“Those who have changed the universe have never done it by changing officials, but always by inspiring the people.”

Much of the discussion in cyberspace regarding the emerging Barack Obama Cabinet and other political appointee positions has focused on Obama’s incorporation of the many appointments of former Clinton administration veterans.  Of the 47 appointments thus far announced to either transition or staff posts, a full 31 have ties to the Clinton administration.  Chief among these, of course is the soon-to-be announced appointment of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

Questions have been raised as to how Obama could have campaigned on the “Change We Can Believe In” platform and then turn around and begin appointing so many Washington insiders, especially those who have ties to Bill and Hillary who appeared just a short six months ago to have a vituperative relationship with Obama.

During the primaries, Obama directly questioned Hillary’s experience in national security; he posited that her foreign policy experience was shallow; he accused her of poor judgment; and he questioned her honesty.  Throughout the primaries, the conventional wisdom said that Obama and Bill Clinton couldn’t stand each other.

A few short weeks before the Democratic Convention, it was still questionable as to whether or not either Bill or Hillary would actively support Obama.  And when Obama chose Joe Biden over Hillary as his running mate, a wave of apoplectic shock ran through the millions of staunch Hillary supporters.

For her part, during the primaries, Clinton hammered at Obama’s lack of experience and laid the groundwork for McCain’s intemperate “not ready to lead” campaign.  Before McCain, it was Clinton who was willing to question the associations Obama had with William Ayers and Jeremiah Wright.

And why is Clinton ready to give up her Senate seat with the apparent recent invitation, in spite of her junior status, to join the Democratic leadership?  From the Senate, she could challenge Obama again in 2012, especially if things don’t go swimmingly for him in the next four years.  But by accepting the position as his Secretary of State, she is removing herself from any chance at challenging him in 2012.  In 2016, she will be 70 years old, so by accepting the post, she is, effectively, burying any lingering aspirations to the presidency she might have.

So what does Obama’s offer, and Clinton’s acceptance, of the top diplomatic post signal?  Is Obama following the admonition of Sun Tzu to “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer,” or is he revealing to his legions of supporters, those expecting him to exorcise the Clintonite demons from our midst and cleanse the capital of their sins, that he really had just suckered them in order to get elected?  Or is it something more?

At the heart of the matter, this offer and acceptance give us substantial insight into the true natures of both Obama and Clinton.

We all know Obama is cerebral. This appointment goes to the heart of his character as a critical thinker who is capable of changing his views as he accumulates experience.  To offer this appointment, Obama had to set aside his criticisms of Clinton in favor of the respect he developed for her during those harsh campaign months.  This does not necessarily mean that his campaign rhetoric was false or insincere, rather that he has come to believe she will be as formidable working with him as she was fighting against him.

For Clinton to be willing to sacrifice her Senate seat, along with the last vestiges of any dream of eventually being president, she must have come to a very different view of Obama’s potential than she expressed during her campaign.  The skepticism she expressed in the heat of the primaries has now changed to an endorsement of his fitness to lead.  By accepting this appointment, she is endorsing, without reservation, the soundness of Obama’s world view, an endorsement that goes far beyond that she gave in the many pre-election speeches she made on his behalf.

Obama’s view of changing Washington is being revealed as one of salvaging the baby instead of throwing it out with the bathwater.  And that is the only way to effect meaningful change in America.