Home
Archive
Columnists
Video
Blogs
Discuss
About
Search
Donate
Advertise
100 words for 100 days: submit your 100 word essay and get published on AlterNet
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
  • AlterNetYour turn

Support AlterNet
Do you value the information you're getting from AlterNet? Please show your support with a tax-deductible donation.


Feedback
Tell us how we're doing.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Officials: Obama Offered Clinton Secretary Of State Position

Posted by Nico Pitney, Huffington Post at 1:48 PM on November 14, 2008.


Hillary requested time to consider the offer, officials said.

Share and save this post:
Digg iconDelicious iconReddit iconFark iconYahoo! iconNewsvine! iconFacebook iconNewsTrust icon

Got a tip for a post?:
Email us | Anonymous form

Get Election 2008 in your
mailbox!

 

President-elect Barack Obama offered Sen. Hillary Clinton the position of Secretary of State during their meeting Thursday in Chicago, according to two senior Democratic officials. She requested time to consider the offer, the officials said.

Multiple reports have indicated that Clinton was under serious consideration for the nation's top diplomatic post, in addition to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, the Republican Senator from Nebraska.

A longtime aide to the New York Senator argued to the Huffington Post that there are strong reasons why Obama would be inclined to make the post worth Clinton's time.

"She is a beloved figure around the world. She has visited over 80 countries, as first lady and senator together," the aide told the Huffington Post. Noting the fact that Clinton learned as first lady how to be effective as a "backdoor diplomat," the former White House assistant said Clinton mastered "a lot of the intricacies of these issues before ever joining the Senate's Armed Services committee. She's tough; she had meetings with some Prime Ministers and Presidents where she had to deliver some blunt messages for us."

The offer shows that the Obama team is, in fact, serious about bringing all types of political officials -- former foes included -- into its governing tent. During the Democratic primary, Clinton was often accused by aides to Obama of inflating or over-dramatizing her foreign policy experience.

As for Clinton, the Secretary of State post offers her tremendous responsibilities as well as a national platform from which, theoretically, she could launch a second White House run. But it also takes her away from the domestic issues, like health care reform, that she seemed poised to tackle as one of the Senate's leading Democrats.

Speaking at a transit industry conference in New York on Friday, the New York Democrat mocked the interest in her whereabouts but did not deny the speculation. Watch:

"I have to start by saying I'm very happy there is so much press attention and interest in transit, especially guesses about my own. But on the off chance that you're not here for this important issue, and are here for some other reason, let me just say that I'm not going to speculate or address anything about the president-elect's incoming administration, and I'm going to respect his process, and any inquiries should be directed to his transition team."

Digg!

Tagged as: hillary, obama, secretary of state, chicago

Nico Pitney is National Editor at the Huffington Post.


Obama: 'If Paul Krugman Has a Good Idea … Then We're Going to Do It'
Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman has been a frequent critic of President-elect Obama.
Post by Amanda Terkel. January 9, 2009.
Kucinich Speaks Out Against Congress' Blind Support of Israel
"We must take a new direction in the Middle East.
Post by Staff. January 9, 2009.
TVA Responsible for Yet Another Toxic Coal-Related Spill
So, now is it time for clean energy?
Post by Tara Lohan. January 9, 2009.
Advertisement
Comments Turn comments off sitewide Give us feedback »
Comments closed.
The comments for this story have been closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.
View:
Cool, keep her as far away from economic and health care policy as possible!
Posted by: Social liberal on Nov 14, 2008 4:37 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hillary Clinton is an extremely smart and talented individual. It was so sad to see her campaign to be the Democrats presidential candidate. So much populist BS, so much anti-globalization, anti free-trade. So much class warfare and racial divisive politics.

It is very nice of president elect Obama to give her such a prestigious post but extremely smart. He gets her international prestige but gets her out of his face as regards to her populist and class warfare crap.

He also gets her out of his face when it comes to health care reform, he does not have to get into debate as to Hillarycare (socialized single payer health care) but can compromise with the Republicans to get a health care reform that everybody can agree to. Not single payer but a system like the one in Switzerland or Singapore, private insurance and health care providers with mandatory coverage for all.

Good job Mr President elect!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Beep, beep.. Posted by: Social liberal
Say it ain't so, Barry.
Posted by: Hans B on Nov 14, 2008 4:39 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Give Hillary a cabinet position by all means: she deserves it and she'd be good at it. But not the State Dept. Please.

You need someone who's serious about global warming, who'll get China and the rest of the world on board for drastic action. Clinton doesn't fit the bill. I'm not even sure she really cares.

You need someone whose perception of the Middle East goes beyond the Israel=Good, Arabs=Bad mantra, which pretty well defines Clinton's ideas.

You need someone who didn't vote to fulfill George Bush's every whim on foreign policy, and who even today refuses to recognize the wrong of it.

