Now it's time to continue this series on the upcoming Obama cabinet. Who would be best as Obama's Secretary of Defense? Prominent candidates for the position may cause heartburn for progressives.
Many of us have come to activism due to the war in Iraq. Many of us would love to see a true anti-war activist such as Neil Abercrombie as SecDef. And yet there's chatter about keeping the current Bush appointee (Robert Gates) in the position.
While I believe it is important to be bi-partisan in the upcoming administration, there is also a security meme that we have to destroy - we still have to prove to much of America that Ds are strong on Defense.
In the spirit of bi-partisanship, we should seriously consider acceptable Republican candidates. In my opinion, I think we should then reject them. My gut tells me that President-elect Obama should go with Sam Nunn - IF he's willing to reverse his position on gays in the military.
Poll and brief description of each candidate on the flip. I evaluate each option as best I can. (I had to research the credentials of a few.) I trust others will add more data, including why others would be great or awful. I may have missed a few excellent candidates, so please feel free to add your own.
Robert Gates - the current incumbent, a Bush appointee. But at least he's not a neocon. This quote from a CBS article suggests that Gates
"is respected by both parties and offers much-needed experience and stability for a new administration reckoning with two wars".
Richard Danzig - Perhaps the most prominent Obama supporter from the Defense establishment. SecNavy under Clinton.
Sam Nunn - Prominent blue dog supporter of Obama. Former GA Senator, chaired Armed Services during his time. Has continued excellent work on nuclear non-proliferation. Probably the chief cause of the failed attempt to allow gays to serve openly in the military during the Clinton administration. But inside an Obama administration, perhaps he could reverse this, in the "only Nixon could go to China" mode. (metaphorically)
Gary Hart - Former Senator from CO. Started working on a different model for US Defense policy back in the early '80s (less nuclear, more conventional forces). Co-chaired the Hart-Rudman commission - if anyone listened to them, I think their recommendations might have prevented 9/11. An old progressive. Campaign manager for McGovern back in '72. Early backer of Obama (in January, I think). While he'd be great as SecDef, I believe that the perfect job for him is Sec of Homeland Security.
Chuck Hagel - Retiring Sen from Nebraska. Perhaps the most prominent anti-War Republican. And he's possibly the mirror image of Joe Lieberman.
John Hamre - Deputy Secretary of Defense under Clinton. Current CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Jack Reed - Senator from Rhode Island. Progressive. Marine. However, the current Gov is an R, and I'd assume that he'd replace Reed with an R. (I don't know the appointment laws in RI.) And I don't want to bring us further away from 60 in the Senate.
Wesley Clark - ex-Supreme Commander, NATO. Prominent progressive. Ran for President in '04. As I understand it, some rules have to be waived to allow a military officer, retired less than 10 yrs, to serve as SecDef - but my understanding is that's a formality.
<edit> George Marshall got a waiver to become SecDef in 1950</end edit>
Neil Abercrombie - Prominent anti-war member of Congress. Chair, Armed Services Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. Possibly the only current member of Congress who knew the President-elect when Obama was growing up in Hawaii.