Interview: Clinton Confirmation, A Done Deal Or Bumpy Ride?

CBS News' Director of Political Coverage Steve Chaggaris answers questions about the memo sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee members outlining Bill Clinton's new restrictions should his wife be confirmed. He describes the concerns likely to come up in Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearing and what might happen if she is denied the post.

Question: Was the memo released yesterday to members of the Foreign Relations Committee, who will voting next month to confirm Clinton a move by the Clinton and Obama teams to say "see look, we can work together. There will be no conflict of interest?"

Steve Chaggaris: Well, it was a move by the Obama folks to show that. They had come up with this agreement. They put it in writing and they sent it to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to show that they had this agreement - that Bill Clinton is going to restrict his dealings with his own foundation and he is going to remove himself from day to day operations of some part of it and not raise any money from foreign governments, which I think was the big question people had with Bill Clinton's involvement. Who was he dealing with? Which foreign governments was he dealing with?

Check Out the Interview:



Steve Chaggaris: This is definitely an effort by the Obama transition folks and the Clinton folks. They each have their own interests here. The Clinton folks are basically trying to prove to the Obama folks that they will be as transparent as they can be in order to boost Hillary's chances to be Secretary of State and in turn the Obama folks are trying to convince the Senate and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that there is nothing sinister here. Bill Clinton has agreed to be as transparent as possible about his foundation and really he has done nothing wrong; at least that's what they are arguing. So, in order to help her through the nomination process they have released this memo to say, "look we have agreed with Bill Clinton this is what he has agreed to and this will be fine. This is not an impediment to her being Secretary of State."

Question: Do you think Hillary's confirmation is a done deal? How sure can we be that she will be the next Secretary of State?

Steve Chaggaris: Well, nothing is really a done deal when it comes to cabinet positions but if you look historically, the Senate has a role in approving cabinet positions. But historically, there have only been a handful that hey have actually rejected. I think looking at what we have seen, if everybody thinks the biggest impediment is Bill Clinton's foundation, I think what we have seen in his donor list that came out on Thursday, there doesn't seem to be anything here that is going to be more than just complications.

Question: What issues to you think specifically would come up in a confirmation hearing that would be worrisome to members?

Steve Chaggaris: You know Bill Clinton's foundation and his relations with foreign governments and so she is going to be the head diplomat with all of these foreign governments. You know, is she going to swayed by what Bill Clinton's relations are with these governments? I think that's the biggest question. And I think you are going to see a lot of folks in the Foreign Relations Committee ask her questions about this. The other question that came out in Bill Clinton's disclosure is that he had received money from Blackwater. It's up to the State Department and up to the Secretary of State to decide whether Blackwater continues on with their contract.

Question: Can you imagine the political implications?

Steve Chaggaris: Well, there is so much riding on Hillary Clinton getting this nomination, this post. Right now you have people in New York jockeying for her seat, which she hasn't resigned yet. You also have relationship between Obama and Clinton. I think this was a big step for Obama in his relationship with Hillary Clinton and the Clintons to nominate her for this position. Obviously, Obama would not be faulted. It would be the Senate who blamed for her not getting the post if she doesn't get it. But you know it would just be interested to see how she would move forward as a senator, not as Secretary of State having been rejected by her peers for that position. It would be fun to watch (laughter), at least very interesting to watch. But as I said, that is such speculation. The chances of that I think are so slim at that point that the expectation is that she will have a very interesting nomination hearing but she will move forward and probably end up being the next Secretary of State.

[bjcone8559]

GO HILLARY!!

[downsteamjim]

While I am not a Hillary supporter, she is probably better able to understand the thinking of Kim il Jong, Mugabi, al Assad, the junta of Burma, etc. than most people. Unfortunately she may secretly agree with them.

[tincup356]

Hillary Clinton is no more than a female George Bush they are both corrupt with greed for power,,,GOD help us from all these greedy people trying to destroy everything.

[tincup356]

the American people who support both parties are the fools,you have been supporting groups of very organized , white collar , suit and tie terrorists.Both parties will lie to get power.....No one from either party cares more about this country and her people than they do their own political and personal ambitions and greed.would you want to do business with a company whose members were guilty of a range of crimes, the most abused would be bribery...which when these fine people do it it is called lobbying,,,same thing , but when a citizen does it ....it becomes a crime. next point....why would anyone want to hire people who cannot keep a budget balance? that would never fly in the capitalistic world.So you see folks you are guilty of falling into the same habits of reelecting the same idiots to which we have to thank for all the mess we are in...thanks all you party line supporting Aholes.

[tincup356]

this goes to show that Bush didnt have the market cornered on twisting the constitution,,,Wake up Americans...Both parties have become the shame of the nation and yet people will still support them? How far do corrupt politician have to twist and mangle the constitution and the bill of rights before we stand up and tell them .."you''ve gone as far as we will allow".We the people have not had representation in Washington or Congress for too many years and now we see what this practice of lobbying has festered into.The amazing thing is how they could be so brazen as to try to rob us without even trying to hide it,,treasonous greedy fools, and they need to be charged with such and eradicated from our government.

[tommygun083]

Can''t see were Hillary Clinton could ever be acceptable as Secretary of State. Having seen the Clinton Foundation donors, how could anybody accept all that money and live off of those people for so long and then just walk away and act like it never happened. This is not like White Water Investments. We need a Secretary of State who is free to act in our best interest. However, she should continue and resign as Senator, especially after all these disclosures about taking money from Indian outsourcing companies. Caroline Kennedy will make a much better Senator.

[reaganitegop]

Recall Hillary''s opposition in the Senate to the Dubai Ports deal, forcing this company from (US ally) the UAE out of the contract. Subsequently, Bill Clinton was hired and paid millions of dollars by the UAE to clean up the resulting PR debacle... which was much his own wife''s creation.

And Clinton has not one iota of foreign policy experience. She lacks basic diplomatic skills, is known for a violent temper, and use of foul language when angry. Hillary was caught lying during the primaries, when she claimed to have come %u201Cunder fire%u201D on a visit to Bosnia%u2026 what happened to honesty and integrity as selection criteria?

The biggest cause for concern is Hillary%u2019s judgement, which is warped by her thirst for power and control. She%u2019s developed a tendency to be manipulative and Machiavellian in her dealings with others- is this the kind of person who should represent the United States with foreign governments?

The most logical explanation for this nomination is the fulfillment of a political bargain struck during or after the Democratic Convention%u2026 and Obama was not willing to let ethics or qualifications get in the way of a win-win deal.

Anyone who would expect Obama to put the country%u2019s interests before his own political security (and select the best available person) has not really taken a serious look at how he got this far in the first place.

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/

[spinproof]

How strange that the man who crowed for MONTHS that she HAD NO FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE...

Has nominated her for the Secretary of State in CHARGE of foreign relations...

Now is he just a CROOK and a LIAR? Or is he just STUPID to think he has one ounce of credibility?

Posted by RowdynTex at 09:38 PM : Dec 19, 2008

The same can be said about Sen. Hillary Clinton who trashed Pres.-elect Obama far more and far worst than he trashed her! So the question in return is why would she want to be part of his administration in any context if he is as bad as she claims? They both were engaging in campaign politics and if their positions are closely examined they are not that far apart on the issues if at all and if the truth be told are political soul mates!

[dennisgreen5]

The American people have chosen Barack O''Bama to be the next president of the United States of America. He has chosen a former opponent for this office to be Secretary of State. Apparently he has some respect for her abilities and I think we should give him this freedom to choose his own cabinrt.