Clinton Said to Be Divided on Cabinet Post

[ProSense]

Clinton Said to Be Divided on Cabinet Post

By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ and MICHAEL LUO
Published: November 18, 2008

WASHINGTON — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York has reservations about accepting an appointment as secretary of state in the Obama administration, an adviser to Mrs. Clinton who is familiar with her thinking said on Tuesday.

The adviser described Mrs. Clinton as flattered by President-elect Barack Obama’s interest but said she was agonizing over the decision. Mrs. Clinton likes being her own boss and is reluctant to give up the independence that comes with that, said the adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process was at a delicate stage.

“If you are secretary of state you work for the president,” the adviser said in an e-mail response to questions from The New York Times. “If you are a senator, you work for yourself and the people that elected you.”

It was unclear if Mrs. Clinton’s stated hesitation was part of a bargaining tactic as the Obama team weighs whether to appoint her secretary of state, a genuine moment of indecision or, perhaps, a signal that she was preparing to withdraw from consideration.

<...>

One complication that Mrs. Clinton will face if she becomes secretary of state is the mountain of campaign debt leftover from her presidential run.

Mrs. Clinton has $7.6 million in outstanding bills from the campaign, Mr. Reines said, not including personal loans she made to her campaign.

The Hatch Act, which governs the political activities of federal employees, prohibits the solicitation and receipt of political contributions. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the United States Office of Special Counsel, which enforces the Hatch Act, pointed to a 2001 advisory opinion issued by the agency.

The opinion stipulates that a federal employee seeking to retire campaign debt incurred before his or her federal employment would be barred from personally soliciting the donations, but the “campaign organization of a candidate who later becomes a federal employee may continue to organize and promote fund-raising events to retire campaign debt.”

The advisory opinion goes on to say that the former candidate cannot “assist in promoting the event and may not otherwise actively participate in such events.”

On the other hand, it says that the former candidate can attend the fund-raising events and “be recognized and briefly state his appreciation to all whose efforts contributed to the retirement of his campaign debt,” but any participation beyond “this passive role” would violate the law.

There is also the obvious question of appearances. Michael Toner, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, said that cabinet members were typically given wider latitude when it came to political activities, but pointed out that there was special sensitivity when it came to the State Department and the Pentagon.

more

[provis99]

1. oh fer chrissakes

what is she, a friggin Southern belle to be wooed by a dashing country gent? Clinton drama, begone!

[Thrill]

2. Kennedy gave Hillary an out. She should take it and go back to the Senate

[camera obscura]

4. Agreed. She is getting chances that other Junior Senators wouldn't - she's gotta take them

and, on the off chance Obama can't seek a second term, she's free for 2012. (I say that as a long time Obama supporter but I know that idea is still some Dems' minds.)

[toshiba783]

11. What do you mean?

What did Kennedy do to give Hillary an out?

[AtomicKitten]

30. here you go:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/kennedy-taps-clinton-for-big-health-reform-job-2008-11-18.html

welcome to DU :hi:

[Thrill]

31. He gave a her an appointment to a committee on Health Care Reform

[blue_onyx]

3. This isn't surprising

I'm sure anyone would be divided by an opportunity like this. There pros and cons to accepting the SOS job (should she officially be offered it). It makes sense that she would be weighing her options. I'm sure Obama will make the best decision when it comes to who will be picked. And I'm sure Hillary will make the best decision for her on whether to take the job offer, should it come.

[wisteria]

8. Let her weigh them in private though, without all the drama.

Why are the Clinton's' trials and tribulations so much more important and public than any other political figures'? They keep other matters quite why not this?

[ruggerson]

12. You have it backwards

this is a former First Lady, current Senator, past Presidential candidate who has been on the front pages for for sixteen plus years.

The media creates this, because the media is endlessly fascinated with her (and her husband).

Her "advisor" did not call the Times up - the Times called him (or her.)

The reason there was no "drama" around Holder or Emanuel is because they don't sell newspapers.

Hillary does.

[Erin Elizabeth]

15. So they are physically unable of saying "no comment?"

The media puts a gun to her advisor's heads and FORCES them to say all that?

[ruggerson]

18. that's basically what she's said in her only remarks on the matter

Forget it. I should know better than to discuss this with people who have this particular pathology.

[Erin Elizabeth]

20. And I should know better than to discuss this with people

who think Hillary can do no wrong.

You said her advisors. They ARE capable of saying no comment. But of course they don't.

[joshcryer]

24. The same way Obama's people leaking this info should say "no comment"?

Hahaha

[Erin Elizabeth]

26. Which Obama people? NAME them.

We have had zero confirmation that she's even in the running for this. It's NOTHING but innuendo. And no one even knows WHERE the rumors came from.

Hillary, perchance?

