On Secretary of State Clinton
14 November 2008 4:14 pm by Taylor Marsh
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| Clinton’s traditional national security strengths to Obama’s new tone diplomatic glove? |
First, the latest, complete with a lede that HRC has been offered the 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.
“I have to start by saying I’m very happy there is so much press attention and interest in transit, especially guesses about my own. But on the off chance that you’re not here for this important issue, and are here for some other reason, let me just say that I’m not going to speculate or address anything about the president-elect’s incoming administration, and I’m going to respect his process, and any inquiries should be directed to his transition team.” – Hillary Clinton
ABC
has more, but goes short of a firm offer:
A source with knowledge of the transition process describes the meeting as not a hard offer. Obama is more cautious than that.
He is doing this more elegantly, but a source said Obama took a big step toward Hillary. They had a long private meeting in which they talked about their philosophies and what had transpired during the campaign. He was extremely respectful, saying she was great, and giving her a huge amount of support. He said that he knew how much she cared about health care but said there are other challenges, and wanted to reach out to her about Secretary of State. They were both cautious but again took a big step towards her. She reciprocated.
Obama does not want to be seen as being rejected by her, but it is “hers to turn down,” one source put it. They have an agreement to have another meeting or phone conversation about this very soon.
So, what’s next? At least one cable talking head and two female guests doing an exorcist 360 degree head swivel over the talk of Clinton meeting with Obama in Chicago. First, Chris Matthews, who makes the leap of all leaps today on “Hardball.”
CHRIS MATTHEWS: “…It’s amazing to watch how these things develop. First of all the word comes out tonight, here we are on Friday night, that Hillary Clinton has been offered the job if she wants it. That’s the word that’s floating around. And then she’s coming back, the Senator from New York, and saying, well, I want to look at a couple of things like, Is Joe Biden going to get in my way as vice president? I would assume among her other concerns in the news reporting is who’s going to get Defense, who’s going
to get C.I.A., who’s going to get NSC, the national security advisor? In other words, she’s sort of dictating terms here in what looks to be a proffer of a job. Jennifer, it’s an extraordinary position of power she’s in, in what would normally be considered one of the great prizes in the world she’s being given.JENNIFER DONAHUE: “Yes, and I think this reflects how she behaved in the idea of who is going to be the vice presidential candidate that Barack Obama picked. So she’s got a competition going on with Biden who’s the vice president. … .. Chuck Hagel, team of rivals? Chuck Hagel? Colin Powell.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: “..Do you think there’s an ingenious Machiavellian streak in Barack Obama who wanted her to hang herself with these public demands, the fact that they’re being leaked? And therefore, he tried to bring her aboard but she set too many standards, too many conditions that he just couldn’t do it. He couldn’t give away his presidency.
Give away his presidency?
Ms. Donahue then commented that Obama is steps ahead of his opponent always: “Are they going to keep Hillary Clinton in line? Yes.”
Insert the most ludicrous retort now:
“She will run a parallel government. … He can’t do it!” – Michelle Bernard
“He can’t do it!!” – Jennifer Donahue
Check yourself. President-elect Obama may have already.
Matthews and these two ludicrous women who, in one breath tout Obama’s gifts, then in the next say Hillary Clinton is too much for him, were the ultimate spectacle today. As Matthews orchestrated his Friday circus, which offered yet another embarrassment for MSNBC.
Andrew
Sullivan, the ultimate Hillary hater among many, but one who at least is worthy of a link, gets the last word.
For my part, I think making her secretary of state is an inspired idea.
… Left to fester in the Senate, Clinton will plot against the president if he doesn’t actively seek her support and engagement and “spread the political wealth” of his mandate.
It is a senior enough position not to be fobbed off; it really does take advantage of the Clinton name abroad; it could even put Bill to good use and keep him out of mischief; and Obama has kept telling us that his cabinet model is “Team Of Rivals.” Giving Hillary that kind of position is straight out of Lincoln.
[...]So here’s hoping he offers and she accepts. It’s an elegant and shrewd move; both public spirited and yet coldly calculating at the same time. Pure Obama.
As much as Sullivan dislikes the Clintons, unlike the dizzying dialogue spewed from Bernard and Donahue, his respect for President-elect Obama is pure. He knows President Obama can handle Clinton easily. But also realizes what Hillary offers. After all the emails I’ve gotten on Sullivan today I realize this isn’t the way some of you wanted me to address his post today, but at least he appreciates Clinton’s value to an Obama administration, which is more than can be said for most others, his delusions of some Clinton “plot” notwithstanding.
All this on a Friday, as the cable talking heads, bloggers, and the traditional news media are in full scale withdrawal after the campaign season of all campaign seasons.
One final point on why HRC makes sense at State. Healthcare, which Donahue said was Hillary’s real strength, along with childcare, OH!, but not foreign policy, is the talk from the chattering class. I’ve said before that I believe Kennedy and Baucus are going to lead on healthcare, but it’s also possible, in my opinion, that Obama might want a new team not attached to Hillary’s efforts in the 1990s. No one’s mentioned this angle yet, but it’s possible. Additionally, as I’ve stated before, HRC’s biggest strength is international, but also the fact that she’s considered a “hawk.” I know this makes some crazy, but it offers President Obama a Nixonian opportunity with Arab and Muslim countries, as he backs himself with Clinton, with his anti war, diplomacy platform represented by a traditional military position in Clinton. Emanuel as chief of staff sends another message. While Obama is as staunchly pro Israel as anyone, he’s not seen as a “hawk,” in traditional defense talk. Clinton offers a lot of cover on diplomacy for President Obama. “Inspired” is indeed the word.
I continue to believe Secretary of State Clinton to President Obama is a brilliant stroke. Along with Vice President Biden, this would be a powerhouse team that could make history.
But remember, stories circulating do not come with named sources, but instead are shrouded in stories that sound knowledgeable, but may not be all that. Still, no one is denying anything. That’s the one hard fact we have today.
