managers weaknesses as well as who know how to allign and execute the same business objectives those great managers line out.'

Obama put together a BRILLIANT campaign team, and in doing so, demonstrated an ability to select the right people for the right jobs. The flawlessly-run Obama campaign was one of the main reasons I supported him. If he can pick a campaign management team to create the kind of support he received and stay consistently on set goals, no matter what distractions are thrown at you, then I am genuinly excited about who he selects to help us all clear a path to Change.

[lioness99]

Kerry truly deserves it because the 2004 convention speech brought Obama onto the national stage. Richardson is deserving as well, but Kerry has been there from the start. He's been Obama's most eloquent surrogates.

[democrattotheend]

Very true. Not to mention, unlike a lot of politicians who jumped on the Obama bandwagon when he was the frontrunner, Kerry endorsed him back in January, when he was still the underdog. You gotta respect that. Richardson also showed courage by endorsing Barack in the middle of the Reverend Wright scandal and in a break from the Clintons, but Kerry has had Obama's back since the beginning. And I think he would make a terrific Secretary of State...he has a ton of experience and knows a lot about different regions of the world, and he's been a great progressive voice since losing the presidency.

[Chardin]

FYI

Terry Heinz, John Kerry's wife pays less in taxes than, (most possibly), you do:

"According to HUD, the median family income for the U.S. for 2003 was $56,500. After applying the standard deduction of $9,500 for married filing jointly we end up with a taxable income of $47,000. This puts the average family in the 15 percent tax bracket. Kerry's wife, using tax shelters, managed to pay only an effective federal tax rate of 11.5 percent, compared with the top federal income tax rate of 35 percent. She paid $587,000 on an income of $5.1M.

NewsMax

[ErnestineBass]

NewsMax?

Bah Wahahahahahahahaha

[Grunty1]

If don't have anything against Kerry, but his resume doesn't seem to fit with that job very well.

[liya]

Aw hell no.

[sasper]

Right...NO NO NO

[Plowboy]

Please let it be Bill Richardson for State.
I'd like Hagel for Commerce.
And Dean for Chief 0f Staff.
Bill Clinton for Ambassador to the UN?

[lioness99]

The Clinton era is over. Let him remain active with CGI.

[boing007]

Speaking of Howard Dean. His 50 States strategy worked out pretty well. He deserves a medal.

[lvogt]

Please no.

[myside]

wht abt hilary as secretary of state?

[oafishcad]

Hillary would be better on the Supreme Court.

[progressivepam]

I'd love to see her on the SCOTUS.