SC CONGRESSMAN REPORTEDLY CONSIDERED FOR CABINET POST

Last night’s victory of Democrat Barack Obama was hardly in the books before pundits began the post-presidential election parlor game of “who will serve in the cabinet?” Obama has reportedly already tapped Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois to serve as White House chief of staff while the media has taken it upon themselves to vet prospects for the fifteen cabinet agencies.

One name that was circulated throughout the day Wednesday as a potential department head was Rep. James Clyburn, the current U.S. House majority whip. FOX News Channel anchor Brit Hume mentioned this evening that Clyburn has been named along with a few others as a possible pick for a number of posts.

But which department would Clyburn head? That’s quite uncertain, although I’m told the most likely options would be agriculture or housing and urban development. Although, if Obama does decide to go through with a Department of Peace & Non-Violence, look for Clyburn to emerge as an option there.

Still, it’s difficult for me to see Clyburn giving up the third most powerful position in a solidly-Democrat controlled U.S. House to be a cabinet head. But we’ll see.

If he does end up secretary of something, though, I would bet the farm that the agency’s annual budget will be loaded with even more pork and will have numerous appropriations for statues of Clyburn.