[joshcryer]

28. See below, it's impossible to reason with you.

It's impossible. The AP, WaPo, ABC News, *all* have sources saying that Obama offered her the position. And it's obvious to at least 3 people here that his primary concern was making sure she'd survive the vetting process.

[ruggerson]

39. She won't listen to you

There's a cadre here that claimed Hillary would "take it all the way to the convention."

They were wrong.

They claimed she would fuck up the convention.

They not only were wrong, she was one of the best parts.

They claimed she would not campaign for him.

Wrong again. She campaigned her heart out for him.

They have never admitted nor owned how completely and totally wrong they are about who this woman is.

They are mentally deranged and living in their own little bizarre, angry world.

[Erin Elizabeth]

69. I never claimed any of those things.

Do a search on all my posts going all the way back through the primaries and see if I ever claimed any of those things you listed. Never did. Never once. In fact, I praised her for her work campaigning for him. Praised a few of her speeches as being fantastic.

Sorry, you have the wrong person.

[TheWraith]

56. They all cite "Obama advisors," of which there are over SEVEN HUNDRED...

Most of whom used to work for the Clintons at one time or another. :eyes:

[ruggerson]

35. ah, but you're wrong little frog

and the Hillary zealot box you're attempting to put me in doesn't fit. I strongly supported her in the primaries after Biden dropped out but did not even support her for Veep. And transitioned to Obama without a blink. I did (and do) defend her though from irrational petulance.

[ProSense]

25. "no "drama" around Holder or Emanuel is because they don't sell newspapers. Hillary does."

Which is precisely what people don't want to experience for the next eight years: Clinton drama.

[1corona4u]

63. Who's creating the drama??

I'd say it's the media, and the talking heads, etc. I have yet to hear a single word from Hillary herself.

I'd say your comments are personally motivated by your hatred for the Clintons.

[LostinVA]

64. I'd say you'r exactly right

[Cha]

5. That's right..it's a huge

decision..be your own boss or work for the president.

[1corona4u]

65. Honestly....I can relate..

I'd rather be my own boss, as I am now.....it would be really hard for me to go back to working for someone, should I choose to do that. 2 years now I have not had an employer, or had to get up at a particular time, or answer to anyone, or suck up to people, or do things I don't want to do. It's very nice, but stressful when you're not sure about how much money will be coming in, and when. But other than that, I love it. I wouldn't care who it was, it would be difficult. But, I am very independent.

[wisteria]

6. Oh, please no more Clinton drama- I can't take it anymore. n/T

[QC]

59. Then turn off the tv. n/t

[Bake]

68. I'm really bored with the "Clinton drama" meme

Try to find some new material.

Bake

[joshcryer]

7. This will be her response if the vetting process fails.

Basically say she didn't want the position and move on.

[AtomicKitten]

9. Oh, the drama.

[harun]

61. Yep, all drama all the time.

[Beacool]

10. I think that it's perfectly natural for someone in her position to mull over her options.

What's the rush? The proposal was only made 5 days ago, her husband is out of the country and it's a huge decision to make.

The question is does she want to be serving at the pleasure of the president or does she prefer to remain independent in the senate? Either way, she will be a force to reckon with.

;)

[AtomicKitten]

13. I'm thinking mulling it over so publicly is a disservice to the other contenders.

I don't believe for a minute that Obama is vetting only her for SoS. She, however, is the only one that leaked it to three people and the rest is history. She has made a normally secret vetting process very public with the media circus in tow, but no firm offer has been made to her per the Obama campaign. Yet she's mulling over a position she has not been formally offered out loud. If the job goes to someone else, it will unfairly appear they are second choice. It's a magic trick. A Clintonian magic trick.

Team Obama, after all but offering SecState to Senator Clinton, is expressing EXASPERATION with the Clinton camp for the difficulty in getting a clean vet on President Bill Clinton’s many entanglements. “The ball is very much in her court, but the president's finances have been a major point of sensitivity from day one,” a Democratic official said. (“Day One!”)

“Given that everyone's mystified by how deliberately public the Clintons have made this once secret process, the assumption is either that the Clintons are trying to use the public buzz to steamroll their way in, create a sense of inevitability that overcomes those concerns, or that it's just a matter of time before they … satisfy vetting somehow, some way.

Otherwise, after all this speculation, there’ll be a permanent dark cloud hanging over her finances. … But generally the sense among the no-drama Obama world is: This is well on its way to winning best Oscar for drama.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7881371&mesg_id=7881371

[joshcryer]

19. It is obvious that she was his first choice.

Simple as that. If she can pass the vetting process the others simply don't matter. They're backups.

[Erin Elizabeth]

22. HOW is it obvious?

We've never even gotten official confirmation that she's being considered, much less that others are "backups!" How arrogant.

