President Obama has nominated Massachusetts Senator and 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry to replace Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State. In explaining his reasons for choosing Kerry, Obama stated the five-term senator “is not going to need a lot of on-the-job training.” He is undoubtedly referring to Kerry’s list of previous foreign policy experience, including his current position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Compared to Hilary Clinton, Kerry has been described as having a more aristocratic demeanor. “It’s not particularly germane to being secretary of State if you’re seen as the type who has beers with the guys at the local tavern or you’re seen as patrician,” says James Dobbins, director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corp in Arlington, Virginia and a former US envoy to Afghanistan.
“In fact in international terms, being seen as a patrician is not a disadvantage,” he adds. “A dignified person with some or substantial familiarity with the elites of the world is not at a disadvantage at all.”
Kerry must still face the confirmation process from the Senate, but is not expected to meet much resistance.
