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Putting Robert Reich at Labour avoided the almost certain clash with Bentsen and Rubin, who are practitioners rather than
heorists. This early choice underlined the importance Clinton attaches to job creation and stimulating the economy. (By comparison, Elizabeth Dole, Bush's Labour Secretary, was among the last of his nominations). Some of Clinton's economic advisers, like Reich, are as committed to open markets as any staunch Reaganites. Reich will naturally clash with Laura Tyson, nominated Head of the Council of Economic Advisers, who advocates managed trade in some cases, particularly with Japan, eg microchips and super computers, prompting some economists to label her radical.
Congress
Capitol Hill is crucial to success. But the fact that the Democrats now control both the White House and Congress is almost irrelevant. Differences of view between the various factions could make it as difficult as ever to push through the Congress legislation important to Clinton's overall strategy. Given the deficit problem and the enormous scope of Clinton's economic vision, President and Congress will have to work together to bring the deficit under control.
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There are also deep divisions in the Democratic Party which make prospects for longer-term cooperation less certain divisions over the extent to which America should intervene militarily abroad, and over the importance to be placed on human rights and foreign aid (eg for Russia and Somalia). But the deepest division might yet be between free trade and protectionism. Clinton is a professed free-trader, but there are strongly-held views in the Democratic Party against.
Domestic Policies
Clinton has stressed the interdependence of foreign and domestic policies. However, in domestic policy too, there are as yet no clear indications of policy directions. The appointment of Richard Riley, a neo-liberal and pragmatic former governor of South Carolina, as Education Secretary has been well received. He has similar experience to Clinton in wresting higher education standards from teachers' unions. The choice of Bruce Babbitt as Interior Secretary has been similarly well received, particularly by environmentalists, conscious of his prominent conservation background. Mike Espy, as Agriculture Secretary, is one of the most impressive young black politicians in the country and one of the reasons why Jesse Jackson's credibility is now comparatively low. But commitment to Clinton does not necessarily signify clear policy goals. At her recent confirmation hearing, for example, Donna Shalala, Health and Human Services Secretary (and a close friend of Hillary Clinton), failed to mention welfare reform, a clear Clinton campaign commitment, among her top five priorities.
Other appointments are no more enlightening, largely because they are young unknowns. Carol Browner (EPA) is a protégé of Gore and has been Director of the Florida Environmental agency. Hazel O'Leary (Energy) is an odd choice; a virtual unknown in an area where Clinton had dozens of experts to choose from, but
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