Officials: Obama Offered Clinton Secretary Of State

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

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."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/14/clinton-met-with-obama-ab_n_143810.html

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. hehe backdoor diplomat

he said backdoor

hehe

[Oregone]

16. I don't understand what you mean

Do you think Obama tapped Clinton through a backdoor diplomat?

[rch35]

38. I'd tap Clinton through a backdoor diplomat.....

:spank:

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. Giggity giggity

[Cosmic Charlie]

25. that reminds me of the scene in the diner from Fear and Loathing

Back Door Beauty?

[Kokonoe]

51. I think President Obama loves us

[Barack_America]

2. .

:thumbsdown:

I will say no more.

[Thrill]

3. I don't believe it.

[tekisui]

4. The leaks and rumors are growing, it looks like it is to be.

Rahm came on this same way.

[Arctic Dave]

5. To clean up condi fiasco your going to need a tough MFer.

IMHO Clinton falls into that category.

[VaYallaDawg]

15. Me too. n/t

[ann_american2004]

48. me three!

I hope she accepts but I think NY will miss her.

[no limit]

6. What experiance does she have for this position?

I can't believe they actually offered this to her.

[Boo Boo]

12. Not much, but I kinda think that's beside the point.

Well, I don't personally think it's beside the point. She's got weak leadership skills, has never even overseen a diplomatic mission, no serious administrative experience... now she's going to run the U.S. State Department?

Whatever.

It seems pretty obvious to me that this is a political appointment, and I suspect it has been a done deal for a while now---like, since before the Democratic convention. This "give me time to think about it" stuff is a charade.

[Oregone]

18. "has never even overseen a diplomatic mission" - Im calling BS

There were snipers firing at her on the tarmac.

[HeraldSquare212]

31. Oh, Bobby - so willing to believe in your dotage.

[joanski0]

7. Maybe Joe Biden will be watching over her. n/t

[mzmolly]

8. She'd be outstanding.

:toast:

[maddezmom]

10. hey there have you seen this yet?

:fistbump: :hi:

[no limit]

27. In what respect Charlie?

[shadowknows69]

9. I'm not heartbroken if this comes to be but I think there were better choices

Maybe the Party just wanted him to at least offer, no guarantee she'll take it.

[skeewee08]

11. Maybe

the leaks were to take away the attention from Wasilla Hillbilly. If so smart now we are talking about this instead of that idiot!

[Oregone]

13. LOL.

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

14. Before I came here I wrote Obama asking him not to give the job to Hillary.

Here's what I wrote.

When I think about the policies the Clintons pushed during Bill’s presidency; like NAFTA, the Telecommunications Act (which allowed the consolidation of ownership and deregulation of our media), the Iraqi Liberation Act (calling for the oust of Saddam), Rendition, -I could go on and on. The Clinton’s were that “past administration” which advised our reps to vote to give power to Bush to invade an innocent country. To be honest, I wish the Clintons would just walk off into the sunset.

[Truth Teller]

19. Obama will disappoint you in similar ways

He's already tapping into Clinton officials.

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. Even liberals like Dennis Kucinich voted for the Iraq Liberation Act

[Just-plain-Kathy]

28. Maybe because he listened to the Clintons.

[ann_american2004]

50. oh yeah because it's always the Clinton's fault

yada yada yada yawn

[Just-plain-Kathy]

60. You should really stop yawning and wake up.

Under Clinton, did NAFTA not start?

Before Bill signed the Telecommunications Act, we had over eighty media moguls owning our airwaves, now we have...what, five? Thank Bill for allowing the same corporations who own defense and investment companies, to also own and control our media.

When Bush linked 9-11 to Saddam, thank Bill's Iraqi Liberation Act for giving democrats a reason to believe Bush's lies.

The Bushes and the Clintons are much closer than they let us believe.

[Cosmic Charlie]

21. say it ain't so, O

:puke::puke::puke::puke:
:puke::puke::puke::puke:
:puke::puke::puke::puke:

This is the first time I have questioned Obama's judgment.
I pray it is the last.


Perhaps he is heeding the old modicum keep your friends close and your enemies closer?
Made me think of that old movie 'Enemy Mine' where Dennis Quaid is stranded with an Alien and eventually they have a child together.
Will bringing the Clintons in poison an Obama administration, or is it possible that Obama can help them step back into the Light?

[amdezurik]

32. if you hate dems so much why are you here then?

or is it just "that woman" you hate so much? Do you feel good being programmed by the likes of Flush and O'Loofa-boy and such?

[Cosmic Charlie]

40. settle down there. Obama is who I support.

And the last time I checked, he is the Head of the Democratic Party.

I despise Fox and anyone who insinuates I might watch that shit.

Hillary is not just a woman. She is Hillary.
She wasn't elected as the Nominee or selected as the VP because she is Hillary. It has nothing to do with gender.

