Clinton Nomination

Barack Obama's nomination of Hilary Clinton for the position of Secretary of State was clearly a multifaceted decision. First and foremost, it has long been said that Hilary's relationship with foreign nations and her extensive knowledge of international diplomacy made her a better pick for the Democratic Nomination. In this arena, she is leaps and bounds above the much-less experienced Obama. With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the ever-increasing threat of Iran and North Korea, of Russia and China, the necessity of a well-versed foreign relations appointment is clear. In this respect, it is apparent that Obama has made the right choice. The advantage that he can gain from her expertise and knowledge is invaluable.
In the larger scheme of things however, it seems very clear that Clinton serves numerous purposes for the Obama administration. Not only does she serve a national purpose in terms of her abilities as a Secretary of State, she also fulfills the promise Obama made after his election last month. Claiming to be dedicated, not to partisan politics, but to the inclusion of the best men and women for the job, Obama made it clear that he would be nominating former foes and opposition party members in order to create the best team possible. By placing Clinton in this incredibly powerful and significant position and also by keeping a member of Bush's administration, he has so far kept his promises to the American people and has created what seems to be a very reliable and capable Cabinet. Of course, their actions and their influence have yet to be seen but I think it is a positive sign that he has not gone back on his word yet, although I realize that we are much too early on to make any kind of judgement.
In addition to this inclusion tactic, it is also interesting to note that in some respect this nomination may have been, at least in part, a ploy to appeal to the Hilary fans who were deeply disappointed by her loss earlier in the year. I would think that Obama is already looking to the future and assuming that this placement would be beneficial in his next run for office four years from now. Having Clinton as Secretary of State, although no where near being the first female president, is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a governmental official. If and when Obama does run for re-election, he has surely considered how positive it will be to have the Hilary vote when the time comes.

Articles:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7758572.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7758673.stm

Video:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/01/transition.wrap/index.html#cnnSTCVideo