And you need someone who's on record as being against torture - not for it - and against other violations of human rights.

Hillary Clinton would be great: anywhere but at State.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Say it ain't so, Barry. Posted by: NickJones
BARACK!
Posted by: Longdream on Nov 14, 2008 5:19 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This would be another inspired choice, but we don't know that he's made the offer quite yet. Remember that Bill Clinton stood in her way for the VP slot--she wasn't able to pass the hoof and mouth exam unless he was willing to make certain disclosures. The same situation may exist.

But let's assume he has made the offer.

The TV guys are all replaying what she said about Barack and what he said about her, as though THEY are offended! Typical. They're saying, Oh! My God! Barack had better watch out--she'll be a rogue Secretary of State and will be out there pretending to be the President, pushing her own Right Of Center agenda. Bushwa. Name the Secretary of State who has ever done that? Kissinger? Now name one who did it without the full imprimatur of the President. Oh, but there are so many better choices! Who? Here's my favorite: She'll be running her own parallel government! Break out the guns!!

What are these guys going to do when Barack meets with McCain on Monday?

If the Democrats persist in thinking that Lieberman deserves to chair a committee, then Clinton is at odd ends in the Senate. She's a formidable person with a forceful personality, and she would carry a big stick for Barack. She and Joe Biden get along well. With regard to keeping her instinct for going her own way under control, I've got two words: Rahm Emanuel, who carries a bigger stick than anyone, and whose job it will be to keep the Party in line.

I like this.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Let's NOT! RE: BARACK! Posted by: sallyride
Good Choice But Let's Not Start Bill's 3rd Term
Posted by: radical53 on Nov 14, 2008 6:23 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Rahm Emanuel and Hillary Clinton are smart, tough, and capable, but we also need some fresh faces. There is a lot of speculation about Larry Summers, Colin Powell, Bill Richardson, Donna Shalala, Mac McLarty, Robert Reich, Robert Rubin, and Bill Daley. I would prefer that the Clinton redux stops at Hillary. The only exception I would make would be if Laura Tyson was interested.

John Kerry would be great at State, NSA, or even Defense. Susan Rice is fine for NSA. There are many good choices for Education, including McCain advisor Lisa Graham-Keegan (my choice). I would hope that Deval Patrick is a top choice for Attorney General.

There are tons of experienced non-Clinton Administration people available: Chuck Hagel, Philip Sharp (Energy), Jack Reed, David Bonior, Kathleen Sebelius, Dick Gephart, Valerie Jarrett, Kathleeen McGinty (especially for the 3 e's), and Howard Dean. One name I haven't heard yet is Michael Dukakis, a brilliant guy and a competent technocrat. Among the Kennedys, I prefer Caroline over RFK, Jr.

It's time for some fresh ideas, not more Clinton retreads.

I wonder how Hillary feels about talking to Hugo Chavez, Raul Castro, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? She would also have to deal with Putin and whoever replaces Kim Jong Il (could be a sleeper of a crisis).

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Speaking of 'the Clintons'...
Posted by: Von on Nov 15, 2008 12:25 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/snowjob1.htm

and 1 video amongst many

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t3pl5Wxgyg

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

your comment is a MESS
Posted by: J. Bo on Nov 15, 2008 2:07 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Single-payer health insurance is NOT the same thing as "socialized medicine."

Do a little homework (and learn to use spell-check, by the way), and THEN come back to talk with the grownups...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» SORRY Posted by: J. Bo
» RE: your comment is a MESS Posted by: NickJones
» RE: your comment is a MESS Posted by: Basenjis
You People Are Not Getting It...
Posted by: quietbear on Nov 15, 2008 4:25 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I swear to God, if I read one more of you morons praising the likes of Hillary why, I'm gonna... I'm gonna...

Grrr...

Look... You people are just not getting it...

That's not a question, that's a statement of fact.

Look at the big picture, will you please?

Pull your heads out of the planned and orchestrated dichotomy that is called the, "Democrats and the Republicans", for just a moment and look what the hell is really going on here!

Look at how the same people that were involved with the Bill Clinton administration are now part of the Obama administration...
The Obama administration is so Clinton-esque, it's about to have a real live Clinton on it!

Is this the change Obama promised?

For at least the last 100 years, there has not been any form of real change in policy, no matter what "side" of the aisle the president has been on...

I wonder how many Bush people Obama is going to keep on the payroll, just for the sake of continuity?

Are you telling me that there are no new faces out there in the political landscape that want to re-constitute the Constitution? Isn't that what Obama promised?

The Clinton's and the Bush's are all on the same side...
And now with Obama bringing in the old Clinton administration we will stay in the insanity that is the Bush-Clinton Doctrine...

War without end...

You have to see that this is utter bullshit.

Follow the money. Quo Bono?

Who supported Obama with the most monies? Quo Bono!

We are all being scammed...

