Nov. 20, 2008
Clinton Pick Would Be Big Gamble For Obama
Politico: Appointment Would Show President-Elect's Icy Tolerance For Risk And Belief In The Power Of The Grand Gesture
-
Play CBS Video
Video
Rumors Fly Over Clinton
Rumors that Hillary Clinton does not want to take the top post of secretary of state in Barack Obama's administration are false, says correspondent Chip Reid.
-
Video
Hillary's Dilemma
Chris Wragge speaks to President Bill Clinton's former press secretary Joe Lockhart about Sen. Hillary Clinton's chances for Secretary of State.
-
Video
A Clinton In Obama's Cabinet?
Will Hillary Clinton be appointed secretary of state and, if so, what will be the effects of her appointment? Jeff Greenfield has more.
-
Photo Essay
Hillary Clinton
A look at a life and career full of firsts.
-
Who's Who
World Reaction
For many, Barack Obama's election seals America's reputation as a land of opportunity.
What is Barack Obama thinking?
We’ve heard all the rational arguments: Hillary Rodham Clinton has more star power than Richard Holbrooke, more discipline than Bill Richardson, fewer bad jokes than John F. Kerry. She’s tough and competent. She’s a woman and a Democrat, making space for a Republican guy at Defense. It would get her out of the Senate. Both Obama and Clinton loved Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, “Team of Rivals.”
But the sum of those parts seems something less than the whole explanation for Obama’s first great presidential gamble: his move toward giving his former adversary, whose judgment on foreign policy he criticized relentlessly, by offering her the most important Cabinet position in his administration.
Neither Holbrooke, Kerry nor Richardson would bring Clinton’s downsides: Her towering, volcanic husband; her own ambitions; and the endless speculation about the two of them.
“She brings so much to the table,” said Abner Mikva, a former Clinton White House counsel and an Obama mentor. “On the other hand, there are the obvious downsides, the conflicts that that her husband has.”
Insiders around Obama say the X factor at play is Obama’s icy tolerance for risk, and his belief in the power of the grand gesture.
Throughout his political career, Obama has had a tendency to “go big,” as his aides say, with dramatic moves and giant spectacles punctuating his run for president - his head-on race speech, his presidential-style tour of the Middle East and Europe, an acceptance speech held in a football stadium.
The Clinton move, like those, marries an arguably practical choice with lofty symbolism: He’s enlarging his own administration by bringing in one of the leading figures in American politics, and delivering on a promise of a new politics that doesn’t play favorites or hold grudges.
“It says that he has the personal confidence to engage someone of the notoriety and substance of Sen. Clinton,” said Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler of Florida, an early Obama supporter and prominent campaign surrogate. “Implementing change is an exciting exercise.”
Indeed, Obama’s transition appears suffused with a sense that the actors are living a historic moment, for which extraordinary gestures are appropriate.
“This would really give her a very unique platform to really be a part of this historic time we’re living in right now, even greater than her role as a powerful senator,” said Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan of Missouri, another early Obama backer.
Obama supporters point to her specific qualifications, her global celebrity, command of the issues and personal acquaintance with international players (assets Obama downplayed in his long campaign against her) as central to the decision to offer her the position.
“She is a capable and strong candidate for that post,” said Carnahan. “Probably few people would have the kind of built-in knowledge and relationships with world leaders she would have.”
But beyond the triumphal symbolism is a specific job, accompanied by a serious downside. Negotiations between the two camps focus on the former president’s role, as do many of the quiet doubts among Obama’s supporters, though Bill Clinton said Wednesday he would do “whatever they want” to make the arrangement possible, should his wife and the president-elect agree.
Still, imagining how the former president could cause Obama problems has become a popular Beltway pastime, and not a particularly challenging one. He could criticize administration choices that differ from his own. He could inconveniently rise to his wife’s defense against a foreign leader. He could be too close for comfort with any of the dozens of foreign leaders and tycoons he’s courted as head of a private foundation. He could remobilize an army of investigative reporters, beginning with the National Enquirer.
Clinton herself poses specific challenges as the president’s chief international envoy.
“This notion of team of rivals is an absurd concept,” said Aaron David Miller, a longtime State Department official now at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.
Miller said Clinton has some of the key attributes of a good secretary of state - stature and toughness - but that she’s untested as a negotiator, and her status as an erstwhile Obama rival might undermine an envoy’s traditional trump card.
