Hillary spokesman on Nobel: it's better than getting shoes thrown at us

[Enrique]

WASHINGTON (CNN) – "Certainly from our standpoint, this gives us a sense of momentum — when the United States has accolades tossed its way, rather than shoes."

That's the take of Hillary Clinton's State Department on President Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, according to her spokesman, Assistant Secretary PJ Crowley.

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/state-dept-better-to-get-thrown-accolades-than-shoes.php?ref=fpblg

[Toucano]

1. Burn! n/t

[vaberella]

2. In her position it's not cool. But it is hella funny. n/t

[Orsino]

23. TYhat may be why her name's not attached.

No, it's not entirely a professional thing to say--but it rocks.

[lame54]

57. that is cool in any position

[Arkana]

3. Ice fucking BURNED.

I expect Repubs will go apeshit and demand an apology.

[merh]

4. I don't see a thing wrong with her statement.

It is true, it is much better to be acknowledged with this honor than to have shoes thrown your way.

[Captain Hilts]

6. It's not, er, 'diplomatic'. But it IS funny, and true. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. I agree! It doesn't speak out against any country, just about 1 asshole, Bush nt

[ProSense]

10. PJ Crowley is a man.

It's really funny the different reactions to Obama's award. Hillary's State Department, actually, PJ Crowley, makes a statement and it had to come from Hillary so this is just super duper wonderful.

When Gibbs makes a zing, does it come from Obama?

[merh]

12. PJ Crowley could not release this statement without Hillary's approval.

Certainly you realize that.

And again, there is no zing, there is a statement of fact.

Certainly from our standpoint, this gives us a sense of momentum -- when the United States has accolades tossed its way, rather than shoes. There is an opportunity here. The tone has changed -- but obviously we recognize that, while the tone in the world has changed, the challenges remain. They are very significant.

I would venture to guess that Obama chuckled and agreed when he read or heard this comment.

[ProSense]

14. Good grief. It wasn't an official statement it was a comment to CNN

here

Get a grip, that wasn't Hillary's official statement.

[merh]

15. Good grief - guess you missed the simple fact that he is the

spokesperson for the Secretary of State.

The comment was made by Assistant Secretary PJ Crowley, a spokesman for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Do you have any link to a source where she does not support the statement or has made a statement of her own?

Again, there isn't a thing wrong with the statement and your defense of same is as senseless as it is baseless.

[ProSense]

17. It's funny, it's spot on, it was made by Crowley. n/t

[merh]

18. as the official, paid spokesman for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

who has not disavowed or changed the statement.

[tabasco]

54. Waaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!

[merh]

55. I'd say you posted that to the wrong person.

I'm not complaining about what was said. I think it was appropriate and factual.

The other poster is the one that was whining.

So, you either wasted your time in posting an image that does not relate to my posts or you posted to the wrong person.

In either case you are wrong.

[karynnj]

29. Has Hillary Clinton issued a serious official statement?

It would seem the state department would issue one that states that they are honored by the recognition given the President for the foreign policy that it will be their responsibility (pleasure) to implement. The fact is that people in the state department have the honor of being part of a huge effort to turn our policy around. There are signs that this "turn" is not just from the lows of the Bush years, but from what we have done for more than 50 years.

[Lord Helmet]

30. The Clintons have not opined.

This is a comment from the State Dept. She is not the State Dept and the appointment doesn't make it hers -- strange wording in op. I'll bet both Clintons are grinding their teeth over this award going to Pres Obama which is probably why neither has popped their head up with congrats. Classy as ever.

[Beacool]

31. Hillary congratulated Obama in person.

And they are plenty classy.

;-)

[Lord Helmet]

33. Link?

[Beacool]

34. It was said by Crowley at the same press briefing.

MR. CROWLEY: Are we reconvened? I heard – or was there when David briefed Secretary Clinton about two or so weeks ago on his energy strategy, and I said this would be a great briefing. So we’re glad that worked out.

A few – just to pick up a few announcements before taking your questions. Obviously, we at the Department of State woke up this morning with the terrific news of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama. The Secretary will depart shortly for the White House for a high-level meeting, and she’ll have the opportunity to congratulate the President personally. And I suspect for your colleagues who will be traveling with her later tonight overseas, she’ll probably have more to say about that personally.

But I think from the Secretary’s standpoint, not only is it well-deserved, the outreach that the President has made in the first now ten months in office, but it’s an affirmation of the strategy of engagement, of the need to work collaboratively and multilaterally to solve the challenges of the world. And I think she recognizes, as the President said, that this is a call to action, and that call to action falls significantly on the shoulders of the Secretary and here at the Department to advance the President’s agenda and confront the challenges of the 21st century. But certainly from our standpoint, we think that this gives us a sense of momentum when the United States has accolades tossed its way rather than shoes. (Laughter.)

