Obama To Name Clinton Secretary Of State Monday

A deal with Bill Clinton over his post-White House work helped clear the way for Hillary Rodham Clinton to join President-elect Barack Obama's national security team as secretary of state, reshaping a once-bitter rivalry into a high-profile strategic and diplomatic union.

Obama was to be joined by the New York senator at a Chicago news conference Monday, Democratic officials said, where he also planned to announce that Defense Secretary Robert Gates would remain in his job for a year or more and that retired Marine General James L. Jones would serve as national security adviser.

The officials requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly for the transition team.

To make it possible for his wife to become the top U.S. diplomat, the officials said, former President Clinton agreed:

_to disclose the names of every contributor to his foundation since its inception in 1997 and all contributors going forward.

_to refuse donations from foreign governments to the Clinton Global Initiative, his annual charitable conference.

_to cease holding CGI meetings overseas.

_to volunteer to step away from day-to-day management of the foundation while his wife is secretary of state.

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_to submit his speaking schedule to review by the State Department and White House counsel.

_to submit any new sources of income to a similar ethical review.

Bill Clinton's business deals and global charitable endeavors had been expected to create problems for the former first lady's nomination. But in negotiations with the Obama transition team, the former president agreed to several measures designed to bring transparency to those activities.

"It's a big step," said Sen. Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who said he plans to vote to confirm Clinton.

The former president long had refused to disclose the identities of contributors to his foundation, saying many gave money on condition that they not be identified.

Lugar said there would still be "legitimate questions" raised about the former president's extensive international involvement. "I don't know how, given all of our ethics standards now, anyone quite measures up to this who has such cosmic ties, but ... hopefully, this team of rivals will work," Lugar said.

Obama's choice of Hillary Clinton was an extraordinary gesture of good will after a year in which the two rivals competed for the Democratic nomination in a long, bitter primary battle.

They clashed repeatedly on foreign affairs. Obama criticized Clinton for her vote to authorize the Iraq war. Clinton said Obama lacked the experience to be president and she chided him for saying he would meet with leaders of nations such as Iran and Cuba without conditions.

The bitterness began melting away in June after Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed Obama. She went on to campaign for him in his general election contest against Republican Sen. John McCain.

Advisers said Obama had for several months envisioned Clinton as his top diplomat, and he invited her to Chicago to discuss the job just a week after the Nov. 4 election. The two met privately Nov. 13 in Obama's transition office in downtown Chicago.

Clinton was said to be interested and then to waver, concerned about relinquishing her Senate seat and the political independence it conferred. Those concerns were largely resolved after Obama assured her she would be able to choose a staff and have direct access to him, advisers said.

Remaining in the Senate also may not have been an attractive choice for Clinton. Despite her political celebrity, she is a relatively junior senator without prospects for a leadership position or committee chairmanship anytime soon.

Some Democrats and government insiders have questioned whether Clinton is too independent and politically ambitious to serve Obama as secretary of state. But a senior Obama adviser has said the president-elect had been enthusiastic about naming Clinton to the position from the start, believing she would bring instant stature and credibility to U.S. diplomatic relations and the advantages to her serving far outweigh potential downsides.

Clinton "is known throughout the world, very smart, a little harder line than Senator Obama took during the campaign," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a close McCain friend and adviser who is on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, said the Clintons will have to tread carefully to avoid the appearance of conflicts.

"The presumption will be that both Secretary of State Clinton and former President Clinton will be very judicious in what they take on because there's a new dimension here," Reed said. "I think they've put up a good framework. This disclosure, this transparency is the right way to go."

Lugar and Reed both spoke on ABC's "This Week." Graham was on "Fox News Sunday."

(This version CORRECTS James M. Jones to James L. Jones.)

Comments

[cahosu]

Article One, Section Six of the U.S. Constitution says:

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

Essentially, you cannot take a job if the salary was increased during your current congressional term. And the salary for cabinet officials has gone up in the past year. Even if it is lowered back down, constitutional scholars say that may not be enough to fix the problem.

The question is whether this would be an issue at confirmation - if Clinton is nominated to the post - and who would raise it. Senators traditionally grant their colleagues some deference and it could be considered politics at its worst if Republicans try to block her nomination with this argument. But senators may be loathe to vote for something scholars tell them is unconstitutional.

But the moment Obama makes the nomination, he violates the Constitution.

