Election Issues Today

Obama Cabinet Hopefuls Mostly Experienced Insiders

Those who have expressed concerns about Barack Obama’s lack of leadership experience in Washington must feel reassured by the familair faces and names being touted around as potential cabinet secretaries.

Meanwhile, those who hoped for a complete “coup” of the government by outsiders will be disappointed, although there will be some new faces, some black faces, some native american faces, and some female faces to uphold the election campaign themes.

At State, Senator Hilllary Clinton is said to have been offered the job and she is struggling over leaving the Senate.  As a member of the Obama Administration she would not be well-positioned for a challenge run in 2012.

At Defense, the hope is that Obama will offer Robert Gates the opportunity to remain in place, at least for the near term.  That will help Obama in gaining some credibility among the U.S. military hierarchy, where they have perceived him as not being in their corner, so far as maintaining adequate troops to finish the job in Iraq.

Another plus for Obama would be the appointment of retired USMC General Jim Jones as National Security Advisor.  General Jones is a former Commandant of the Marine Corps and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (NATO).

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano is being mentioned as Obama’s choice as Homeland Security Secretary.  That would bring at least female into the cabinet, if Hillary Clinton should decline the State job.

At Health and Human Services, former South Dakota Senator and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle is the only name being mentioned.  He appears to be in line for the job.

As Attorney General, Obama has chosen Eric Holder, a former Deputy AG under Janet Reno in the Clinton Administration.  He would become the nation’s first African-American Attorney General.

And, just announced, Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary. Geithner is now the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 

There remains a lot of speculation about most of these positions, with only the Tim Geithner, Eric Holder and Tom Daschle appointments seemingly decided upon.

There are also many other positions yet to fill, and the President-designate has a full schedule as he enters the third week of his Transition.