Huffpo reporting Obama OFFERED the SOS position to Clinton on Thurs.

[npincus]

OK, another leak, but this one goes further than the "under consideration" status to an actual offer on the table.

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

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.

<snip>

The offer shows that the Obama team is, in fact, serious about bringing all types of political officials -- former foes included -- into its governing tent. During the Democratic primary, Clinton was often accused by aides to Obama of inflating or over-dramatizing her foreign policy experience.

As for Clinton, the Secretary of State post offers her tremendous responsibilities as well as a national platform from which, theoretically, she could launch a second White House run. But it also takes her away from the domestic issues, like health care reform, that she seemed poised to tackle as one of the Senate's leading Democrats.

[dkf]

1. Why would they label the leakers "Democratic officials?"

Would those be people close to Hillary? I'd think if it came from the Obama team, they would be labeled differently.

[lapfog_1]

2. Yes, when Andrea got the first whiff of the discussion,

I believe she said her sources were from "within the Obama transition team".

Democratic officials is either someone being imprecise (possibly to hide the identity of the leakers) or it's from someone not on Obama's team. However, that doesn't mean that the offer wasn't made.

KO mentioned last night that Clinton and Obama have a history of hearing what they want to hear from each other. Something about completely different "takes" on that secret meeting at DiFi's house in D.C. at the end of the primaries.

One of the main concerns I have about her being Sec State. Do they understand each others words and body language well enough to develop the sort of soul mate rapport that the Sec State needs to have with the President. Remember, when the Sec State is meeting with foreign leaders, they treat it as IF the President was there in person. They expect a true and honest conveyance of their words to the President. Anyway, one of the many concerns about Hillary getting the Sec State job.

[Hieronymus]

3. Hagel sounds like a good choice.

[sohndrsmith]

4. Agreed. n/t

[marylanddem]

5. I hope not.