When are we, going to stop it?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Recycling used trash
Posted by: Pop on Nov 15, 2008 8:52 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If Obama can't come up with anything more than more of the same, Albright is about the only one that is worth reusing, if she would take the job. We need to have real change. Please Obama lets start off Clean and fresh.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Clinton hatred abounds
Posted by: Schroeder on Nov 15, 2008 9:14 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Clinton hatred that I come across on websites that are democratic leaning is such a mystery to me. I believe it is the one thing that will actually prevent the democrats from accomplishing what needs to be done.

I think Hillary Clinton is an intelligent, talented lady who is very knowledgeable as to how to get things done in Washington. If she is offered a post in the Obama Administration and accepts it, I say good for the American people. We would be blessed if that were to happen.

There are many of us who visit this site who supported Hillary Clinton, and, in spite of the anti-Clinton rhetoric on this site and many more left leaning sites, do support Obama and will do everything we can to make his presidency a success.

Obama is not staffing with the number of Clinton people in a ridiculous attempt to please the Clinton's. He is staffing his administration with capable people. He's careful and will appoint good people.

So, could y'all just back off and stop with the Clinton bashing crap?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Clinton hatred abounds Posted by: DHFabian
» RE: Clinton hatred abounds Posted by: Schroeder
Obama/Clinton brands merger
Posted by: elo8 on Nov 15, 2008 9:32 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I think that Clinton is a shoe-in for the job. But maybe she would be better suited (and be more fulfilled by) tackling domestic issues (health care?) that she has already done so much work on?

Dr. Tantillo, who has a marketing and branding blog , argued against the notion of a joint Obama-Clinton ticket back in May:

"Because of the length of this primary fight, brand identity and loyalty to brand have become central. What this means is that a kind of brand mutual exclusivity has set in. The Obama brand stands for something that the Hillary brand does not. And vice versa!"
Tantillo's full post on Obama-Clinton joint ticket proposal

But at this stage--especially with all that Clinton did in the general election phase to help get Obama elected-- I think that the Clinton brand has shifted enough that it would make smart branding sense (for Obama and Clinton but especially for the Democratic Party) for Obama to give Clinton a cabinet position--if not as Secretary of State, as something else!

Tantillo's recent post on Obama as president-elect

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Did you really believe change was coming?
Posted by: rem3864 on Nov 15, 2008 11:06 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Well, now we know what kind of "change we can believe in" we are going to get! Why am I not surprised?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

No Hillary Clinton
Posted by: DHFabian on Nov 15, 2008 1:25 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I think some progressives are so enamored at the idea of a woman as vice-president that they haven't noticed her record on issues and policies. Hillary Clinton is solidly center-right, and we don't need to look far to see how those policies have failed America. She was a key participant in creating our grotesquely regressive social/economic policies that transferred money out of aid for the poor and into massive corporate "tax relief", primarily via "welfare reform". These policies directly resulted in an infant mortality rate among America's poor that now surpasses that Third World nations, and a rapidly declining life expectancy of poor Americans. These policies have been central to the economic disaster we have today. We absolutely DO NOT need more of this.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: No Hillary Clinton Posted by: Basenjis
» RE: No Hillary Clinton Posted by: Bliss Doubt
"It's the policies, stupid."
Posted by: DHFabian on Nov 16, 2008 3:00 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
To brush aside any opposition to Hillary Clinton as mere "Clinton-hating" is as childish as dismissing any criticism of George Bush as mere "Bush-Bashing". It implies that there is no legitimacy to the criticism.

My opposition to Hillary Clinton is based on her own record of promoting solidly conservative, pro-corporate/anti-worker policies. This agenda has, as we can see all around us, been tremendously harmful to this country. H. Clinton was a core participant in formulating the social policies that increased the wealth of the richest few at the expense of everyone else. A core factor in the economic downfall of the US has been the policies, promoted by Hillary Clinton, that took public money out of social safety net funding to help cover the costs of on-going annual "tax relief" and special grants for corporations. Now, special "tax relief" and grants are given with the (non-binding) agreement that the corporations will use that money to "create family supporting jobs" (wink-wink). Right. Since the early 1980's, corporations have "agreed" to use every annual basket of taxpayer money to "create family-supporting jobs" -- and then DID create jobs, but in Korea, Pakistan, India, Guam, Russia... not in the US. The money has primarily gone into massive hikes in CEO salaries and into covering the costs of exporting our jobs.

I oppose Hillary Clinton because she has so staunchly supported these policies, which have caused so much suffering among ordinary people.
I DO believe that people should be paid a fair wage, and that we have got to restore basic workers' rights and protections. Corporations must be required to obey the law, and be held accountable for wrong-doing. I do believe we have a human responsibility to aid those who simply aren't making it.

Is this the best America can do? No, but we aren't going to get out of the mess we're in as long as we rely on the politicians who created the mess.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]