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/oct/130472.htm

:)

[Lord Helmet]

36. So she plans to do it privately -- but where is Bill Clinton's congrats ...

LINK

Nobel List: Carter, Gore, Obama . . . No Clinton

snip

But since Clinton left the presidency, three Democrats with whom he has had testy relations have all won the honor: Jimmy Carter (in 2002), Al Gore (his vice president, in 2007) and now President Obama.

Indeed, although Carter issued warm words of congratulations to Obama at 9 a.m. and Gore hailed the president's honor hours after it was announced, Clinton has been strangely silent. A spokeswoman for his office said he had made no comment but promised to e-mail a statement if one was released.

Clinton's wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, has not been as shy. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said that she planned to congratulate Obama personally when she went to the White House for a meeting this afternoon.

snip

edited for two to's (tu-tus? NO, two to's)

[Beacool]

38. Bill was obligated to make a public statement? Why?

:shrug:

Forgot to add, Kornblut is no Clinton fan. Figures you would post a link to one of her columns.

[karynnj]

42. He is not obligated, but it would be a classy thing to do

It might have prevented all the "but Clinton didn't get one" threads. (Although, I assume the real time he might have felt that was when Carter got one - in what was very likely an attempt to not just honor Carter, but to annoy Bush. They could have gone back just a few years rather than 2 decades.

[Beacool]

45. Bill Clinton is far more deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize than Obama at this point in time.

Capturing the attention of the world, not being Bush and his race are not much of a criteria for awarding someone a Nobel Peace Prize. Even if the Nobel Prize Committee stated those as the main reasons why Obama was chosen for the award.

:(

[Lord Helmet]

46. There it is: Pea green with envy and a poor sport to boot.

LOL

[Beacool]

50. Who the hell is envious????

Just stating a fact that is evident to any person who is not a rabid Obama fan. Some day he may be deserving of this award, but right now? Heck, no!!!

:7

[karynnj]

51. That is not what the committee stated

The fact is that Obama has moved to make changes that go beyond what Clinton did in office. You have posted on Latin America very often and I think you said that you were from Argentina. Do you think that Obama being the first US President NOT to approve a right wing coup is a significant change in US policy? US policy in that are has been horrible for over 50 years - including when half the Democratic party, including the Clintons, agreed with the Republicans on aiding the Contras.

Then there is nuclear non-proliferation, which Obama worked on with Lugar as a Senator and has now led on as President.

These are two major shifts. Add in the outreach to the Muslim world and Obama has made a tremendous start in changing the world.

This is not to say a case can't be made for Clinton - he via George Mitchell did a great job in Northern Ireland.

[Beacool]

53. No, I said that I went to boarding school in Argentina.

My father was a diplomat.

Zelaya is no friend of the people, he wanted to go the way of Chavez. Another dictator wannabe.

[karynnj]

37. Actually that is speaking in the future tense "will have"

she’ll have the opportunity to congratulate the President personally. Now, I assume that she did when they spoke, but the Clintons should have issued a press statement congratulating Obama - if only to avoid comments - that are there, that they resent Bill Clinton not getting one - and possibly both of them not getting one. In addition, she may resent that it was not President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton.

[Beacool]

41. Oh please, all the nitpicking and pettiness.

Who gives a damn what the anti Clinton crowd thinks of either of them? I'm sure that the Clintons don't care, they are far too busy.

:eyes:

[karynnj]

44. Not nikpicking - she did not issue a statement as many many people did

I think it was nitpicing when you used that statement that "she will" to contradict that neither she or Bill issued a statement.

Does Bill Clinton care what the "anti-Clinton" crowd things, yes he does. If he didn't he wouldn't have gone to netroots conference. Clinton has always wanted everyone to like and admire him. Hillary Clinton may not care.

As to busy, a statement is likely written in less than 10 minutes. Also, I assume that John Kerry was busier than Bill Clinton. Not only is he a sitting Senator, who is going to Afghanistan and Pakistan later this week, his daughter is getting married today and he was very involved in that. I would have been stunned had he not issued a statement.

[Beacool]

48. I'm not going to argue with you as to whether Kerry or Bill is more busy.

I'll just wish Kerry's daughter many years of happiness in her marriage and leave it at that.

