McCain Staffer Crows At Idea Of Clinton In Cabinet

Over at the Weekly Standard, McCain campaign blogger Michael Goldfarb explains why Republicans should be cheered by the prospect of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:

Clinton flipped on the war, but as the nomination slipped out of her reach last spring she spoke of the threats this country faces, and of the prescriptions offered by Obama, in language that would warm the hearts of neoconservatives (if we had them). She threatened to "obliterate" Iran in response to unprovoked aggression against Israel, she spoke of unconditional meetings with the leaders of rogue states as "irresponsible and, frankly, naive," and she castigated Obama's transparent saber-rattling on Pakistan ("last summer [Obama] basically threatened to bomb Pakistan, which I don't think was a particularly wise position to take."). On matters of diplomacy, Clinton's views are not so different from those held by John McCain and most Republicans -- and they are certainly well to the right of Obama.

Of course, if Clinton takes the job one expects she'll be loyal to her new boss. Though it would be extremely entertaining, we probably wouldn't see Madame Secretary working to undermine an Obama administration with recalcitrance and rogue diplomacy. But then Colin Powell was a dutiful soldier while inside the Bush administration and that still didn't prevent him from becoming a foil for the administration's opponents. It's not difficult to imagine Clinton performing a similar service for Republicans. She could be held up as the very model of a responsible Democrat, forced against her better judgment to partake in a series of reckless diplomatic escapades pursued by a more ideological president.

Clinton would be a fine Secretary of State, and she is likely to be a nuisance to Obama whether she is inside or outside of his administration, but as our top diplomat she could reprise a role that made Powell a kingmaker in this year's election. And perhaps she could even present the case for war with Iran to an insubordinate United Nations in the event that Obama's personal diplomacy somehow fails to deter the mullahs from their present course.

Read more about Hillary Clinton's Secretary of State prospects.

Comments

[sposton]

Many of you are making a tactical mistake of conflating neocons and republicans. They are not one and the same. Neoconservatism transcends our two main parties. Just because neocons were prominent in Bush administration does not mean they are just speaking for republicans. Michael Goldfarb is speaking as a neocon. Neocons are genuinely happy with Hillary and they are happy with Obama for choosing her. Neocons gravitate towards the power center. That is the true reason they are abandoning republican ship and trying to snuggle closer to democrats. Some of them will even stop calling themselves neocons because it is not helping them with their new friends - democrats.

[Petunia39]

Come on Obama, Please!!! Haver Mercy on us. No Clintonites in Foreign Policy. Some of us, the one's that were supporting you from the start, did so particularly because your foreign policy views were different from Hillary's. She brings Nothing to the table.

[espressobeans]

Name one thing he has done recently for the progressives who got him elected.

[sposton]

I can name a few: nada, naught, nil, nix, nothing, null, zero, zilch, zip, zippo. But don't worry Obama is brilliant and I trust him fully to trick Clintonistas in doing what he really wants done - progressive agenda. ;-)

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

THE BREAKIN CONNECTION IS UNBREAKABLE!

[GlenRast]

This is hilarious.in so many ways

Does anyone care what a McCain staffer thinks. Judging from the campaign they ran they have a combined IQ of 10

If this is the GOP's bright side they're in even worse shape than people thought. I didn't think that was possible.

[BadgerinNJ]

"...and she is likely to be a nuisance to Obama whether she is inside or outside of his administra­tion...per­haps she could even present the case for war with Iran...."

Just how do these people define putting country first. They do not care about the country, if they did they would not want to see Obama fail. And, they would not be clamoring for war.

Sad, very sad.

[Shrinath]

I am glad that you didn't miss the punch line. The neocons are nothing but war mongers.

[timberdoodle]

The GOP are simply blowing in the wind right now with no idea what direction they should be going so people like this are just making statements to add dissention in the ranks of Americans hoping something will stick. Just like Rush Limbaugh blaming Obama for the current recession. No minds no conscience and no hope.

