Political Perceptions: But Why Hillary?

President-elect Barack Obama (finally) announced that Hillary Clinton will be the next secretary of state — but really, why her? “On the practical level, it’s hard to argue with her credentials or her readiness to represent the United States in the world during an extremely challenging time, as evidenced by the Mumbai terrorist attacks over the long Thanksgiving weekend,” writes Washingtonpost.com’s Chris Cillizza . But symbolically, “picking Clinton shows Obama’s bigness — that his pledge to bring in the best and brightest regardless of their past political entanglements is more than just lip service. And, despite the hunky-dory report of relations between the two one-time opponents, bringing Clinton into the Obama cabinet also serves as an example of the old adage that you keep your friends close and your enemies closer…Could that move backfire? Sure. Giving Hillary Clinton such a prominent place on the world stage entails risk. But, Obama and his advisers clearly believe that they are better ... (link)