;-)

[karynnj]

35. Bill Clinton really should have congratulated Obama

As to Hillary, while it is true that there was some chance that she would have received this had she won, that is really not certain. Many things that Obama has already signaled, likely would not have been her choice. He seems more in line with the policies espoused by John Kerry - such as on the non-proliferation issues and on not agreeing to the coup in Honduras (where the state department sometimes muddled Obama's message).

Incidentally, Kerry is in a similar position to Hillary - had there been enough voting machines in Democratic strongholds in Ohio, he very likely would have won Ohio and the Presidency. Assuming that he immediately convened the Regional summit on Iraq that he spoke of thousands of times, he likely would have had a good chance at getting the prize. In his case, it would even tie to his call in 1971 to "turn" US foreign policy. He, unlike the Clintons, put out a very nice statement that showed how proud he is of the President and of this acknowledgment that the world sees the US moving in the right direction.

[Lord Helmet]

39. Kerry's statement was great.

http://kerry.senate.gov/cfm/record.cfm?id=318848">LINK

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement after the announcement that President Obama had been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize:

“I congratulate President Obama on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This is an honor of the highest magnitude and all Americans should be proud of this recognition. Since his inauguration, President Obama has taken great strides to elevate America’s standing in the world. Under President Obama, America has returned to its true spirit and core values – global engagement, alliance-building, and respect for international human rights and treaties. The Nobel Committee and the world have taken note of America’s renewed commitment to responsible leadership.”

:thumbsup:

[Beacool]

43. So, what Kerry chooses to do is what the Clintons have to do too?

Sen. Kerry was an early Obama supporter, I'm sure that he also called him to congratulate him on his win.

:shrug:

[karynnj]

47. Not the point - Like both Clintons, Kerry was someone who had the same potential

had he become President. I have no idea if he called him or not, but he did issue a very nice statement.

Are you saying that HRC, who Obama honored by making her Secretary of State so she did not have to return to the Senate, where she headed no committee because she was too junior, had less reason to congratulate him. Kerry helped Obama and owes him nothing. HRC owes Obama for the position she has.

[Beacool]

49. Oh yeah, Hillary would be nobody without Obama's magnanimity.

Please.........

:eyes:

[karynnj]

52. Did I say she would be nobody? -- "NO"

The fact is that she would still have been Hillary Clinton and for that reason someone who get media attention on anything. That is a source of power. But, in the Senate, she was not in a powerful position. There was nothing she really had the lead on. The Senate is based on seniority. In fact, the difference in her position in the Senate and her "power" was a problem.

[ProSense]

16. It was the typical press conference. Similar to the WH press conferences.

MR. CROWLEY: Are we reconvened? I heard – or was there when David briefed Secretary Clinton about two or so weeks ago on his energy strategy, and I said this would be a great briefing. So we’re glad that worked out.


A few – just to pick up a few announcements before taking your questions. Obviously, we at the Department of State woke up this morning with the terrific news of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama. The Secretary will depart shortly for the White House for a high-level meeting, and she’ll have the opportunity to congratulate the President personally. And I suspect for your colleagues who will be traveling with her later tonight overseas, she’ll probably have more to say about that personally.


But I think from the Secretary’s standpoint, not only is it well-deserved, the outreach that the President has made in the first now ten months in office, but it’s an affirmation of the strategy of engagement, of the need to work collaboratively and multilaterally to solve the challenges of the world. And I think she recognizes, as the President said, that this is a call to action, and that call to action falls significantly on the shoulders of the Secretary and here at the Department to advance the President’s agenda and confront the challenges of the 21st century. But certainly from our standpoint, we think that this gives us a sense of momentum when the United States has accolades tossed its way rather than shoes. (Laughter.)


QUESTION: Well, can I follow up on that?


MR. CROWLEY: Let me go through some stuff first. Obviously, on the Secretary’s trip, which begins tonight, she will be in Zurich tomorrow to witness the signing of two protocols moving Turkey and Armenia towards normalization of relations and an open border. She’ll move then to London for consultations on high-level issues with the British Government, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan; then will move to Ireland as part of our continuing commitment to that country and also focus on economic and political development in Northern Ireland; and then finally, as you know, to Russia for some significant discussions on a range of issues, from START to Iran, North Korea, the Middle East peace process. And both Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Lavrov will be able to monitor the progress in the bilateral* presidential commission and the various working groups that are a part of that. And of course, she’ll have, as you heard yesterday, the opportunity to travel to Kazan for participation in some activities there that will show the – some – what’s happening in that province.

