So says the UK's Daily Telegraph.
They are citing sources close to the campaign that Obama himself wants to 'heal the divide' by giving McCain a role after the election.
From the article:
Two Democratic sources with knowledge of the thinking in the Obama camp say that forming a partnership with Mr McCain would prove that Mr Obama will reach across the aisle and also help rehabilitate Mr McCain, who many Democrats believe has been pushed by hardline advisers into making increasingly desperate attacks on his rival.
....
And a Democratic strategist who talks regularly with Mr Obama's senior advisors added: "Obama has said all along that he will work with the best people, regardless of party affiliation. John McCain has experience and he used to have a record of bipartisanship. We're all going to need to pull together when this is over."
Mr McCain will not be offered a cabinet job, but Mr Obama may ask him to spearhead a bipartisan overhaul of veteran's affairs, an issue close to Mr McCain's heart.
The rest of the article pretty much focuses on McCain's problems and his downfall over the last few weeks, but I truly find this more than a little diheartening.
First of all, this sounds exactly like the type of bad idea that came out of DLC infested consulting in the 90s. "Rehabilitate" McCain's image? Give me a break. This man's reputation is beyond rehabilitation and giving him any sort of role in the administration, no matter how big or small signals that his behavior can be excused.
Furthermore, it keeps being pointed out that somehow McCain is a "good man forced by his campaign to do bad things." No one is forcing McCain to lie and run the dirtiest campaign in recent memory. If McCain knows that what he is doing is despicable but still does it that is even worse than if he really believed that the vile barf coming out of his campaign was perfectly legitimate.
If Obama wants to show bipartisanship and reach out to the Republicans to have a role in his administration there are innumerable Republicans far, far more respectable in making that point.
I don't think Obama should offer any role to McCain after this is over. I do not think it means Obama should not play it cool and nice with him after it's all over, but any role in the administration I think would be a mistake. If what this article is saying is true, and indeed this is being thought out as a plan, then I think we ought to put a stop to the idea before it gets any traction.