Obama Hires Clinton Talent —to Avoid Clinton Mistakes

Hopes experience will smooth transition; Hillary's political team left out

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 14, 2008 2:10 PM CST

(Newser) – Barack Obama may be considering adding Hillary Clinton to his Cabinet, but his transition already has the feel of that other Clinton politician, Politico reports. Thirty-one of the 47 people named to new jobs so far are staffers who cut their Washington teeth in Bill Clinton's administration. The Obama camp is trying to avoid the rocky changeovers that plagued both Clinton and George W. Bush.

Obama’s decision to bring in a staff tied to the 1990s shows a concession to a Hillary talking point: that change requires experience. And, notes a former adviser to Clinton, who eschewed staffers with Carter ties in his “insular” transition, “the president-elect has the great good fortune of having a Democratic Party with a usable past.”

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John Podesta was Bill Clinton's White House chief of staff in 1998-2001; Barack Obama tapped him to lead his transition team based on Washington experience. (AP Photo)

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waves with former President Bill Clinton at a rally at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Barack Obama stands with former President Bill Clinton at a rally at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

White House Chief of Staff-designate Rahm Emanuel listens during a news conference by President-elect Obama in Chicago, Friday, Nov. 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Barack Obama is seeking a smooth transition into office by hiring on people who gained Washington experience during the Clinton administration. (AP Photo)

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Obama is showing great good sense in making use of their experience. You have an entire cadre of people ... who were either in senior jobs or second- and third-tier jobs in the Clinton administration, who really earned their spurs. - William Galston, former Clinton adviser

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Obama Hires Clinton Talent —to Avoid Clinton Mistakes