Is Obama eyeing McCain as energy secretary?

The plot of the West Wing has been invoked more than a few times during Barack Obama’s ascent to the Oval Office, most recently with the appointment of the chief-of-staff who inspired the acerbic character of Josh Lyman. Now, it seems life could imitate art once more as rumours begin to fly that the president-elect could make the ultimate bipartisan gesture of offering his Republican presidential rival a post in his Cabinet.

As Mr Obama prepared to meet with John McCain today to discuss future cooperation, there was speculation on a number of respected blogs that the Democrat could be considering offering his former opponent the post of Energy Secretary.

It would certainly be a neat end to a contest that has cleaved so faithfully to the storyline of the award-winning show that its writers could do well to consider careers as political oracles: in the final series, a presidential showdown between little-known Latino Democrat Matt Santos – based on Mr Obama – and ageing maverick Republican Arnold Vinick – inspired by Mr McCain – ends with the former becoming America’s first Hispanic president before offering his former rival the plum job of Secretary of State.

The two men’s well-known differences on foreign policy would rule out that particular position but on energy, the (admittedly pale) green credentials of Mr McCain – McCain the senator, that is, as opposed to McCain the base-pandering candidate – make him worthy of serious consideration.

But is it true?

On the first question, pundits are divided. Some, like Jonathan Martin at Politico, seem fairly certain the only alliance being considered is an informal one, of cooperation between a president and powerful Senate player on issues of national importance. A plan for energy independence would certainly be close to the top of that list. Others, such as Paul Abrams at Huffington Post, believe a Cabinet post is not unlikely.

Aides to both Mr Obama and Mr McCain have said they do not expect such an offer. However language is key here. They have not ruled it out – as they likely would if there was no such possibility. This might seem like semantic hair-splitting but political operatives weigh their words carefully; this playing down could just be calculated to avoid runaway speculation - and the inevitable questions should Mr Obama decide against the move.

Abrams argues that despite some obvious differences – such as Mr McCain’s aversion to federal spending of any kind and Mr Obama’s intention to spend $15 billion every year for the next decade on an American energy plan – appointing the Arizona senator would be a “wise political strategy”.

Mr McCain remains a key player in the Senate and could help rally Republicans behind an Obama plan; it would also lay the groundwork for bipartisan cooperation throughout Mr Obama’s presidency. Like the increasingly likely appointment of Hillary Clinton to State, it would have the additional advantage of keeping a potentially damaging critic off the battlefield in the run-up to 2012.

And it must be remembered that before “Drill baby, drill” became the McCain-Palin mantra, the veteran lawmaker was reasonably respected by environmentalists for his opposition to opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, sponsorship of cap and trade legislation, support for mandatory efficiency standards and early recognition of manmade global warming.

It is true that there are qualified Democrats of a deeper green tint – but do they have the influence in the GOP that Mr McCain has? The senator will also be working hard to restore the reputation as a moderate and independent-minded Republican that he and Sarah Palin so comprehensively trashed during the campaign, so if anything is likely to move left over the coming years.

And would he be interested? With said legacy considerations and a likely 2010 challenge to his Senate seat from popular governor Janet Napolitano, a role in an Administration which could transform the energy game and tackle global warming might be a very appealing prospect indeed.

Comments

[jim]

I'm from the Chicago area. There are reports that Mr. McCain is already working on global warming issues. Its reported he was spotted blowing on his soup at a Washington area TGI Fridays over the weekend....

[T]

First, McCain. Obama puts up with months of racist rubbish from him because "that's American politics." And NOW he's going to offer him a position in his Administration?

Also, Hillary says she'll take Sec. of State. Again, months of racist rubbish. And now what's this? A token position? The due that she deserves because she was obviously robbed of the job that SHE WAS OWED?

How much weirder can this get?

[JKT]

Why not Al Gore? Gore is such a natural and supremely-qualified choice for Energy Secretary that I'd simply assumed he was a shoo-in for the position. Now I'm stunned to hear his political antithesis being considered. I voted for Mr. Obama but am now honestly starting to question what he's up to if there is any truth at all to this story. He beat McCain so handily I cannot see what he "owes" him: the people have spoken and for Gore to be overlooked for such an important position is Obama taking this bipartisanship thing more than a bit too far.

[roxn]

The idea of McCain leading Barack Obama's energy team ~ is alarming!!

McCain is like a dinosaurs - he wants 45 nuclear power stations as the best hope for America to get out of its energy difficulties, never mind the waste material and the troubles that France and Germany are having with their sites.

For energy America needs a Steve Jobs kind of guy, someone who will not only look at how we can do more with the technologies we have - but will be willing to painstakingly trawl through and examine new technologies to not only fund R&D, but to get in early on the use of these leading edge energy technologies.

The campaign showed that McCain is most certainly a fighter, but he lacks that cutting mental edge needed to create this new emerging energy/technological future - that Obama envisions.

McCain pushes himself as a guy who seems to know everything, from fixing Washington to catching Bin Laden - what we need is a guy who understands what he doesn't know but has the desire to know it, and it is this key element that is missing in McCain - take the economy - little or no curiosity - but says he can fix it.

To put him in charge of energy would be a catastrophe.

[H Juneja]

The key thing this write up is missing is that McCain has long been one of the most independent and least-influenced politicians in America. he has not been bought off by any lobbyists (there's a reason that he got crushed in fundraising first by his GOP colleagues and then by Obama).

He has the patriotism and the independence from the lobbyists to genuinely do what is best for America on the energy question. Debating whether he is motivated more by green or rnational security issues is besides the point - the uncomfortable reality for both the far left and the far right is that there is a lot of common ground for them on the energy issue.

If he does pick McCain for this very important post...I will be very impressed by his willingness and ability to put some action behind his rhetoric about moderation and post-partisonship.

[Kazuki]

I was a massive supporter of Obama like many of us because he was against the policies of McCain, so what the HELL is he doing considering this man for his Government?!

[Linda]

I will be very disappointed if McCain is appointed. He has very different views on energy than Obama portrayed in his campaign. McCain looks to NUCLEAR as the answer first and formost. While I extremely OPPOSE nuclear at all at least Obama said he was looking to solar/wind first (or at least that is what I perseved) that was the first reason as a Republican I voted for Obama, and that would be the first reason I wouldn't vote for him in 2012 (if nuclear becomes his priority for energy)

[ObamaFan Saratoga]

Another area in which McCain would be a useful cabinet secretary is in clearing another vacancy for the Senate. What are the Arizona rules re Napolitano's powers of appointment? With both Clinton and this one, plus the treatment of Leiberman, Obama would be playing for results--i.e. getting more Senators ready to vote for his proposals.