Officials: Obama Offered Clinton Secretary Of State

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.

A longtime aide to the New York Senator argued to the Huffington Post that there are strong reasons why Obama would be inclined to make the post worth Clinton's time.

"She is a beloved figure around the world. She has visited over 80 countries, as first lady and senator together," the aide told the Huffington Post. Noting the fact that Clinton learned as first lady how to be effective as a "backdoor diplomat," the former White House assistant said Clinton mastered "a lot of the intricacies of these issues before ever joining the Senate's Armed Services committee. She's tough; she had meetings with some Prime Ministers and Presidents where she had to deliver some blunt messages for us."

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.

Speaking at a transit industry conference in New York on Friday, the New York Democrat mocked the interest in her whereabouts but did not deny the speculation. Watch:

"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."

Comments

[pporter]

I was hoping it would have been Bill Richardson. I like Hilary and she was my first choice for Presi. until her Bsnia Gaffe and then the race card, then the sexist card and every other "ist" she could find and the nail on the coffin was when she infered Assisnation" and that was it for me. Watch you back Obama!

Obama is a very smart and wise man, so he must know what he's doing!

[Bombay]

How true! Hillary lost the election with the Bosnia lie. We cannot trust her to tell the truth. This appointment was a huge mistake and I am so disappointed and angry I could cry. The Clinton's bullied their way into the administration.

[Nia1999]

If Hillary becomes Secretary of State, the whole Obama administration is doomed. She does not represent change, trust, loyalty, or any diplomacy skills. He will seen by the International World whicht cheered and looked forward to his "change" administration as being punked by the Clinton's and the very same Washington insiders he claimed to have not being apart of and will be looked upon as a token President. Bill Clinton will make sure Hillary further is foreign agenda and inside information. She will have acess to sensitive intelligent information information Bill can use to undermine his leadership.

[lucesco]

Hey, I thought the Onion was satire, apparantly they are great forecasters:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/obama_clinton_mccain_join_forces

[politicogal2]

Hillary is very bright -- I just hope the Clintons don't become too overbearing.

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[JazzPuff]

I wanted Sen. Hillary Clinton as Senate Majority Leader, but if she will not be appointed to that position I think it is a very strategic move to put her in as Secretary of State. She has great strength and foresight, that is key for the US.

[djets12]

I cant imagine the vetting process on Hillary and Bill...so crooked they could change their names to "Conflict" and "Interest".

[hortonhearsawho]

SoreLoser

[Scar1]

Well considering things I kind of go with John Kerry. Her comments about just wiping out people during the election kind of bothers me. It shows a really aggressive side in anger.

She would be good-no doubt but, maybe in another position. If that is who Obama chooses then, I think he believes in her strength for the job. Obama is studying well, very observing and understands the total picture of what we are facing as a Nation.

One thing we need to observe are the Nations South of us. The Cartel, the crime and just all sorts of confusion about to spill over to US.

Bailout! NO!!! Private citizens have to deal with their finances and get little assistance in doing so. So, these executives have all the brains working with them in financial matters so why give them free money? Give it to us. I could use a home-which I lost; a car-which I lost; a job-which I got sick and had a heart bypass; two strokes; two biopsies; and Staph-flesh-eating type so who bails me out. Not Congress-heck no so tootles to Wall Street guys and Auto Industry. Are you serious? Help the little people we know how to spend money.

[DavidBlackburn]

I would have liked to see her as Senate Majority Leader. She'll make an awesome Secretary of State. The dream team!

[frenchie25]

The Guardian reports:

"Clinton to accept offer of secretary of state job"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/18/hillary-clinton-obama-white-house

Cynics need not reply. We support you President elect Obama.

[Hechizera]

Look on the bright side, folks -- she can't possibly as bad as Condi Rice.

[DavidBlackburn]

I'm surprised you'd compare her to Condi Rice!

[abby4ever]

test

[rpahk]

I would rather see HRC as the next supreme court justice.

[Mason]

Why? She hasn't practiced law in many years and didn't particularly distinguish herself as a legal scholar when she did. There are many other women judges who have distinguished themselves, including standing up to George Bush when most Democrats in Congress, including Hillary Clinton, meekly went along with him.

[sylar]

Error. Clinton's = self serving. Risky, risky move.

[hortonhearsawho]

She was serving the next President, Obama.

[wagtn]

Along with the old saying that you should "hold your friends close but our enemies, closer ... " There is another one that I would offer to the President-elect:
"Don't hire who you can't fire" and HRC certainly seems to fit in that category. Not to forget the danger of having "Super Zipper" on the world-wide prowl ... whispering into the ears of everyone ...

[CVN65]

You know what they say: "Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer". Now this is a move worthy of Abe Lincoln! My guess is that this offer was bought and paid for with Hill's support for Obama during the election.

[Mason]

You may be right. No one ever said politics isn't dirty and as much as many of us want to believe that she campaigned for Obama because it was the right and honorable thing to do, as well as necessary to prevent another four and possibly eight years of Republican rule, the evolutionary engine of survival of the fittest plays out in national politics as what have you done for me lately, and scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

Compromise trumps principle and many times compromises produce beneficial results for We the People. Sometimes they don't. A balance must be struck somewhere along the continuum between sacrificing every principle in which you believe to get a watered down version of what you want versus refusing to compromise on anything and winding up with nothing.

If a compromise was struck, the losers will be all of the men, women, and children in the Middle East and elsewhere who become victims of the wars, as well as every other person affected by their deaths. Hillary Clinton wants this job for its cache to prove her toughness and improve her chances to be President. She doesn't want the job because she wants to bring a lasting peace to the region.

Can such blind ambition be characterized as evil? I know my answer.

[lillybelle1]

I have been hoping for Hillary Clinton to get the Secretary of State position since before the convention. Senator Clinton has the knowledge to do the job and knows how to get the job done. The republicans have such an irrational deep hatred of her that if she had been the democratic candidate, they would have gotten EVERYONE to vote against her. This is a way for this country to utilize her great talents to assist in world events.