OP-ED: Change, and Experience (Globe and Mail, CANADA)

U.S. president-elect Barack Obama has not betrayed his promise of change by appointing Washington veterans such as Tom Daschle, Paul Volcker and Hillary Clinton to top posts in his administration. Such a charge, gaining currency in leftish parts of the blogosphere and on American cable news channels, shows a misunderstanding of Mr. Obama's character, and confuses means with ends.

Mr. Obama has never been a procedural radical. Despite his grassroots popularity, he built much of his political stature the old-fashioned way: first by winning over the bosses of Chicago's Democratic machine, and then by assembling powerful allies in Washington and beyond.

He would not be where he is – poised to deliver on a long wish-list, with a large mandate and ample legislative support – if he had not learned to work within the system.

Both Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter presented themselves as Washington outsiders, and brought many of their top advisers from Arkansas and Georgia, respectively. The results were disappointing.

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