One of my favorite parts of any NC State basketball game is when they dim the lights and announce the starting lineup. We get to cheer our favorites and jeer our enemies. Beyond the cheering, serious sports fans get the chance to see specifically who will be competing that day. Entertainment works the same way. Going into a show, you know who the headlining act is, and who the opener is. If the lead performer in the play is sick, you find out beforehand who the understudy is.
Why doesn’t politics work the same way? Why don’t any of our candidates running for President go ahead and name a few potential Cabinet members?
Think about it – if we knew ahead of time that Barack Obama was going to choose Joe Biden to be Vice-President and Colin Powell (don’t laugh, you heard it here first 
for Secretary of Defense, wouldn’t that help the voters’ decision-making process?
Wouldn’t it have been nice to know that President George H.W. Bush was considering a little-known Senator from Indiana beforehand? (I kid Poppy. As I said in an earlier column, he’s actually a moderate. I respect the hell out of him and compared with the son I outright miss the guy sometimes.)
Yeah, I know, Bush the elder wasn’t even thinking about Veeps until close to the convention, so the point is sort of moot. And certainly, announcing any choices before you have sealed up the nomination is risky. The media would cover it as “overconfidence” and most people who get their news from a talking head would say – “Who does he think he is?”
To me, that downside is a small price to pay. There is a tremendous upside. If a candidate truly showed thought and conviction in choosing a Cabinet, an early announcement of these choices could attract widespread support. As a voter, I know that it would energize me.
Such a move would also free up the candidates to talk about the big picture. We want our Presidents to know policy, but constantly having to get it right in front of the cameras can be daunting. If John McCain were to announce that Mike Huckabee will be his choice for Health and Human Services Secretary, Huckabee can then be the point person on that issue, freeing up the team captain to talk about other stuff.
So let’s have it candidates! Which players will join you in the starting lineup? And if anyone wants to give the Southern Male Democrat a mid-level appointment, I will gladly agree to ride the pine!
4 responses so far ↓
That Girl // March 4, 2008 at 12:02 pm
WOW SMD - you and I think a lot alike. I have wondered the same thing for quite some time now. If a Presidential candidate would tell me who the other key people would be in an administration, it would help me make my decision.
For Obama, I also would like to see Biden as VP. I think John Edwards would be a great choice for Attorney General. I’d give Bill Richardson a key spot - he’s a good guy and having a Latino in a power position is important. Your pick of Colin Powell for Defense is interesting. I’d first want him to come clean on some of the backroom politics he suffered through in the Bush WH. Heck - I’d even consider Hillary Clinton for HHS. Seeing as how she claims so much in the health care arena - seems like she would be a good pick.
If Obama seals the deal tonight in Ohio and Texas (and I hope and think he will), then maybe the next thing the Obama movement could push would be for the candidate to go out on this sort of a limb.
Political Junkie // March 4, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I’ve never understood why a candidate would not make announcements about his/her choices for administration posts prior to an election - as you say, it has a huge upside for voters but I’m sure someone will argue the downside. When Sen. Obama is the only candidate left standing..and he will be, I hope he reaches across the aisle for at least two appointments. That being stated, my first selection would be Chief of Staff..naturally, our own SMD. I’m not sure about VP (maybe Richardson), but for Sec. of State, definitely Joe Biden. I agree on Defense, Colin Powell would be a good choice and why not Huck for Health & Human Services. How about John Edwards as AG. I’m hoping someone with an inside track might make this suggestion of a few announcements to the Obama campaign…any ideas, SMD?
kylegarret // March 5, 2008 at 7:04 pm
My friend and I just talked about this issue, which is the sign of a good blog, I think.
I think the issue is that announcing before an election makes it open to political maneuvering. Naming John Edwards to a high level position, for example, would win points with this supporters and possible garner more votes. The same can be said for someone like Bill Richardson. I would imagine both Hillary and Obama would have announced Richardson as a cabinet member prior to Texas at least. I think we’d also see Senators from battleground states ending up in a lot of cabinets.
The fact that they make these selections after the election removes it from being entirely decided by political factors.
It’s an interesting thought, though. I agree that it would be useful information. Unfortunately, like so many things, it would become fodder for political strategy.
Sammy Kent // March 5, 2008 at 9:07 pm
We Republicans called it 16-C at the 1976 convention.