[joshcryer]

27. We have had plenty of reports, from people affiliated with top level Obama stuff, yet you *all* deny

...that they are from Obama's camp because they're anonymous sources.

How can I reason with *that*? How? It's impossible. If all yo're going to respond with is "they're Clinton people" then there's absolutely no way you can ever believe the reports.

Clearly the media is in the pockets of the Clintons.

[ProSense]

34. " from people affiliated with top level Obama stuff" Nonsense.

There is no doubt that these rumors are comming from Clinton people, possibly connected to the Obama campaign. There is no way that Obama officials would leak that Hillary was offered a job, announce that she will accept it, and then turn around and say she is conflicted about accepting the job. All these rumors are swirling around while the vetting is in the very early stages and no formal offer has been made.

For all the talk about Hillary being Obama's first choice, the assertion that these leaks are coming from Obama official doesn't create the impression that they like her very much. On the other hand, it's easy to conceive that Clinton allies are pushing Hillary with a motive.





edited typo and for clarity.

[joshcryer]

36. But you have no evidence of that, you think that the Clintons own the WaPo, ABC News...

...the AP, and various other people who got the sources.

It's obvious that Obama's people don't like Hillary, Ben Smith's editorial explains that quite well, which is why Obama's choice is quite admirable, he's not a puppet and he makes his own choices despite the wailing of people who surround him.

[ProSense]

38. "It's obvious that Obama's people don't like Hillary" Really?

How is this good for her being selected for a cabinet position?

Good grief!

[joshcryer]

40. It shows that Obama has a mind of his own?

I mean, coming from someone who thinks the Clintons are "putting Obama in a box" I suppose such an idea would be an insult.

[ProSense]

41. Obama is not running a one-man show.

Hillary is going to have to get along with people, and they are going to have to like her. The last thing anyone putting a team together wants is backstabbing and conflict. This is something Hillary didn't understand when she put her own campaign team together.

[Cha]

70. That much we know for

sure..hopefully she learned. I know it's never too late to learn valuble lessons if you care to.

[AtomicKitten]

23. It's certainly not obvious to everyone. I'll just leave it at that. n/t

[breadandwine]

58. That's the point that seems most central. Obama seems to want her.

That being the case the vetting issues will be glossed over and she will get the nod.

[Beacool]

46. The Politico article you posted was refuted by Obama's camp.

Most of you don't realize how the process works. When dealing with someone of Hillary's stature, a president elect floats the offer informally and then sees if the person is interested. That way if the person says that they are not interested, they can say that there was no firm offer and they both save face.

Hillary is first choice and I think that Richardson is probably in the second tier. The remaining question is whether she wants the job or does she prefer to be her own boss and remain in the senate. We shall soon find out.

;-)

[AtomicKitten]

47. you're very accommodating in promoting the Clinton narrative, but it's wishful thinking n/t

[Beacool]

48. No it isn't.

Particularly since I would prefer that she stay away from his cabinet and not serve at his pleasure. In the senate she's her own person and has her own power base. But, it's her decision to make.

[ProSense]

49. "Most of you don't realize how the process works." Really?

When dealing with someone of Hillary's stature, a president elect floats the offer informally and then sees if the person is interested.

So Obama and Hillary are communicating through the media? Are you suggesting that he hinted to the media that she was up for the position through a leak, she accepted the offer via a rumor, and then got cold feet via another rumor, all before being fully vetted?

Is that how it works?

Hint: This is drama, and not flattering to anyone.

[Beacool]

50. No one knows exactly what they said to each other in private.

But the understanding is that the offer was floated and it's up to her to let him know if she wants it. I see it as perfectly normal that she would ask for some time to make a decision on something so important. The drama was added by the media, as usual. The Clintons have become our quasi royal family (like the Kennedys before them) and every little thing about them is reported and distorted by the media. The Clintons sell copy and the news outlets know it.

[AtomicKitten]

51. They are celebrities that inappropriately use the MSM to manipulate.

Nothing has been affirmed or denied by the Obama camp because the Obama camp hasn't said jack. They don't leak. We know Kerry, Richardson, and Clinton are all being considered for SoS, but no formal offer has been proffered. However, leak by leak the Clintons are setting up a narrative that seemingly pushes her out front. But it's all just smoke and mirrors.

[ProSense]

66. The media narrative is pretty clear

PLAN B: Some insiders believe it’s Sen. John Forbes Kerry. Other possibilities: Gov. Richardson, Senator Hagel and, less likely Richard Holbrooke.

link

Not that all the candidates are equally being considered or all weighing the decision (Kerry has the most legitimate reason to stay put: becoming Chairman of the SFRC), but the that the others are sloppy seconds or thirds.

[ClarkUSA]

14. The reporter who wrote the story said on LKL that this is purely for show.

He said Hillary doesn't want to seem too pushy like she wants the job too much because that wouldn't look good.