“People need to know that you speak with the authority of your president, and she … lacks a close relationship with” Obama, said Miller, who wrote that she is the “the best of a weak field of potential Secretaries of State.”
Obama is undeterred by those worries, Democrats say. Though some of his backers cringed at the idea of nominating a woman they’d spent more than a year hammering, his circle has come to view the move as another masterstroke on the road to creating the most unified, powerful Democratic leadership in living memory.
With Clinton out of the Senate, the considerably lower-profile Russ Feingold of Wisconsin would probably be the highest-ranking Democrat with a propensity to oppose the new president in the Senate.
The new president, meanwhile, would be able to conserve his political capital for the issue on which he was elected, the economy.
On Wednesday, Obama’s circle remained sanguine about the choice, and apparently confident that the appointment would come to pass, even as some close to Clinton expressed doubts that she’d accept.
“It’s a risk with a big upside,” said one Democrat close to Obama.
Copyright 2008 POLITICO
|
We cover politics with enterprise, style, and impact. |
Video and Galleries from Politico
-
Video
McCain's Comeback Chances
-
Video
Cheney Condemns Russia
-
Video
Novel Based On Laura Bush?
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 91 Comments--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by labrat9999
that is so yesterday. Bush can''t hurt us anymore. we''ve moved beyond Bush....try to stick with the program.
Posted by DeckardBR at 04:22 PM : Nov 20, 2008
__________________________
Yeah right, as opposed to Condi Rice who no one saw for eight years and never accomplished a single thing. And while I''d rather not stoop to your level of personal attack, Condi does bear some frightening resemblances to a bobble head doll.
Posted by stlouisman3
Speak for yourself. Bill Clinton was one of the best presidents we''ll see in our lifetime and an intellectual giant next to the current guy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by cdfoxtrot5 at 04:56 PM : Nov 20, 2008
H.ell, compared to what we have in the white houe now, we''re all genius IQ''s.
I don''t see Hillary humbling herself sufficiently so as to be Obama''s subordinate - maybe because I''ve heard her call herself superior to him too many times......
All I know is when Clinton was in office, we had PEACE AND PROSPERITY. All you lunk heads can focus on is what was in his pants...you folks NEED to GET a life...either that, or some dirty magazines to occupy your time. Pathetic!!
I don''''t see Hillary humbling herself sufficiently so as to be Obama''''s subordinate - maybe because I''''ve heard her call herself superior to him too many times......
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 05:40 PM : Nov 20, 2008
Semper Fi Sgt.
Bill already said he thought the whole Obama thing was "one big fairy tale", and he didn''t have his heart in his campaigning for him.
If Obama chooses Hillary, all I see is one fight after another for the next 4 years.
Another thing, what''s up with Obama picking people he ran againist to be in his cabinet? Looks like the campaign all over again.
Posted by AJMarine111 at 05:55 PM : Nov 20, 2008
Bill did not say that about "the whole Obama thing". He said it specifically about the idea that Obama had been opposed to the Iraq war "from the beginning".
Posted by stlouisman3 at 05:48 PM : Nov 20, 2008
It''s not a question of "controlling" her. She will do the right thing (promoting Obama''s foreign policies) on her own. She showed her true character with her classy concession speech when the primaries ended and by the way she worked her heart out enthusiastically campaigning for Obama in the general.
We have other worries today, we are in our 70''s and sold our home to move into a duplex and now the owner is selling. My husband is quite ill and so am I. Where do we go from here and how do you move in the wintertime in Illnois. I know we won''t have someone come from the White House and move us, we will be on our own. Maybe we will just auction everything off, give the rest away to Goodwill and live in our old 15 year old motorhome in the desert somewhere. I will miss being able to comment and relate to others but I guess our time will be over soon. Time is fleeting, but time is coming.
Posted by TheMasses10 at 05:59 PM : Nov 20, 2008
Same to you.
She didn''t seem to be working very hard for Obama--just turning up occasionally!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by
Bill did not say that about "the whole Obama thing". He said it specifically about the idea that Obama had been opposed to the Iraq war "from the beginning".
Posted by libra217 at 05:58 PM : Nov 20, 2008
NEW YORK%u2014Former President Bill Clinton says his comment about Barack Obama telling a "fairy tale" about opposing the war in Iraq has been misconstrued as a criticism of the senator''s run for the Democratic nomination.
more stories like this"There''s nothing ''fairy tale'' about his campaign. It''s real, it''s strong, and he might win," Clinton said in a phone interview for the Rev. Al Sharpton''s Radio One network talk show.
