A Change from Change

Has Barack Obama — who campaigned against the experienced candidate on a message of change — been swayed by experience? Looks that way.

With his leaked-but-not-yet-official Cabinet rollout, it appears Obama is far more practical than he had let on, and has bet experience beats change when creating a new government in the midst of two wars and a recession.

Look at the list of the familiar faces Obama has reportedly chosen and it is clear he has realized why the insider track is what people have chosen time and time again. He clearly wants to avoid bungling his early months or years and has decided tried will more likely be true and he better not gamble on the untested.

Secretary of State — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.)
Secretary of Health and Human Services — Tom Daschle
Attorney General — Eric Holder
Secretary of Homeland Security — Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano

Wait, we even had someone remove herself from consideration for a Cabinet post. Penny Pritzker reportedly opted out of the short list for Commerce secretary because she feared she couldn’t pass the vetting. Same old story.

So, as I wrote in my column this week, this is what change looks like. And the fact that not only has Obama stacked the Clinton alums on the employee roster but has invited this public debate about Hillary’s nomination is proof that Obama has lifted the ban on drama. Soap operas encouraged — apply within!

I think we know who our secretary of State is going to be, unless Hillary suddenly withdraws herself from consideration after a weeklong public flirtation with the job. It is hard to imagine, now that Bill Clinton has said he will do anything he is asked and has disclosed all donors to the vetters, that Obama can take this back.

Experience and drama — change we can believe in.

DIDN’T WE EXPECT OBAMA TO PICK PARTY VETERANS? Ask A.B. returns Tuesday, Nov. 25. Please join my weekly video Q&A by sending your questions and comments to askab@digital-stage.thehill.com. Thank you.