thedrifter
04-30-07, 07:26 AM
Keeping up with Jones
Presidential hopefuls may be courting former commandant for cabinet post
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Posted : May 07, 2007
Commandant of the Marine Corps. Supreme allied commander Europe. Defense secretary?
Retired Gen. James Jones had a long, successful and even groundbreaking career in the military, going from being the top devil dog to the top NATO officer in Europe.
He retired from the Corps in February after a 40-year career and is now president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s new Institute for 21st Century Energy.
But The Wall Street Journal has reported that presidential hopefuls including Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are interested in luring him back into government service, possibly in a cabinet position.
Jones has never publicly affiliated himself with a political party, making him the target of Beltway courting.
According to the Journal, Clinton advisers say she’s considering making Jones her defense secretary should she win the 2008 presidential race, and Obama regularly consults with him on foreign-policy issues.
Even Jones’ friends and colleagues disagree on his possible affiliation, according to the Journal. Fred Graefe, a Democratic lobbyist who has known Jones since they were young Marines, told the paper: “Jim’s basically a Blue Dog Democrat. He’s fiscally conservative, socially liberal and strong on defense.”
Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, also a former Marine, said he’s “pretty sure Jim’s a Republican.” But he told the Journal he had advised Jones to stay tight-lipped, at least for now. “If you declare,” he said, “you lose half your following right off the bat.”
Jones was unavailable for comment at press time.
Ellie
Presidential hopefuls may be courting former commandant for cabinet post
-
Posted : May 07, 2007
Commandant of the Marine Corps. Supreme allied commander Europe. Defense secretary?
Retired Gen. James Jones had a long, successful and even groundbreaking career in the military, going from being the top devil dog to the top NATO officer in Europe.
He retired from the Corps in February after a 40-year career and is now president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s new Institute for 21st Century Energy.
But The Wall Street Journal has reported that presidential hopefuls including Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are interested in luring him back into government service, possibly in a cabinet position.
Jones has never publicly affiliated himself with a political party, making him the target of Beltway courting.
According to the Journal, Clinton advisers say she’s considering making Jones her defense secretary should she win the 2008 presidential race, and Obama regularly consults with him on foreign-policy issues.
Even Jones’ friends and colleagues disagree on his possible affiliation, according to the Journal. Fred Graefe, a Democratic lobbyist who has known Jones since they were young Marines, told the paper: “Jim’s basically a Blue Dog Democrat. He’s fiscally conservative, socially liberal and strong on defense.”
Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, also a former Marine, said he’s “pretty sure Jim’s a Republican.” But he told the Journal he had advised Jones to stay tight-lipped, at least for now. “If you declare,” he said, “you lose half your following right off the bat.”
Jones was unavailable for comment at press time.
Ellie