Reply #39: Might not be the same thing

[karynnj]

SoS reports to the President and the idea is that he gets to pick his team unless there are major problems. In Clinton's case on foreign policy, she was a very centrist Democrat. I am sure that Republicans were likely happy that Obama picked someone for this who was to the right of himself. (I assume the Republicans likely greatly preferred her to Kerry, who is more liberal - though they likely would have confirmed him easily as well - especially as Lugar has always thought well of him.)

The Supreme Court is not an administration position - so they would use a different standard.