奥巴马向对手伸出橄榄枝叶，组建跨越党派内阁

President-elect Barack Obama has begun formally announcing members of his new cabinet, confirming speculations that former bitter rival Hilary Clinton would be appointedSecretary of State. Obama fought a long and tough battle for the Democratic candidacy against Clinton, and some of his staffers accused her of race- baiting and other underhanded tactics during it. Nevertheless, Obama praised Clinton's record in the Senate and as First Lady, claiming that she was "his dear friend" and that "she possesses an extraordinary intelligence and toughness, and a remarkable work ethic." Clinton campaigned for Obama during the Presidential campaign, and has extensive experience in foreign policy.

美国当选总统奥巴马已经开始正式宣布他的新内阁成员，证实了前激烈竞争对手希拉里•克林顿将被任命为国务卿这一猜想。奥巴马曾为了成为民主党候选人与克林顿打了一场持久的硬仗，期间奥巴马竞选阵营一些成员指控她实行种族迫害和采用其它不光彩的手段。然而奥巴马却称赞克林顿在参议院以及作为第一夫人的政绩，称她是“他亲爱的朋友”并“具有特别的智慧和韧性以及非凡的职业道德。”克林顿在竞选期间支持奥巴马，她在外交政策领域有丰富的经验。

Obama's other cabinet picks drew upon the Clinton-era administration, such as the appointment of Bill Richardson, Bill Clinton's Secretary of Energy, as Secretary of Commerce. The decision to keep Republican Robert Gates on as Secretary of Defence, at least temporarily, was widely praised.Obama has attempted to reach out to Republicans in a mood of national reconciliation, and was known for his bipartisan work in the Senate. Eric Shinseki, a Japanese-American general who came out against the Bush administration's plans for war in Iraq, was appointed Secretary of Veteran's Affairs. Care of wounded soldiers has been slated recently after cutbacks and unsympathetic officials left many veterans without health coverage.

奥巴马的其他内阁成员有的来自前克林顿政府内阁，如任命比尔•克林顿的能源部长比尔•理查森为商务部长。请共和党人罗伯特•盖茨留任国防部长这一决定（至少是临时的）得到广泛的称赞。奥巴马持和解的心态尝试向共和党人伸出手，在参议院以协调两党合作知名。埃里克•新关是日裔美国陆军上将，他曾挺身反对布什政府的伊战计划，被任命为退伍军人事务部部长。由于退伍军人福利经费缩减，官员缺乏同情心，很多退伍军人没有健康保险，伤残士兵医疗保障条例近来受到严厉抨击。

Cabinet choices are often used by Presidents to set the tenor for their leadership. Obama's picks have deliberately reached out to former opponents, but have been criticized by left-wing Democrats as overly cautious and conservative. More widely praised from the left has been his statement that he will use Presidential orders to immediately overturn a swathe of Bush's policies.These plans range from a sweeping ban on the use of torture by American interrogators to introducing tough new global warming policies. With massive public investment in his success, all of America is waiting to see what their new President will do.

总统通常通过内阁成员的挑选来确定政府的领导方向。奥巴马的挑选刻意倾向前竞选对手，但被民主党左翼人士批评为过于谨慎与保守。更受左翼人士广泛称赞的是他将通过总统令立即推翻布什的一系列政策。这些方案从全面禁止美国审讯员采取酷刑到引进严格的解决全球气候变暖问题的新政策。广大公众对奥巴马寄予厚望，全美国人都在等着看他们的新总统将会有何作为。