Clinton said his "fairy tale" remark on the eve of the New Hampshire primary -- won by his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton -- was only intended to describe Obama''s claim to have exercised better judgment about the war, not as a sign of "personal disrespect."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/11/bill_clinton_obama_no_fairy_tale/
You are correct sir,...........my mistake.
Posted by stlouisman3 at 06:06 PM : Nov 20, 2008
Not true. In fact she made nearly 100 (I think it was) appearances for Obama. I don''t think it was broadly covered by the mainstream media, but when I did see an occasional article about it, it was reported that she had worked tirelessly and ethusiastically for him.
They truly supported Sen Clinton, this is not a small minority group. I have friends whose eyes light up about the Clinton pick when they only felt okie-dokie, better than the alternative before.
President-elect Obama has promised to listen to, ask opinions of and represent "we the people".
I think this decision serves a purpose to bring more of the "we" on board.
He is a smart man, I''ll trust his decision.
Posted by Rowdydfw at 06:29 PM : Nov 20, 2008
Why indeed, Rowdy. Everyone on these boards is so sick of your slimey hatred of Obama and your endless lies about him. He won. Get over it.
It is simply a fact that Hillary campaigned tirelessly and enthusiastically for Obama, criss-crossing the country over and over giving dozens of rallies for him in all the swing states. Your not liking that fact does not negate the TRUTH.
WELL, HE DID NOT RUN IN PRIMARIES, HE IS NOT A SENATOR OR GOVERNOR, BUT HE IS A VERY GOOD DIPLOMAT. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED IN A SECRETARY OF STATE, TO BE A CLEVER DIPLOMAT NOT A POLITICIAN OR CELEBRITY.
OF COURSE, ANY OF THE PEOPLE UNDR CONSIDERATION, (SEN. CLINTON, GOV. RICHARDSON, SEN KERRY ) WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN CONDI RICE.
You calling me fat?
Oh man... now I am really laughing.
Posted by velma179
He called me rotund, Velma, lol. Don''t be too hard on him, he comes online when the school bus drops him off at 3.
So, I may not be fat, but I could be a racist???
Huh...? What is your criteria for racism as exemplified by anything I''ve posted?
Pray tell.
PS - the 1933 Germany comment must mean you are comparing Obama to Hitler. You aren''t a very good judge of character, are you?
This is what Obama is doing. He''s not afraid of strong, competent people. I can only applaud this approach.
An early trend seems to be that Obama is hiring team players on positions that require team playing, but tough independent minds too if necessary.
My provisional conclusion is that Obama is a very smart boss who''s not intimidated by experienced, intelligent and strong minded people. Way to go!!!!
"You voted for Obama and you''''re telling me I''''m not a good judge of character?
Wow, you libs have no problems serving your selfish needs."
Posted by TheMasses10
Exactly. You implied I''m fat, then I''m a racist as well as likening Obama to Hitler. Wrong on all counts.
We disagree (obviously) on the votes we cast in this last election -- I wouldn''t say that necessarily means you serve "selfish needs". That just doesn''t make sense.
And another miss on your profiling, my dear. Politically, I am a registered non-partisan and a moderate.
Liberal, yes, when giving love to my family and serving God.
My provisional conclusion is that Obama is a very smart boss who''''s not intimidated by experienced, intelligent and strong minded people. Way to go!!!!"
Posted by karl2m
_________________________-
I totally agree with your excellent reasoning.
Where?
When it talks about Gods chosen people I get mad as hell.
The Lord Jesus even quoted it to me when I tempted him in the wilderness and I had to flee?
The bible is the only place where it talks about Gods chosen people. I rather have any good than Gods absolute right and wrong?
Because self then rules by its own understanding with God not being in the picture?
My hope is that no one else will turn to Jesus as their sin bearer so that they can have eternal life here and there.
I influence peoples motives without them realizing it is me, the devil, thats doing it.
Soon you will be down here with me separated from the love of God you could of had had you called out to Jesus to save you. Your need because you are a sinner!
Good with SELF you will spend a glorious eternity alone without the love of God if you so chose at the time of your exit out of your life and into the life of darkness? Excellent! No hope of love no hope of assurance no hope of joy etc etc just alone with no God ever to tell you what to do?
What a bunch of right wing neocon nutjobs.
Thanks for 8 years of deaths, deficits, and destruction.
Pray for forgiveness. Denied.
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 91 Comments