NYT: Will Obama Script Include Clinton?

[ProSense]

Political Memo

Will Obama Script Include Clinton?

By JACKIE CALMES and HELENE COOPER
Published: November 14, 2008

WASHINGTON — The end of the presidential campaign seemed to signal the completion of the Obama-Clinton drama. But now it turns out there could be a surprise ending.

Advisers to the onetime rivals for the Democratic nomination confirmed Friday that President-elect Barack Obama had met with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday afternoon at Mr. Obama’s transition office in Chicago and discussed the secretary of state job.

The prospect of Mrs. Clinton as secretary of state, perhaps the most prestigious cabinet position in any administration, sent people buzzing. But associates to both Democrats cautioned that their conversation included other cabinet possibilities and that no job was offered. Democrats said late Friday that Mr. Obama had also met with another oft-mentioned candidate for the post, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, to discuss the secretary of state job.

<...>

For Mrs. Clinton, there are pros and cons to taking the job as well. Senior Senate Democratic officials say it has become increasingly clear to Mrs. Clinton and her advisers that there was no quick route to a position of influence in the Senate, potentially increasing her interest in a prominent role in the Obama administration.

She had approached the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, about becoming chairwoman of a special subcommittee to handle health care issues, but he squelched the idea, Senate officials said. Aides to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, made it clear that despite his illness, he intended to consider health overhaul before the full committee that he leads.

Mrs. Clinton was also discouraged from trying to mount a challenge to any junior members of the party’s Senate leadership, one official said. In a seniority-driven institution like the Senate, it could take years for Mrs. Clinton to accumulate real power despite her status as a national political celebrity and the appeal she demonstrated in the primary season.

One potential downside for Mrs. Clinton taking a top job in the cabinet: she would presumably have to disclose much more about Mr. Clinton’s earnings, especially from foreign sources, and donors to his presidential library than they have been willing to disclose so far.

link

[Metric System]

1. You are utterly obsessed with her. Ugh. God, you're more interested in this story than any Hillary

supporter here. Do you not trust Obama's judgment? And by that I don't mean I'm assuming he's picking her, what I mean is that IF he picks her, will call his judgment into question?

Frankly, it seems to me that some Kerry supporters here feel he is entitled to be SOS and are attacking Hillary over it. Neither Hillary or Kerry are entitled to the position. The decision is Obama's and whatever he decides is fine by me.

[ProSense]

3. Yeah, I asked the NYT to write that article. n/t

[Metric System]

5. I'm referring to your multiple posts on this topic and constant digs at Hillary.

[ProSense]

6. Use the ignore button. No one is forcing you to participate in this thread. n/t

[Metric System]

8. I don't believe in putting people on ignore. I don't want to live in a bubble.

[ProSense]

14. You know what else doesn't reside in a bubble?

The OP article. You can take away what you want to from the article.

[karynnj]

9. Actually, Unless Obama is convinced that Kerry could do a uniquely good job

as SoS, I prefer he state in the senate. His position there is different than Hillary's. He will likely chair the SRFC where he could do all the investigations that need to be done and gather insight an d information on all foreign policy problems. This is Kerry's area of excellence. (he actually might have the choice of Small Business, Commerce and SFRC).

He is positioned well to be a critically important Senator writing good progressive legislation. I would love him to stay an independent voice - doing what he always has - speaking against wrongs - Republican or Democratic.

I do trust Obama's judgement. What is your problem with this article? It is far more substantial than others you didn't object to.

[Thrill]

18. Why the heck does Kerry want it? He's going to be the Chairman of the SFRC

Why would you want to be SoS? Biden is going to be all over your ass as the SoS.

[karynnj]

19. None of his statments says he does

He spent the last few months saying he is running to be Senator. There is no statement that I know of where he said he would like to be SoS.

[wisteria]

27. Have any of the candidates actually said they want it?

No one asked for any position yet has said yes, they are all evasive. And, I wish I could believe your comments that he is going to be so important in the senate, unfortunately, I don't think so. If Kerry isn't offered or he doesn't take this position he fades from public view and importance. I suppose it boils down to what he wants. I know what I would like to see him do- go for this positron and retire with world wide respect and perhaps even a peace prize.

[ProSense]

21. "What is your problem with this article?"

See, many people who believed the SoS story was a rumor had no problem dissecting those articles to debunk the reporting. Turn the page, and some people would rather resort to personl attacks than actually debate the merits of an article like the one in the OP.

You're right, it far more substantial than the other reports.

[TexasObserver]

2. Bill and Hill came through down the stretch, when it was important.

That told me they accept an Obama presidency in a way they had not signaled previously.

Both are valuable Democratic assets, and I would love to see both of them used to best effect in the Obama administration.

[Captain Hilts]

11. They worked hard in PA, OH and FL. nt

[ClarkUSA]

4. Yikes.

:yoiks:

[Metric System]

7. I find it interesting that the Hillary-haters believe absolutely everything the media writes about

her. However, on every other topic they claim the media has an agenda and that you can't believe everything that's reported. I seem to remember the OP of this thread saying that the Hillary-as-SOS story is nothing but rumor and shouldn't be believed. It seems the haters cherry-pick what they choose to believe.