Deputy Secretary Jim Steinberg is on his way back from a meeting in Bosnia. It was convened by the Deputy Secretary and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt for a discussion with political party leaders today to outline both the U.S. and EU’s shared concerns over the ongoing reform stalemate. They offered ideas and assistance to help the parties move forward on political and constitutional reforms that are essential if Bosnia hopes for eventual membership in NATO and the EU. And we would expect that there might be another high-level meeting within a couple of weeks.

George Mitchell remains in the Middle East. I can’t say whether he’s had or will have a meeting today with Prime Minister Netanyahu following up on meetings he’s already had in Israel with President Peres and Foreign Minister Lieberman, and he will meet tomorrow with President Abbas.

With that, I will take your questions.

QUESTION: I have two questions. First of all, on your very clever comment about accolades, not shoes, how much of this Nobel Peace Prize do you think is, you know, a kind of award to the President for not being George Bush? I mean, there was so much kind of animosity in the international community because of the last administration that it seems that just the fact that this Administration has offered a new approach around the world is what the award was really about. I mean, I think the President himself recognized that there isn’t a whole lot of actual accomplishment yet about the award, but it’s more about expectations and the fact that this Administration is devising a new course. So how much do you think that this is an indictment of the past administration and an award for not being George Bush?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, I think I’ll follow the sage advice of Robert Gibbs and say it’s impossible for us to project what the Nobel committee had in mind. I think what is important to us is an affirmation of not only the strategy but also the important agenda. The committee particularly singled out the challenge of nonproliferation. Obviously, it’s been a significant focus of the President, the Secretary, and others in these first 10 months, starting with the Prague speech and continuing with the session at the UN a couple of weeks ago. Obviously, we’re very mindful as the Secretary heads to Russia – we’ve got ongoing discussions with Russia on a follow-on to the START treaty. We obviously are aware that we have important dialogue with Iran and North Korea that’s ongoing. We’re looking ahead to the NPT review conference next year, finding ways to strengthen the Nonproliferation Treaty and the global regime. And we know that there’s a very heavy lift here with the United States coming up in terms of the Administration’s desire to see ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. And there are other steps as well.

So there is an opportunity here. The tone has changed, but obviously, we recognize that while the tone in the world has changed, the challenges remain. They’re very significant. And I thought the President set the right tone today in terms of looking forward and understanding that there’s a lot that needs to be done, but that as we go through this we’ll need to see collaborative action. The United States can’t solve this problem alone, but these problems will not be solved without the American leadership that we’ve shown in the first 10 months.

link

Seriously, do you believe every zing Gibbs makes is approved by Obama before he makes it?

[merh]

19. If the zing is not approved by Obama he corrects it.

No statement offering a different position has been offered by Clinton. It appears she agrees with it.

And again, the statement is not a bad statement. It is a factual statement and your defense of same is as baseless as it is senseless.

[ProSense]

20. So now you're saying she approved it after the fact?

Agreeing with it after it's made is not the same as making it or signing off on it before it's made. Gibbs makes a lot of statements during press conferences, and unless they become a source of controversy, President Obama is not going to weigh in.

[merh]

21. Who knows?

Crowley could have spoken to her before the press conference to get direction on what the response should be if he was asked about the award.

I don't know if that happened, my guess is, it probably did but I can't say with any certainty that it did occur.

Until Hillary makes a statement that contradicts the statement, that is the official position of the State Department, the department she heads, so it is her statement.

Now, do you think you could stop ??

[PBS Poll-435]

13. ...

:rofl:

[Metric System]

22. You're so fucking tiresome. And predictable.

[ProSense]

24. Where did you come from? Got a problem with facts? n/t

[Metric System]

26. Oh, you and your "facts." And it's a forum. Asking where I came from is not your brightest moment.

Remember when you started all those threads claiming that Hillary would not be SOS and that the evil Clintons were "boxing in" the President? Yeah, you and your facts.

[ProSense]

28. No, but I remember you appearing out of no where to make those claims. n/t

[joshcryer]

40. How could anyone forget that? There were dozens of threads posted about it.

[PBS Poll-435]

56. The emoluments clause

Damn those moisturizers!

[Captain Hilts]

5. MAJOR style points. nt

[windbreeze]

8. I'm gonna have a Tshirt with...."Better Accolades Than Shoes"...made...n/t

[Jennicut]

9. That statement totally rules.

[peekaloo]

11. Bwah.

but the bottom of our soles...suck it Bu$h.

[Odin2005]

25. LOL! Epic Win!!!

[Forkboy]

27. LOL

:thumbsup:

[texasleo]

32. IN YO MOTHAFUCKIN FACE!