What would Obama (and Hillary) gain by not denying the rumors?

[joshcryer]

Anyone know? I mean all of this could easily be quieted and done with in quick order. Are they both in the pockets of the talking heads (or alternatively the paid bloggers)?

[Metric System]

1. Oh my, you're going to make some heads explode.

[TheWraith]

2. If you deny one rumor, you automatically have to address EVERY rumor that comes along

From now until doomsday. And then if you don't deny something, the press immediately treats it as being true.

[joshcryer]

4. Whatever happened to transparency?

So we're not going to have a forthright administration after all?

[FrenchieCat]

7. What do you mean? Is there something that we should know about

before we know about it?

We don't even have an administration yet....that is what is currently being formed.

I don't think we are going to have a wide open transition team.....cause we are not yet in the driver's seat.

[joshcryer]

9. Stopping a rumor like this dead would be trivial.

Yet the sources of the rumor appear to be people affiliated with the transition team in some way.

[FrenchieCat]

10. So perhaps the rumors are true.

[Whisp]

12. no, Obama fooled us all, he's just bush with a tan.

wanker

[joshcryer]

17. It's more likely that there's more to it than "quieting rumors leads to more headaches."

It's more likely that Obama is patiently waiting to announce who his SoS will be, and that he has already decided, that there is no "picking between the different people he meets."

And it is likely that the person he choses will accept.

[Window]

42. He could also be meeting with others for different positions within his admin.,

not only SoS.

[lapfog_1]

16. I'd actually prefer a "leak proof" transition.

Because I know that if *I* was in the running for something, I wouldn't want it leaked until a decision is made, mostly because if I didn't get the job it would be embarrassing for everyone... same if it leaked that it was offered to a number of other people before it was offered to me.

I want transparency in governing, but not in this process of hiring.

And I absolutely hate it if the leaks were "trial balloons" to see how various factions take to the concept of X or Y being hired for this job or that job. That really sucks... and doesn't strike me like something President-elect Obama would engage in.

The week that has passed since his election seem so unlike his campaign.

[joshcryer]

20. Agreed, which is why it's strange that someone affilitated with the transition team leaked the info.

Information which, if it was untrue, could easily have been shut down. From this it is likely that the information is, in fact, true. But that's just speculation.

[TheWraith]

44. If you had to confirm or deny every rumor, you'd be asking them to announce decisions before

They've been made.

Not addressing rumors is Public Relations 101, because if you have to address them, you get sucked down a rabbit hole to where every whisper gets credibility, and your every single minute is spent addressing things not related to actual work.

[merh]

37. You nailed it.

:thumbsup:

[FrenchieCat]

3. I'm sure we will find out about more on this in the days to come.

I do know that Obama is a good poker player.

Making judgments with the little that we know, makes us no better than the pundits.

[joshcryer]

6. Me too.

[vanderBeth]

5. The only rumor is based on that they meet and that appears to be true.

[joshcryer]

8. The rumor comes from sources within ABC along with the Washington Post.

The meeting was apparently about "bigger challenges than health care."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081115/wl_afp/uspoliticsobama_081115063146;_ylt=Ar9oIPKyRYOt0ukXTgo.pnFh24cA

[vanderBeth]

11. How do you know that they didn't meet to discuss SoS?

Then what is there to deny?

[joshcryer]

14. If they did not meet to discuss the SoS, then it would be easy to deny the questions.

If they did meet to discuss the SoS, then it would be easy to respond with the outcome of such a meeting.

[vanderBeth]

15. If they did discuss the SoS, they might not yet have an outcome.

Why would Obama talk about the selection if he hasn't yet decided?

[joshcryer]

18. I don't think that's likely. It's not exactly political to "shop around."

Obama's camp is very tight, these leaks may even be controlled.

[vanderBeth]

19. It's not "shopping around"

It's vetting. Obama is apparently in contact with Richardson about SoS also.

[joshcryer]

22. So you're saying Obama is throwing out names to just pick his cabinet member?

He hasn't thought about who he would consider the best candidate?

[FrenchieCat]

23. That's the thing.

We don't know.

Perhaps if we wait for a millisecond longer than the press, maybe we will learn something, instead of guessing.

[joshcryer]

25. Oh but there are hundreds of threads about that (particularly denying the rumor). I'd rather...

...think about why the rumor persists. It worked pretty well during the primary campaign for me. :)

[Cosmic Charlie]

43. the rumor persists because people like you want to believe in it

but then when you heard about Richardson being interviewed also, it through a monkey wrench into your dream.

don't worry, Bill will make a great SOS.

