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Obama nominates John Kerry as secretary of state
Kerry’s Senate colleagues welcomed his appointment.
“We have known John Kerry for many years. We have confidence in John Kerry’s ability to carry out the job,” said Senator John McCain.
“I think John Kerry was a very solid choice by the president,” said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who however noted he had some policy disagreements with Kerry.
Kerry played an important role in Obama’s political career, notably by picking him to give the keynote speech in the 2004 Democratic convention, at which the then unknown Illinois lawmaker burst onto the political scene.
He also played Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in mock debates staged by the president’s team ahead of Obama’s successful re-election effort in November.
“Nothing brings two people closer together than weeks of debate prep,” Obama quipped. Kerry narrowly lost the 2004 presidential race to president George W. Bush, after a campaign that included savage attacks on his war service.
He was lambasted by Republicans who accused him of “flip flops” on the Iraq war, and the Bush campaign ran an ad showing him windsurfing, with the kicker “John Kerry, whichever way the wind blows.”
Kerry will be the first white, male secretary of state for years, following three women — Clinton, Condoleeza Rice and Madeleine Albright — and Colin Powell.