[frantaylor]

You fail to note the "Saxbe fix"

[macbabe]

will be renamed the "Hillary fix"

[jayjola]

As a constitutional law professor, former president of Harvard Law Review, magna cum laude graduate of Harvard School of Law, a practicing attorney, and having consulted with counsel, I am certain that PE Obama is well aware of the constitutionality of any proposed action.

[macbabe]

wrong... do some more homework!!!

[scjk67]

if she's hired to be SoS, she will give up her senate seat to become a civilian. so there no law is broken.

[Myshkin57]

Yeah... it's a pretty easy workaround.

[McChimp]

Is your tinfoil hat on tight enough?

[Yermammy]

I'm still wondering how the lawsuit against the Clinton's is going in California. I guess that will be part of the "packaging". "We're gonna need a bigger package" (to paraphrase Jaws).

[macbabe]

got to let it go, Obama has...
Clintons will take care of that IF needs to be taken care of.

[richmc]

Hillary'll do fine. Besides, she'll be in some foreign land for most of the time, she won't be able to run in 12. Anyway, she's too old, and she doesn't appear to take very good care of herself. And rememeber - things are so messed up right now, we need all hands on deck.

Besides, he brought back Sam Power, and she is brilliant. And hot.

[RadhaColalurver]

Is that the best you can muster? "Old and not-good looking." "Brilliant and hot."

If you're going to praise or vilify someone, at least do it on some basis of policy or position.

[EarthToZoey]

Sexism is alive and well.

[Carolab]

This was no "extraordinary gesture of goodwill". Obama had to name Hillary or the Clintons would sabotage him and she would run for 2012.

[McChimp]

Sounds right to me.

[Carolab]

Some people just don't seem to understand the extraordinary power the Clintons have.

[lizziekw]

Nah. President-elect Obama has the 2012 Democratic nomination in his pocket and he's had it there since November 4th.

But you are correct, it is not an "extraordinary gesture of goodwill" it is President-elect Obama choosing a well-qualified, experienced, hard-working, serious and internationally popular Secretary of State.

So she's not popular with some of the people who post on the internet. She's not losing sleep over it.

[McChimp]

It's not people posting over the internet she's not popular with, she's not popular with us who have been for Obama since day one mainly because of her.

But I've tried and tried with you. Let's agree to disagree without starting another bitter fight.

[HerbTee]

The Clintons are not popular with many people off the Internet too. But by all means, don't let that stop your blind hero worship of them.

[Myshkin57]

I don't have a ton against her, but Clinton's unpopular with a lot of people. Personally, I don't care for carpetbagging senators because it takes away from the spirit of REPRESENTING an area. How can someone who's only lived in a place for a short period of time then lives most of her time in D.C. possibly understand what is in the best interests of her constituents? She may be able to surmise a close approximation but I think it's pretty presumptuous to think that one is qualified to represent a large group of people based on a very small amount of information about them.

[Yermammy]

You're right. She'd still be fighting the primaries (STILL!) if he didn't agree to something. THIS is it. The Clinton's are like bedbugs. You see what a moral young lady they raised by the hedgefunding job she pursues. It's ALL about the scratch, folks. Nothing more.

[funnyguy]

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." That is the only possible explanation for making Hillary [and Bill] SoS.

[HerbTee]

Well, I am retired Army so I learned that old adage in a totally different light: Keep your friends and comrades close so together you can successfully k.i.l.l your enemies.

[pastgone]

After running a very safe and orderly campaign, Obama has suddenly become a gambler. He's gambling on Leiberman, he's gambling on Gates, and he's gambling on Clinton.

I think he has more to lose by making these bets than he realizes. And I don't see what he's really gaining, compared to simply making safe choices (such as Richardson for State).

I never worried about Obama's "elitism." But with these risky bets, I'm starting to sense a bit of arrogance.

[McChimp]

I believe the opposite, despite my disdain for Hillary. PE Obama can show how he can use those who disagreed with him to form an effective administration. Hopefully Hillary won't just use Sec of State purely for the photo ops and actually gets things accomplished for President Obama. She'll be serving at the pleasure of the President.

[EarthToZoey]

I almost wish I could hug you. =P

[NoDubya]

You sound like one of those people who would complain about anything.

[McChimp]

He probably believed that there were WMDs in Iraq, and that Saddam attacked us on 911. When will the s tupidity end?

