Will the long national obsession never end? By the time President-elect Barack Obama officially announced on Monday that he would nominate Hillary Clinton to be his Secretary of State, the media had already spent weeks analyzing the decision. Since Clinton conceded the Democratic nomination six months ago, there has been a continuing fascination with the dynamic between the former rivals.

Like many successful politicians, both individuals are ambitious and self-confident, so it is probably not an exaggeration to imagine that they developed strong feelings about one another during the course of the campaign. That said, I have no trouble believing that the two can work together to create a more effective foreign policy.

Perhaps I am an idealist, but I believe that Clinton’s record reflects a genuine desire to serve her country, even if she does not get to be the one running it. During the past few months, Clinton has demonstrated her ability to put aside personal disappointments for the greater good. After she conceded the nomination, undoubtedly an emotionally strenuous task, she threw her support behind Obama and worked hard to get him elected. If she were petty enough to hold a grudge against Obama, she would have turned the offer down.

It amazes me that people are so surprised that Obama was willing to elevate his former rival to a position of power. Part of being President is having the confidence to surround oneself with strong individuals. Upon being elected to a position of such power, one should be expected to pick the best person for the job, secure in the knowledge that everybody is working for you. Although he is far from perfect, a lack of self-confidence has never seemed to be one of Obama’s flaws.

The real issue is not the history of conflict between the two; it is the wisdom of the selection. The discussion should be about her stature in the international community, her knowledge of foreign affairs and her effectiveness as a leader. If we are going to take the opportunity to improve the damaged image of the United States, we need to hit the ground running in January. The severity of domestic issues means that the Secretary of State will need to lead the effort to show the world that the rules of the game have really changed. The time has come to stop talking about the past and focus on the substantive work ahead. As the administration looks to define its policies with respect to Russia, Iran and other sources of potential difficulty, we need everyone focused on policy, not personal drama.