Ex-Dem leader: Clinton should include GOP in Cabinet

Hillary Clinton should nominate one or two Republicans to her Cabinet if she is elected president, former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-Maine) said on Tuesday.

{mosads}Mitchell said Republican nominee Donald Trump should similarly nominate one or two Democrats to his Cabinet if he is elected in order to defuse hostility and get the executive and legislative branches in a position to take bipartisan action.

Mitchell made the remarks in an interview Tuesday on  MSNBC’s “MTP Daily” in response to a question about what Clinton should do if she’s elected to lessen the hostility that some Republicans feel towards her.

Mitchell said that the first action of either candidate should be to institute tough ethical standards for their administration.

“Secondly, I would appoint one or two members of the opposition party to the Cabinet,” he continued. “I think bipartisan Cabinets serve a useful purpose, both symbolically and realistically in getting contrary views.”

“Certainly not just minor Cabinet positions — a really meaningful level,” Mitchell added.

Mitchell noted that former President Bill Clinton tapped a Republican, Sen. Bill Cohen (Maine), for secretary of defense.

President Obama also brought in a Republican to head the Pentagon during his administration, having nominated former Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.) in 2013 to replace Leon Panetta. And Republican Ray LaHood served as Obama’s transportation secretary for more than four years.

The comments from Mitchell are notable given the pressure Clinton is already hearing from liberals to tack to the left if she is elected president. Liberal groups have signaled they will be watching possible appointments in a Clinton administration closely for fear people with connections to Wall Street could win high posts.

Mitchell also suggested that the next president reach out to the opposition party when crafting his or her administration’s initial proposals in order to put forward something based on common ground.

“It’s like your kids, they know when you’re serious, and the public will know if the incoming president is serious about seeking bipartisan assistance,” Mitchell said.