[Jefferson23]

22. I hope she doesn't want the position, I wonder how many politicians ever say,

"No thanks."

[Cosmic Charlie]

24. she can't reject the offer now that it is public, unless she intends to make Obama look weak

[Bette Noir]

23. I don't know why she'd want the job.

She has real power and a certain amount of security in the Senate. Cabinet positions are at-will-- they can be fired at any time. I'd think SoS would be a demotion.

[ann_american2004]

52. U know that is a good point

an image of a chess match just popped into my head with that. Is Hillary a bishop or the Queen?

[road2000]

26. I'm very pleased.

I do think she has the skills and the background, and she carries the good world opinion of "Clinton" into the new administration.

If this comes about, the Democratic Party presents its strongest front in years. Personally, I don't think they'd have leaked it if she's going to publicly decline it. If I'm wrong, I'll just wear the egg on my face, and all may say they told me so.

[HeraldSquare212]

29. I'll be carrying around a towel for the next few days.

So I can clean up after my head explodes once this is announced.

[wcepler]

30. an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama Administration?

Ok, so far Obama's given the finger to the Muslim world and now we get this archetypal centrist. However, it's imperative to remember a 2008 "centrist" would have been VERY right wing in 2000.

Also, please remember that this "slight of hand" camouflage of contemporary dem right wingers as "centrists" was the joint effort of guess who? Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

That continuum now means NOTHING. The DLC (i.e., the Clinton machine) is about 5 standard deviations to the right of what would have been a genuine centrist in 2000.

We are talking about VERY right wing appointments here and not even throwing a bone to the entire Muslim world. Hmmm. I think we can make an educated guess as to who was making deals with Obama during the campaign.

Obama has absolutely got do something, ANYTHING, to acknowledge the progressives who supplied the infrastructure that elected him President, and he's got to stop throwing gasoline on Middle Eastern fires. Compromise and diplomacy has always been the ONLY hope for the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, but Obama is starting off more anti Palestine and Muslim world in general than Bush.

More appointments, of course, are coming, but this is all starting off very, very badly. Tragically, when it comes to actions (not ideological "talk") Bush/McCain/Obama -- samo, samo.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Peace Patriot]

34. This is a bad appointment, if true. Please see my post...

"Obama, the Clintons, Colombia and the disaster that is U.S. policy in South America"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7868394

[olddad56]

35. I'm okay with that pick, but I think she might have made a good Attorney General

[MilesColtrane]

36. Quid Pro Quo for avoiding a brokered convention?

I think Obama cut a deal with Hillary to avoid any shenanigans last August in Denver.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[onehandle]

41. Goodbye. nt

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[underpants]

42. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[pjt7]

46. I didn't think Obama would be so political

I guess I'm very naive, but I thought he was going to surround himself with the best & brightest of the entire nation... so far he's just bringing in DC politicians.

[hezekkia]

43. hahaha

ZAP! back to Free Republic you go.

jeesh, it's no wonder McCain got ~43% of the vote, with idiots like this spreading their lies and hate.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

44. Aw. We hardly knew ye.

[IndianaJohn]

45. who the fuck are you? n/t

stfu and go back to your god Limpballs and recommence worshipping...

[liberal N proud]

47. I do believe you are in the wrong forum

There is one specifically for your type. Bye, bye.

[ronnykmarshall]

49. Oh dear ....

:hide:

[Libertas1776]

53. ???

Just like Helen Thomas said, Doesn't Obama know anyone else? I am starting to get a little worried with all of these Clinton administration picks.

Now to make things worse, he might go and actually pick an outright "Clinton!"

Fine then, take her to Washington. Its not like she has done much for my state of NY. In fact, just about the only thing she has actually done is try to get out of her senate seat.

[emilyg]

54. I hope she does not accept.

[qwlauren35]

55. I'm with you on that.

I think she would do well in Health and Human Services, but no one respects that position.

The irony is that it represents the causes she has championed the most.

[BootinUp]

59. why?

[Mass]

56. As soon as somebody with a name is quoted, I will believe it. Right now, so many

unnamed officials reports have been wrong.

This will not make me happier, but I refuse to believe unsourced reports.

[ElizabethDC]

57. I agree on that

but at the same time there haven't been any denials or anything, have there?

[LittleClarkie]

58. There's only one problem. I've never liked anonymous sources

Could be anyone, and we'd not know their motives for this news. As someone said, those close to Obama have been sworn to secrecy.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

61. Obama is brilliant

if he appoints Hillary to SOS, then she will have to leave the Senate. The Democratic governor of NY will appoint a Dem successor. After a year Obama can rid of her. She would finally be out of office, out of politics, and out of our hair! This makes great sense.

I am not sure, but I think historically, cabinet members do not stay on for the full term of the presidency. Condi has been the exception.