[Bluedog12]

McCain staffer? Irrelevant ramblings of junior republican rumpswabs deserve no ink.

[bbridges1962]

She will do a great job...she may not have experience in this field, but she is intelligent and logical.

[sposton]

There seem to be three main categories of Obama's supporters:

1. Disappointed. (unappreciative malcontents) ;-)

2. Ecstatic about his choices of Emanuel and Hillary.. (former Hillary supporters, Republicans, neocons, AIPAC members)

3. In blissful denial of reality and dangerously close to being members of a cult of personality. (Obama is brilliant, Obamas is omniscient, Obama would never do that...)

[dulcis]

You seem to miss the majority, appreciative and confident that Obama is an intelligent and moderate person, who will make solid decisions, most of the time.

It's amazing that Goldfarb actually cited the bit about Obama's willingness to meet leaders of rogue states without conditions, and then claimed it is evidence of naivety. That whole bit stemmed from a single response off the cuff to a single questioner, and never reflected Obama's knowledge or attitudes, but got blown way out of proportion.

[sposton]

The majority is just a variant of number 3 for now. With time many will migrate to number one category.

[Topfeeder]

Possibly this poster is:
1. In mom's basement in pj's
2. Karl Rove
3. Huffing computer duster

[sposton]

I am one of those unappreciative malcontents.

[proudloudlib]

What amazes me is their openness about their intent. No matter what happens, they will find a way to fight it. They have no intention of "reaching across the aisle" regardless of what Mr. Obama does, and they don't care who knows it.

[GrkAm]

Like, I REALLY care what Republicans have to say or think? Eight years of the worst administration I can remember leaving this country in ruins, and I am going to care?

The topper is the inept decision to put hate monger Palin on the GOP ticket.

NOPE! Just don't care.

[JackND]

True, but it is worth noting that it is largely Republicans that are jumping up and down about Hillary Clinton being at State.

Which right there tells you all you need to know about the wisdom of the pick.

[sposton]

There is wisdom in your thinking.

[Strywever]

Or, it could tell us all we need to know about the wisdom of Republicans, couldn't it? Unless, of course, you trust their opinions more than Obama's? Personally, I don't. That's why I voted for him.

[KeepMeLearning]

All I had to see was Michael Goldfart's name and that was enough for me.

Did anyone see Rick Sanchez clean Goldfart's clock about a month ago? It was precious--the guy is a big nothing, as is anything that emanates from his mouth.

[sposton]

Michael Goldfart is not writing for you or me. He is writing to people whose thinking resonates with neoconservative thinking.

[KeepMeLearning]

I understand that. But his 15 minutes were up long ago.

[vicbennett]

I dont expect that she will be loyal to her new boss. I suspect OBAMA picked her for the same reason he met with McCain.

Make the ones who used dirty underhanded taktics to work for you. Keep your friends close and you enimies closer. Secretary of State is easy to keep tabs on. Remember how BUSH used Colin Powell. Colin Powell is respectful but Bush used him to do wrong!

McCain and maybe Clinton have no doubt sometype of backstabing nature so they can never be fully trusted. Itøs easier to watch people you don't trust! Just send them out to talk to the nay sayers. Who else best to do so?

[sposton]

Collin Powell was a military man, accustomed to follow instructions of a commander-in-chief for all his professional life. Hillary is not.

[Strywever]

She would be serving at the pleasure of the President. I suspect he will be able to handle her, just as he was able to handle her during the primary, when he had no authority over her whatsoever.

[SoD1]

One of the MOST half-baked, half-truth, incoherent war-mongering little political tacticians ,“friendly” to the Republican mafia writers, Michael Goldfarb. I have so far read on Huffingtonpost.
Evidently, I was correct, the republican pundits and enablers – no matter what they say publicly- are praying and already betting on Lieberman and Mata Hillary to continue to do their funda-'mental ill conservative deeds. Obama will not be able to archive any change, if he continues to surround himself with few of the most corrupted as dubious personalities in whole American politics.