A bitter brew for Kerry
SENATOR John Kerry's fate illustrates the new political order under President-elect Barack Obama: Reward your enemies, not necessarily your friends.
Hillary Clinton, Obama's tough primary opponent, became Obama's choice for secretary of state; Kerry, an avid Obama ally, was passed over. Obama's vice president, Joe Biden, is also a former rival. Yesterday, Obama named Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, another primary challenger, as his pick for commerce secretary.
What's next, Dennis Kucinich as secretary of labor?
Before that, Obama stood behind Senator Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat turned Independent who campaigned hard for Republican John McCain. With Obama's blessing, Lieberman retained a prestigious committee chairmanship.
If you're Kerry, you've got to be feeling a bit like the Rev. Jeremiah Wright - thrown under the Obama bus, while ex-rivals climb merrily aboard.
The Massachusetts senator helped to launch Obama on the national stage. As his party's presidential nominee, Kerry chose Obama as the keynote speaker for the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Ever since then, Kerry did everything right by Obama.
He walked away from his own presidential dreams and embraced Obama's. He helped with fund-raising and organized a Web-based fight against the kind of negative campaigning that helped derail his own presidential bid. He also delivered a powerful speech when Democrats gathered in Denver to nominate Obama.
Both Kerry and Senator Edward M. Kennedy endorsed the Illinois senator at a critical point in his primary battle. Back in Massachusetts, Kerry took most of the heat for the Obama endorsement. An enraged contingent of Bay State women for Clinton badgered Kerry for his failure to back their candidate. They were so angry, the women helped a Democratic rival win enough votes at the state convention to earn a spot on the ballot. As a result, Kerry faced his first primary challenger in 24 years.
Kerry rolled to victory in the primary and general elections. Yet, even as he campaigned for a fifth term, Massachusetts politicians positioned themselves for the prospect of an open Senate seat. It was the natural political reaction to the widespread buzz that Kerry expected to be offered "something big" in an Obama administration.
However, soon after Election Day, Kerry went from being an alleged top contender for a Cabinet position to nowhere. Instead, Kerry will take over as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It is a powerful position, giving him an important platform and voice, but still keeping him in the legislative body he was ready to leave behind four years ago.
Of course, Obama owes it to himself and the country to select the person he believes is best-suited for the job. He is presenting Clinton in that light, despite his scathing criticism of her foreign policy credentials during their primary fight.
During their showdown, he said, "What exactly is this foreign policy expertise? Was she negotiating treaties? Was she handling crises? The answer is no." Now he calls her "an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence, who knows many of the world's leaders, who will command respect in her capital and who will clearly have the ability to advance our interests around the world."
Time will tell if Obama's current assessment of Clinton's abilities is correct from a policy perspective. His selection of Clinton is already being hailed as a sign of political acumen. By embracing a rival, he neutralized a potential opponent, and, hopefully, silenced her husband, the former president.
Political dexterity saved Obama during the presidential campaign. When the Wright controversy got too hot, he cut his former pastor and mentor loose. During the primary season and general election, Obama showed an ability to walk the fine line between principle and pragmatism. The flip-flop charges that killed Kerry in 2004 and Mitt Romney in 2008 only nicked Obama.
Obama's administration-to-be also underscores the president-elect's political dexterity. He is mixing friends with former rivals, as he sees fit.
It may turn out to be the right recipe for Obama and the country. But it's a bitter brew for friends left out.
Joan Vennochi can be reached at vennochi@globe.com. 