The U.S. Senate Boys Club

Despite what has been reported, I doubt Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could now create a genuine option for Senator Clinton to remain in the Senate with an enhanced official position and concomitant opportunities for power and influence.  If this were a viable option, why would a new extra spot have been needed in the first place?

No, the extra spot is needed because none of the Democratic men in the Senate would give up a position or power to make it possible to empower a colleague who 18 million voters wanted as their President. The gentlemen of the club like the titles and privileges they have and, as I have been saying, it is not typical of politicians to put Party, principle, or country ahead of their own particular ambitions. They might do it for one of the guys (e.g. Joe Leiberman), but not for a gal who already outshines them.

So, the "head boy", Senator Reid, has floated the idea of giving a "girl" a special spot of her own. Possibly Senator Reid finally realized that the Democratically controlled Senate was about to look completely ridiculous by relying on club traditions, however hallowed the club's traditions might be. But talk about too little, too late. After joining the effort to hound Senator Clinton out of the primaries and then doing nothing to ensure that she would  have the equal opportunity to become the nominee that the Democratic Party nominating rules required, now Senator Reid wants to empower Senator Clinton. Talk about tokenism. Imagine if this had played out with Clinton's and Obama's positions reversed - and Senator Reid turned around and made a "special" post just for Senator Obama.

Senator Clinton's yeoman effort on behalf of President-elect Obama in the general election were something of an exception to rule that politicians always seek immediate power at the expense of larger considerations. So is President-elect Obama's apparent (but not yet official) decision to offer Senator Clinton the Secretary of State position is too. I am not suggesting super-selflessness on the part of either Clinton or Obama: their respective decisions have advantages for their respective political ambitions. One good thing about making Senator Clinton Secretary of State is that it is a real position with historical pedigree and some degree of power. Credit to both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama if they decide they can work together and make each other better than either would be working separately, in different branches of the federal government.

But if Senator Clinton decides she would rather exercise fuller autonomy and serve as Senator from New York rather than as Secretary of State, I sincerely hope she holds firm on insisting that she play a role defined by the club's traditions, and does not accept an ad hoc token platform. Anything short of a serious traditional Senate post will be yet another snow job, meant to make the American public  believe that the Democratic Senators actually get what millions of Americans have known all along: that Senator Clinton is a exceptional and talented human being, policy thinker, advocate, and politician, and that the country needs that sort of talent channeled into the most official places in our government.

Please note, I am not arguing for Senator Clinton to be Secretary of State; I am arguing that at least that position is a traditional power spot (although subordinate within the executive branch to the chief executive, as one would expect); not a gerry-rigged add on to a roster that has plenty of room for better people in its usual starting line-up.

Three postscripts

1) I am refraining from suggesting that people donate further to retire Senator Clinton's primary debt, pending what happens with regard to the Secretary of State position: one would hope that if President-elect Obama and Senator Clinton decide to work together so closely, President-elect Obama will be able to motivate his donors to knock off the last bit of debt. 2) For news coverage about the intricacies of the situation surrounding Senator Clinton as Secretary of State, go here. Also, Bonnie Erbe has an interesting opinion piece here. 3) The absurdity of what appears to happened with regard to Senator Clinton and the U.S. Senate Boys Club highlights yet again the importance of a Presidential Commission on Women, to be instituted in the first hundred days.

Comments

[R2D2]

I hoped that Senator Clinton stayed in the Senate, but if she decides to take the SoS, I will enjoy watching a very experienced and skillful individual in charge of our foreign policy. Senator Clinton might be happier without having to look everyday at the faces all those backstabbing colleagues in the Senate.

[Mirlo]

Thank you for this post, Heidi.

I've been looking for a balanced commentary, there are so many unreasonable, critical posts about Senator Clinton's decision, whichever one she might take. Surely Senator Clinton will have to decide what is her political goal in this new situation, the country's best interest and her effectivity range and possibilities she has as SOS or in the Senate. She has to weigh many personal, political and public issues. Who are we to decide for her what is right and wrong?

Like you, I think there are advantages and disadvantages for either decision. It certainly is not up to us supporters to expect her to take this or that decision, it is not a matter of right or wrong, but of weighing the pros and contras of each position and then decide upon what is the most suitable in *her* opinion.

The boy's club is a reality and we have to keep working from the grassroots to influence the system. That's where my continued support will be.

[purplefinn]

Helpful analysis, Heidi Li. This administration may prove to be interesting after all.

[Jere]

I am not sure what I want Senator Clinton to do anymore. I do believe we need a Presidential Commission on Women but do not believe for one minute that it will ever come to pass in an Obama administration. He could not care less.