[HerbTee]

You could not be more wrong about Obama. Even with his pick of HRC as SoS, he's still the same person and his own man. Some of us don't have to agree with his pick..but HE feels it's a smart pick. And that should be good enough for all of us. I am not happy with his pick of Hillary either. But I am not going to throw the man under the bus for a single Cabinet appointment when we have so much more to do and to concern ourselves with. If you cannot stand behind and support Obama on his choice of Clinton as SoS, then you were never a supporter of Obama to begin with. You're only want us to believe you are as an excuse to malign him.

[frantaylor]

Obama can either put Clinton in a position of responsibility and importance or he can let her stew in the Senate. Everyone is much better served by the former.

[nkqx57a]

First, I would like to congratulate Obama for the greatest of victories. He got his moneys worth from the Democrat Party Machine, ACORN, and all the other supporters of his campaign. Lies and deception won-out this time and once the truth is known President Obama will have a lot of explaining to do and will become history’s answer to; “WHY DID AMERICA IMPLODE ON ITS SELF”.

This election maybe a “first”, Obama will be this country’s first black president, but it certainly is not ground-shaking. It only confirms what many have known for years, the white-against-black racism is a relic of our past. And is only used by the race-baiters such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to extort money and favors for themselves; and to keep African-Americas dependent on the Democrats and Governments that will continue to “take from Peter and give it to Paul”, Paul will always vote for a Government that continues this policy.

I find it unbelievable that America would elect an unknown far left Liberal/Socialist as President of these United States of America. What have we done? Do we realize that we just enabled a far left Liberal/Socialist agenda upon ourselves? Our forefathers must be turning over in their graves. Mr. “HOPE AND CHANGE” with a total lack of grit will, both at home and aboard; be tested early and often. What if he fails these tests? Then WHAT…? Can we afford his failures?

[EarthToZoey]

Cutting and pasting from Townhall.com, are we?

Try making your own argument next time.

[lizziekw]

Oh my, a resident of Crazytown has popped in for a visit.

Hi, hon, come on in, have a cup of tea and take a breath. All will be well.

[McChimp]

Take your @$$ over to Fox Snooze.

[frenchie25]

do you think he attaches the aluminum foil to his ears or separate antennae?

[HerbTee]

Wow...a real nut job from the "Hater Brigade" is amongst us. Take off your hood and robe son and accept the fact that you have an African American president. Look Chicken Little, the sky hasn't fallen since he was elected either...imagine that. In case anyone hasn't told you, it's a brand new day. In the words of people like you who hurled out these insulting words to others who dared disagree with the so-called White entitled establishment: This is America...love it or leave it!

So, you don't want to live with or give any respect or credit to African Americans and their contributions and blood they've shed to help build this country? Then move your sorry raci$t a** over to isolated Greenland or to Iceland!! But be forewarned...even the Icelandic people would totally h.a.t.e worthless raci$t b.u.t.t floss like you!

[EarthToZoey]

I visited the Clinton Presidential Museum and Library today on my way through Little Rock. It's a beautiful structure and contains a wealth of interesting Clinton prop.aganda -- err, memorabilia. Seriously, I recommend a visit even if you disagree with their politics. The LBJ Library in Austin, TX is also one of the best.

Oh, and considering the fact that all of the moaning over HRC as SoS is moot since it's practically a done deal, it may be a good idea to go ahead and wish her well. After all, a job well done for her is a job well done for all of us.

[EarthToZoey]

Sorry about the double post. It seems "p.r.o.p.a­.g.a.n.d.a­" is a word_filte­r_trigger. Go figure.

[EarthToZoey]

I visited the Clinton Presidential Museum and Library today on my way through Little Rock. It's a beautiful structure and contains a wealth of interesting Clinton propaganda -- err, memorabilia. Seriously, I recommend a visit even if you disagree with their politics. The LBJ Library in Austin, TX is also one of the best.

Oh, and considering the fact that all of the moaning over HRC as SoS is moot since it's practically a done deal, it may be a good idea to go ahead and wish her well. After all, a job well done for her is a job well done for all of us.

[HerbTee]

Well, I supported Barack Obama early on and I thoroughly trusted his judgment so far. Much to my chagrin, it appears he's choosing Hillary Clinton as his SoS. Well, so be it. I am sure the Clintonites and PUMAs are happy with the choice. I just hope Obama doesn't regret it later. I still feel both Clintons are untrustworthy snakes in the grass. That's MY personal opinion and I don't care if you Clinton lovers or PUMAs like it or not! If Obama feels he can be a snake charmer in spite of everything else he has to do to revive our country, let him have at it.