It's a little too late for that, eh? :eyes:

[joshcryer]

21. Yes, politicians tend to be that way.

Obama isn't immune from *that*.

[ClarkUSA]

32. Why are you talking snidely about Obama? The subject is Hillary.

You clearly have an axe to grind (I can see your anti-Obama statements in this thread) but since this is the second post of mine
across two different OPs that you've responded to in the last few minutes, I should warn you that stalking is against DU rules.
BTW, I love the fact the best man won this year in the primary and GE, don't you?

[joshcryer]

33. Hmm?

I always talk this way about politicians, when their less desirable traits are emhpasized.

[ClarkUSA]

43. You mean Hillaryland's media circus drama leaking and then pretending she doesn't want the job?

Then you'd be right.

[ruggerson]

45. You know what's really great about our President elect

he's about as 180 degrees different a human being than you as he can be.

[ClarkUSA]

74. No, no, no... do you know what's really great about ObamaIs44?

He's 1,000,000,000 times more decent, more classy and more ethical than the Clintons will ever be. And I will enjoy watching
Hillary spearheading President Obama's "naive" foreign policy with Iran. It makes me smile just thinking about her sitting down
with our enemies with no preconditions. Heh heh.

Poor Bill, no more "business" rides to Saudi Arabia on Ron Burkle's Air Fuck One. :cry:

There's a new Big Dawg in town and the Old Dawgs know it. Hallelujah. Now that's unity!

[Ichingcarpenter]

16. Stephen Colbert just did an interview with one of Obama's Vetters

It was a must see thing. Stephen said he had a radical acquaintance in Chicago
and a radical preacher. Paul Simon is on and will play a song.

[Erin Elizabeth]

17. ughbleahbhghahrug

[Median Democrat]

29. Hillary Clinton As SoS Has Huge Upside and Downside

Let me put it this way, who on earth has the rolodex and contacts that Bill and Hillary Clinton do? Bill runs a multi-million dollar foundation with contacts and support throughout the world. However, this also poses a great risk of conflicts of interest.

My view is that this story is designed to help Hillary save face in the event that things can't work out. Think about it, Bill Clinton's CGI is a huge operation with numerous foreign donors. This could be a good thing in the sense that Bill and Hillary have all these contacts, but it does create some sticky issues.

My take is that Barack Obama sees Hillary as potentially being his Seward to his Lincoln. Not many SoS's have a globetrotting ambassador at large like Bill Clinton. This is both a tremendous blessing and curse, and I will give credit to Obama, he did not play it cautiously with this choice.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

37. I think she would do much more good in the Senate nt

[stillcool]

42. this is all so ..

reminiscent of the VP pick.

[Life Long Dem]

44. I think this rumor just did itself in.

Take this job and shove it!

[political_Dem]

52. She should take Kennedy's offer because it truly is in her area of expertise.

She has done her best work in health care and children's issues. That's where she ought to be.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

53. How is this Clinton's drama when Obama made the overture?

All the drama is coming not from the Clintons but from the media. And, a little bit, Obama's staff.

I think Hillary Clinton would be making a mistake to accept a Cabinet position.

Whatever Mr. Obama thinks about a team of rivals, it's clear that his staff demonizes Mrs. Clinton. I am confident that the one who got dumped for calling her a monster is not the only one who does so.

These leaks and rumors, already being blamed on her, would persist throughout her tenure. The result would not be good for her, Obama, or this country.

And of course there's Bill, who wouldn't be able to so much as step on a sidewalk crack without stirring up wild speculation about his motives for doing so.

I hope Senator Clinton declines the offer and ends this pointless Kabuki dance in which President-elect Obama has engaged her.

[happychatter]

72. she'll do a good job and eventually, the silly billies will hush

relax I say

lol

[marimour]

54. Good. I hope she turns it down and it can go to a candidate that can keep their mouth shut.

[LostinVA]

62. Hillary hasn't uttered one word about this -- but keep on making up stuff about her

WHICH IS ALL YOU EVER DO.

[SoCalDem]

55. I want her to be Governor of NY..She and Bill would love Albany

and we could all enjoy the breather from the extreme drama..

It's hard to miss people when they won't go away :(

[BlooInBloo]

57. A Clinton divided against herself cannot stand!

:rofl:

[JVS]

60. Just like a George divided against himself!

[SoxFan]

67. DRAMA!

Just what we need. Just offer the damn job to Richardson or Holebrook and let's move on.

[happychatter]

71. I'm convinced the offer took her totally by surprise

the possibilities of which have got everyone, including her, completely spun

no wonder Obama is smiling

he always exceeds expectations

[Skwmom]

73. I think they are just screwing with us. You don't think they'd like to

payback the progressives as much as they are Richardson?