I know some people are surprised, but personally, I’m not. After the VP pick fiasco, if Obama wants to soothe the ruffled feathers there he’ll need to offer Hillary some kind of consolation prize. And I guess Secretary of State is it. What’s more surprising to me is that apparently, she plans to accept.
Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned.
Obama’s advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton’s foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats do not believe that the vetting is likely to be a problem.
Clinton would be well placed to become the country’s dominant voice in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected senator for New York, she has specialised in foreign affairs and defence. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops.
Clinton, who still harbours hopes of a future presidential run, had to weigh up whether she would be better placed by staying in the Senate, which offers a platform for life, or making the more uncertain career move to the secretary of state job.
Hillary’s not doing this to build bridges or heal old wounds. She’s in a pretty good position right now, relatively speaking: she can continue on with her cushy Senate position and hope for another Presidential bid soon, or she can go for the Secretary of State position and hope it doesn’t ruin her chances for another Presidential bid. The odd thing about this to me is that Hillary is taking a job where she will be at the whims of someone she really, really doesn’t like. The good news on that front is that at least she’ll be willing to give him hell sometimes, I guess… and hopefully on important national security issues like, oh, not meeting with Iranian dictators without preconditions.
I think she’ll accept the job. It gives her the chance to continue on in the national spotlight and it gives her the chance to start making a difference, which is all Hillary’s ever wanted (even though I don’t agree with most of the changes she wants to make). The real question is, will this heal the rift in the Democratic party, or is Hillary just calculating her way through?
Also blogging:
Michelle
Stop the ACLU
Hot Air
Ace