[karynnj]

12. Actually, this article is better written and

does contain some content on what Clinton's choices are. I don't get why you object to this one, when you didn't to the others.

[Captain Hilts]

13. Yes, don't believe the MSM unless it's about the Clintons! Vandalism! Lamp-throwing! Murder!

[ProSense]

15. Or is it the other way around:

Believe them when they say good things about the Clintons?

It's still a rumor, which is exactly what the OP states.

[Metric System]

16. Well I'm not arguing that it isn't a rumor. I've said in other threads that this is irresponsible

journalism.

[Life Long Dem]

31. This board was fine before the media floated this rumor.

And let me point out by calling Obama supporters Hillary haters your flaming a topic.

But division is all part of why this was floated out there in the first place, now isn't this?

[Captain Hilts]

10. Forced to choose between Reid and Clinton. No contest. Clinton. He's been lousy. nt

[ProSense]

35. You know what I find interesting?

Why wouldn't Hillary just work with Kennedy? She and everyone else knows that this is his big issue. What's more important here: Hillary leading the effort or health care reform?

[Captain Hilts]

36. She would.

A friend of mine knows Ted's senior healthcare adviser, and he voted for Hillary in the primaries!

Reid has got to go.

[ProSense]

37. Not sure how that vote comment pertains, but

Hillary was actively seeking to lead on the issue.

Clinton, meanwhile, has been somewhat unsure of her role in the Senate going forward. Last week, shortly after the election, she asked Senator Edward M. Kennedy to set up a new health subcommittee on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and to let her chair it. She was turned down--not only because she lacks the seniority, but also because health care is an issue that Kennedy wants to take the lead on himself.

link

Still, if she does remain in the Senate, she has the opportunity to work with Kennedy.

[Captain Hilts]

38. Well, she and Kennedy's lead guy on the issue see eye-to-eye. nt

[Thrill]

17. Why does anyone want to leave the Senate for SoS? They're going to be a puppet. Biden

is going to have a lot of say in it in my opinion.

[ProSense]

20. Are you mistaking Biden for Cheney? n/t

[Thrill]

39. No because this is sticking to the Executive Branch

[PresidentObama]

22. Stay tuned for more from everyones favorite obsessed Hillary-hating DUer n/t

[ProSense]

24. You're

proof.

[PresidentObama]

25. I don't need any more proof of your anti-Clinton posts n/t

[ProSense]

26. .

:hi:


:nopity:

[wisteria]

28. If you can't see what is actually going on here and how

this all seems designed to discredit two people who did not support her for president and both are being considered for the same position that she supposedly has an interest in, then you are naive. Even besides that, she is not qualified nor does she have the demeanor for this position. Do you really think she could convincingly relay the presidents positions on issues without added her own opinion?

[Metric System]

29. Seek help. Also, if Hillary is stirring up trouble (as you claim) why hasn't the Obama camp pushed

back?

[ProSense]

23. LA Times article:

Clinton's foreign policy bona fides were a running theme during the primaries.

She tried to make foreign affairs a selling point, repeatedly telling crowds that as first lady she had visited more than 80 countries. But she occasionally overreached. Clinton was forced to backtrack after claiming she had to evade sniper fire when landing in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1996. Archival footage showed a peaceful arrival, not the harrowing scene she described.

During a conference call with reporters in February, her aides were asked to name a single foreign policy crisis in which she was tested. There was a lengthy pause. A reply offered by one aide seemed beside the point: She had been endorsed by more than two dozen high-ranking military officers.

Were Obama to choose her, Clinton might face tough questions during Senate confirmation hearings. Her husband has raised millions of dollars overseas for his presidential library. The Saudi royal family was reportedly among the contributors.

The Clintons' refusal to make public the names of donors dogged Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign. Obama aides pressed her to release the names of all donors to her husband's library and charitable foundation.

David Plouffe, as Obama's campaign manager, had once called Clinton "one of the most secretive politicians in America today."

Her husband's associations could also face renewed scrutiny.

In recent years, his charitable foundation received $31 million from Frank Giustra, a Canadian mining businessman, the New York Times reported. Months earlier, the former president accompanied Giustra on a trip to Kazakhstan. There, Clinton touted an effort by the country's leader to head an international pro-democracy group. That position was at odds with U.S. policy on Kazakhstan's human rights record. Giustra's company later signed deals for uranium projects in Kazakhstan.

link

[mollymongold]

30. ProSense,

[ProSense]

32. Crazy!

Check the OP again. That's a NYT article.

:rofl:

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Skwmom]

34. Bolton predicted in Jul Clinton would be in the State Dept?

He laughed and gave Obama this advise: “Obama should remember the rule that you never hire anybody you can’t fire, especially as secretary of state.”