Martin O’Malley Belongs in Hillary Clinton’s Cabinet

He’s said he doesn’t want it, but it would be best for the federal agency he’s assigned to, and for his political career

The former governor of Maryland has run a dogged, liberal campaign. But the weird dynamics of this election season kept O’Malley from reaching the double digits in the polls. Until now, that hasn’t stopped the governor. He stood on every barstool in Iowa and sang plenty of ballads to the people of New Hampshire, all while producing some of the most detailed, progressive policy proposals of any of the campaigns.

He’s fought hard for the rights of undocumented immigrants. He’s railed against Wall Street, while keeping a cool demeanor (unlike a certain democratic socialist from Vermont). He’s set the most ambitious goals and plans of achieving 100% clean energy. He’s strongly defended and fought for refugees. He’s taken an approach to foreign policy that recognizes the United States must do more than just drop bombs and topple dictators, that instead we must build up the infrastructure of the state. He’s understood the big data revolution, implementing measurable systems and goals in Maryland, and wishes to do the same for the federal government. He’s the only candidate to take a serious look at helping America’s cities make a truly triumphant comeback. He’s pushed both Sanders and Clinton to the left on gun-control. He’s been the progressive, wonkish, new-face the Democratic Party has been clamoring for.

“As president, I would make the administrator of USAID an actual cabinet member. We have to act in a much more whole of government approach…” O’Malley during the CBS Democratic Debate

Yet, the people have made their choice. That doesn’t mean it’s over for O’Malley. American politics is full of comebacks. What’s more, at the bottom of all of this, is the desire by the candidates to run a functional, effective, and fair government. Which is why Martin O’Malley belongs in Hillary Clinton’s cabinet.

As his record in Maryland shows, he’s a fierce manager of government (setting aside the mixed feelings of his tax policies). O’Malley set to make the state government transparent and accountable through setting clear standards and goals with the tools of big data. Suddenly, there was a measurable goal for every task of government. If the goal was not met, they could see the exact amount by which they had fallen short and could begin to examine what exactly went wrong.

In a time where many citizens view the government as ineffective and distrustful, someone who knows how to run the institution would be great to radically change that perception. This is not to equate the government of Maryland to the government of the United States, but simply to make the point that O’Malley has the necessary background.

With O’Malley’s experience as an executive, his understanding of the role of government as an efficient and effective provider of services, and his recognition that government must be held accountable through data, he’s a perfect chief bureaucrat for a president’s cabinet.

“Making government more efficient and more effective need not be a partisan issue.” O’Malley in The Huffington Post

My suggestions? Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Health and Human Services, or Veteran’s Affairs. The last may seem strange as he has not served in the military, but we know how terribly the VA has been run. You might also suggest the Vice Presidency, but that office is not always as productive as people would like to imagine.

Now, the other important aspect besides O’Malley running a helluva government agency is that this sets up future presidential runs. These are not flashy positions, like Secretaries of Defense or State. But these are departments I believe O’Malley will flourish in, giving him a great record and federal experience to run on in 2024 (politics, at its best, is playing the long game).

So, Governor O’Malley, if (hopefully) President Clinton ever approaches you with a cabinet position, I believe you should take it. The federal government needs someone with your experience and drive.