THE NOMINATION of Senator John Kerry as secretary of state is a serious political blunder by President Obama (“Kerry tapped to lead State Department,” Page A1, Dec. 22). The political consequence is the loss of a Democratic senator and the probable election of a Republican, Scott Brown. In the current political climate, it is essential that we have Democratic majorities in both branches.
The appointment should go to Jon Huntsman, former ambassador to China, an intelligent and middle-of-the-road Republican. His appointment at this time of extreme opposition to Obama by the Tea Party and the Republicans could go a long way to soothe the troubled waters and it would show Obama’s willingness to be open politically if it were tempered by reason.
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Jon Huntsman certainly would make an excellent Secretary of State, and he would perhaps also make an excellent President. The partisan atmosphere that pervades Congress leads me to believe that the President could not say 'nice weather we're having' without someone from the opposition scouring the sky for a cloud. The non-partisan consensus is that Kerry is well-qualified, so there is no rational basis for opposing him. The argument that the Republican Party must be denied the opportunity to win a Senate seat in Massachusetts holds no water, however.