[vanderBeth]

26. I think he would like to discuss it before he gives a job offer.

The discussions might be an important part in his decision, which may explain why he is talking to more than one person.

And he isn't throwing out names. This possible discussion that may have happened was apparently leaked.

[joshcryer]

27. What exactly would there be to discuss?

[vanderBeth]

28. REALLY? A huge job offer like this and there's nothing to discuss???

[joshcryer]

29. Other than "would you like the job?" what would they discuss?

[vanderBeth]

30. How about:

"What are your plans, and how do those differ from mine?"

"Our foreign policy is different in this aspect. What do you think we should do if you were given this job?"

"What would you do if/about...?"

And a myriad of other questions about the intricacies of SoS that I'm not aware of.

This would be like giving a job offer based only on an application and no meeting or interview. Except that job is for the 3rd most powerful job in the US Executive Branch.

[joshcryer]

31. Given that she did 50+ rallies for him, I find it unlikely her answers would be unpleasent.

The main thing the pundents are pointing out is that the confirmation may require Bill to undergo extensive vetting. Otherwise all indications were that she was his first choice.

[vanderBeth]

34. Yes, but he might like someone else's answers better.

This is something he would have to think seriously about. The decision will be based on many things. I don't think it was indicated she was first choice. In fact, this came out of the blue for many people. If anything, I think Kerry was most discussed, followed by Richardson or Clark. Regardless, Obama probably talked to any contender, even if they weren't his first choice. If this SoS discussion did happen between him an Clinton, it probably also happened with those aforementioned, just like it did apparently with Richardson. It just didn't make the news. Because Pundits like to stir the shit. That's what they do. They one thread about Richardson barely made the news here and didn't even make the news on the TV.

[joshcryer]

32. I have to sleep. The point of this post is that this rumor has a basis.

It's not as if the rumor is out of thin air or is bullshit. It's similar to the Biden rumor in scope. There's no "conspiracy" where Clintons people are "leaking fake info" and so on.

It's real.

Whether or not it results in Hillary being chosen as SoS is anyones guess.

But the reason the rumors are not being denied is that they are in fact true. She is a top contender for the position.

[MyNameGoesHere]

40. Well policy comes to mind. I mean are you suggesting that President Obama

is a shoot from the hip cowboy like the idiot in there now?

[cali]

38. bwahahaha. DUZY.

What is there to discuss?

:rofl:

[Skwmom]

13. Why the diss to the people who were under consideration?

Obama camp "is not overly happy with the usual suspects" mentioned for secretary of state.

Aren't these the people who supported Obama? Okay, don't pick them but why the need to diss them?

[FrenchieCat]

21. Perhaps Obama's presidency is falling apart before it gets started.....

And the graciousness that he exhibited throughout the elections was just for show. :eyes:

[joshcryer]

24. I don't think they were being insulting. I think they were trying to vaguely express their inside...

...info. Basically saying "there's a reason Obama met with Hillary personally."

[Skwmom]

36. The way that it was worded was a diss.

[Skwmom]

39. Getting elected is one thing, governing is another.

These last years should have taught us that if nothing else.

The one commentator on CNN or MSNBC last night expressed concerned that the Clinton pick would result in a parallel govt. I don't think she voiced her concern b/c she wants the Obama admin to fail. And as smart as Obama is, no one is infallible.

Another guy on CNN said this morning that there will be a lot more Clinton people in the Obama admin than originally thought and concerns over loyalty have been voiced (as in will these people be loyal to Clinton or Obama). Again, I don't think this person wants to see Obama fail.

Did you read what Bolton, who predicted Clinton would be in the State Dept in Jul had to say? 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.”

I think blindly supporting a candidate or an elected official is what has gotten us into this mess which is why that is something I will not do. I am concerned that this is turning into the third term of Clinton or some type of co-presidency and I think I am far from the only one that has those concerns.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[grantcart]

35. the reason they leaked it IMHO is to stop all of the rumors about

Kerry and even Richardson while they work out the appointment and the announcement.

If they didn't leak it then there would be ongoing speculation about Kerry and I think he finds it embarassing to be rumored about a position that he isn't going to get.

Note that CNN does not quote 'campaign' sources but 'Democratic' sources and I believe that Kerry is indeed the source himself.


'/

[ErinBerin84]

41. it's sort of getting some good PR so far

( in terms of making Obama look confident, knocking the faux media created Obama/Clinton drama by it's head, etc), but I am perplexed by it as well. In the case that Hillary does not want it, Richard Wolffe said last night that the Obama team does not want anyone too look like they were the "second choice"...and they are still meeting people. Guess I'll have to trust Obama...