Chatter over cabinet picks shifts to Kerry, Hagel

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., talks to reporters Nov. 21, 2011, on Capitol Hill in Washington. / Getty Images

After U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name yesterday from consideration to be secretary of state, speculation quickly shifted to Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., both of whom are now reportedly serious contenders for Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.

Rice, who in her decision not to seek the nation's top diplomatic post cited an ongoing political battle over comments she made about recent attacks in Benghazi, was widely believed to be President Obama's top pick to replace Hillary Clinton after she steps down from the job next year.

Now, all eyes turn to Kerry, the 2004 failed presidential candidate whose desire for the job is no secret in Washington, and who has been reported to be the other name on the president's Secretary of State short list. Many speculated that if Rice was tapped to be Secretary of State, Kerry would be named Secretary of Defense.

• Rice withdraws from secretary of state consideration
• Clinton offers impassioned defense of UN Amb. Susan Rice

In an interview last night, Mr. Obama said he had yet to make a decision about who to name for the job when Rice took her name out of the ring, and White House spokesperson Jay Carney would not comment on personnel decisions in his daily briefing with reporters Thursday.

But the wheels appear to be in motion: Yesterday, reports emerged indicating that Hagel, a Vietnam War veteran who has backed Democrats in the past, had passed the vetting process and was a top contender for Secretary of Defense.

Unlike with Rice, Senate Republicans have suggested that Kerry would sail through the confirmation process if tapped as Secretary of State: In a recent press conference targeting Rice's abilities, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, offered up the Massachusetts Democrat up as her preferable candidate for the job.

One possible hitch to a Kerry nomination: it would open his long-held Senate seat up for a potential GOP takeover in 2014. Kerry would have been a shoo-in for reelection but if he vacates the seat, it could open the door for Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., who lost his seat last month to Democrat Elizabeth Warren, to attempt to make a return to the Senate.

Amid all of the speculation, the president himself has been mum on both the state and defense posts, and there's no indication announcements will be made imminently. Neither Clinton nor outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have made formal declarations about when exactly they will leave office, and Senate confirmation hearings won't happen until after the new year regardless.

Moreover, with Rice out of the running, there's a real possibility that Mr. Obama would tap all white males for his top three cabinet picks - which could inspire some criticism from within the party. A handful of women have been floated for the top-tier jobs, but many expect that Jack Lew, the president's current chief of staff, will be named Treasury Secretary, along with Kerry and Hagel in the State and Defense departments, respectively.

The president may well decide that, politically, it's not in his interest to make any announcements on the subject until the new year.

[ammo17]

just as long as he dumps eric holder and janet napolitano i will be happy.i still want to know why eric holder is not be indicted for murder of the u.s. border patrolman,mass murder of innocent mexican citizens and for high treason for giving aid and comfort to the enemy,over two thousand assault rifles to the drug cartels the same kind of weapons that were used in the connecticut murder of the school children.

[logictoo]

Why oh Why is a so called assault rifle capable of doing more damage than a ordinary semi-automatic rifle? The fact is a ordinary semi-automatic can be fired just as rapidly as the so-called semi-automatic assault rifle.

[jimatmadison]

Republicans lied and Lied and LIED about John Kerry's military record when he ran for prez 8 years ago. Then they LIED some more. Then they had their friends LIE. Then they LIED again.

Now that they want to run Scott Brown for his Senate seat, suddenly the Republicans claim John Kerry is the best thing since sliced bread?!?

Bunch of liars.

[piBen11]

It will be stupendously unprincipled if Mr. Obama fails to nominate Dr. Rice as SOS simply because she withdrew her name from consideration. For the fact that Republican senators chose him (Mr. Kerry), makes it imperative for the president not to nominate him. In the past four years, when do republicans like and support the president's decisions if they think such decisions will benefit the country?
This president should show resoluteness now and nominate Dr. Rice as the SOS despite her letter to you. It is obvious to me and every discerning person that she wants the job.
Have the president and the rest of the country forgotten the ugly statements such as the ones expressed by the Anti-Sotomayor's groups made during her nomination to the supreme court? Both republican senators and operatives in the legal profession insulted Judge Sotomayor with all manners of lies, such as she is not bright, she is arrogant, and others as they are now piling up Dr. Rice. I am a strong supporter of the president but if he cave in to this idiots I shall be most disappointed in him.

[matt6052]

Appointing a male to succeed a female violates the bedrock feminist principle that women must assure their vacated positions are filled by other women.

Obama is abandoning the constituency that won him the election even before he has been sworn in.

[matt6052]

I didn't devise it. I only observe it.

Feminists are clear that women should fill positions vacated by other women. That would seem preclude that any man could ever fill the job if the principle were applied consistently.

Why would there be a need for a "third gender" to fill a position vacated by a woman?

[Ulgnud]

Kerry didn't show any sparkling intellect when he was running for the W/H. I doubt much has changed. He lost because he didn't play Santa with handouts like Obama did. Who knows. Obama might try to push him through.

[ballwyllo]

I think the Kerry choice for SOS is much better than Kerry for SOD. Choosing him for SOD would be a great payback for the military's lack of support for Obama reelection, afterall now that the world is all rainbows and unicorns, who needs a military anyway.

[audemus]

....ah, an obstinate intruder

[krj9]

It would certainly benefit the country to cut the 692 billion we spend each year on defense.
Oh, and by the way, your boy got smashed in the election. Move on

[audemus]

Someone who has somewhat "faded" into the background of American public affairs like, J Johnston or even a non "politico" like George Clooney or a politician such as a Tom Daschle would be nice....all would make excellent choices for S.O.S. Someone should ask. That's what it usually takes.......

[audemus]

Are you aware of deficiencies in Mr. Clooney's background that would somehow preclude him from consideration ?