From left: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Clinton (AP Photo/Jimmy May)
Vetting Hillary Clinton
There's a major obstacle to Hillary Clinton's appointment as Barack Obama's secretary of state, said Peter Baker and Helene Cooper in The New York Times: Bill Clinton. Looking into the donors to the former president's charitable foundation, at home and abroad, and coming up with ways to head off any possible conflicts of interest could prove the most difficult part of vetting Sen. Clinton for a spot in the president-elect's cabinet.
The unprecedented "public-private partnership" that the Clintons would represent, said Michael Shear and Philip Rucker in The Washington Post, could benefit the new president, but at a price. "He would be investing his fortunes not only with his former rival for the presidency but also in an outsize figure on the global scene who has been conducting a kind of privately financed foreign policy all his own since leaving office."
"Barack is playing with fire," said Marty Peretz in The New Republic online. Giving Hillary the top foreign policy position in his administration would help her pile up credentials for her next presidential run, and it would give Bill what he wants, which is to be "where the action is." But it would reverse what most Americans wanted from Obama in the first place, "and this was to end the Clinton dominion in American politics."
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Recent comments | 6 total
Why would Sec'o'State be more manageable than VP? If Hillary was to play a part in this administration, wouldn't she be there already?
I THINK IT WOULD BE A VERY SMART MOVE TO PUT HILLARY CLINTON INTO OFFICE BY BARRACK OBAMA ,SHE IS A VERY SMART WOMEN AND VERY INFORMATIVE
Hillary's strong showing in the primaries throws Peretz' theory on it's face in my opinion. I think if Bill can be reigned in (and that's a big if), the appointment of Hillary to sec of state is a stroke of genius on Obama's part.
"But it would reverse what most Americans wanted from Obama in the first place, "and this was to end the Clinton dominion in American politics." That's right. Dubya's competent and thoughtful steering of the ship of state these last 8 years--and the prospect of a McPalin continuation of that journey--really had no bearing on my choice for Obama. What I REALLY wanted was to avoid a return those Clinton years with all those jobs and a budget surplus... Think harder Marty.
Bill Richardson is far and away the best choice for Secretary of State. He has proven himself time and again in negotiations and has negotiated situations when no one else has been able to succeed. He is trusted and respected internationally and you don't get Bill Clinton in the bargain and that works for me! Hillary is a great lady but I honestly think that she can be more forceful and successful leading the senate and various committees in a positive direction for America.
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