Out of all his current and potential Cabinet picks, this SoS pick is the ONLY position I totally disagree with. I guess it was bound to happen that he would do something I strongly disagree with. In fairness, I suppose Hillary deserves a chance. I just hope Obama watches his back very closely when dealing with the Clintons.

[McChimp]

Agree 100%.

[EarthToZoey]

Thanks for the post. We should always keep a skeptical and inquiring eye on those who hold power, even the ones we do feel we can trust.

Personally, I'm not a "Clinton lover" or "PUMA" -- I'm just a free-thinking individual who admires both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. I appreciate those, like yourself, who disagree with Hillary Clinton constructively while still wishing her success. As I said above, her success is our success.

[HerbTee]

Thanks Zoey. I know we've had our clashes over Hillary in the past. But I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and let bygones be bygones as best I can. I still have a major trust issue with the Clintons...plus I am still embittered with the way the Clintons conducted themselves in the campaign, especially against African Americans. I think both Clintons have damaged that bond with most AAs forever. But if Hillary can work as a loyal SoS for Obama and if Bill behaves himself by not shooting his mouth off unscripted, then I am willing to give this a chance in my own mind and I truly hope it works out for Hillary and Barack. Perhaps they can redeem themselves in the eyes of AAs who no longer support them.

I hope I am proven totally wrong about the Clintons working with Obama and I'll come on HP to announce my support for them if I am proven wrong.

[McChimp]

For all the Hillary supporters on here trying to shut the dissenters down:

Cesaria posted:
Oh good god. Seriously. Hillary Clinton and all that comes with her is not enough to make Obama supporters distrust, dislike Obama or regret their vote. Obama, however, for some cannot change people's individual feelings and thoughts regarding Hillary and this pick. None of us can change it but expression is allowed isn't it? And expression without some people having the nerve to question our faith and support for the incoming President and his administration of all silly things. People voted for Obama, but as with anyone and anything, there is never going to be 100% agreement nor are Obama supporters into mob mentality/group thought. My goodness, you'd think people are committing some offense by stating their honest feelings/thoughts about this and other picks. Hillary alone is not big or important enough to color this administration, one that hasn't even been inaugurated - people who like and dislike the pick are stating so, just as they are for all the other cabinet positions so far revealed. That's it. It's not anything any deeper than that.

Frenchie, lizziekw, etc you could learn from reading a post like this, maybe we should DISAGREE without being DISAGREEABLE and quit with the childish back and forth?

[wezcoz]

Obama's Inauguration Day Poem, (click or copy/paste address) Go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ZRYgX_F6Y



(You may have to hit refresh-if you get an unavailable message)

[MeetJohnDoe]

Gee, will that mean his former foreign policy advisor will stop calling Senator "a monster"?

That might be step one towards post-partisanship.

[Lion24]

Samantha Powers was correct. Hillary will prove it soon.

[lizziekw]

It's POWER, not Powers. And she was wrong, or in her own words - inexcusable.

[Yermammy]

You are so RIGHT. She stated the truth and you must NEVER say the truth in Politics. LOL.

[NotMcCain]

One of the most impressive things I know about Hillary now is that OBAMA is genuinely impressed enough by her to want her in his Cabinet--in the top post, no less.

This, after a bruising (some would say unethical) campaign on the Clintons' teams' part.

Really, it's a HUGE compliment.....

[angryliberal]

Unethical? Did the Clinton's accuse themselves of being racists?

[Yermammy]

No, of course they didn't. But they are. They treated black people fine, until one decided to run against her majesty. Then the gloves came off and Hillary got really, disgustingly dirty.

[JerryMerry]

This is ex-pat has been living abroad since the 1968 Chicago convention. When Nixon got the nod I left the country. Now after 40 yrs. I actually loved my county again,,,even felt homesick. Then just when things were looking up... it all came crashing down again.

And, this time the nod goes to Hillary.

[canucklivinginUSA]

So base solely on that appointment things are bad again? Makes no sense whatsoever! Seriously, you need to get yourself checked

[Yermammy]

Why, don't you history books in Canada? I worked the CP Railroad up there for three years and they're a pretty smart bunch (I see exceptions, once in awhile...). Hillary was a "Goldwater Girl" back in the day. She STILL is. The biggest myth in this country is thinking Bill and Hillary Clinton are real Democrats. They've just become old school Washington insiders that will change their vote in a heartbeat, if it's expedient or there's some major scratch involved. So keep them silly blinder's on and watch as nothing consequential gets done, from all the triangulating and maneuvering. Or WORSE, watch foreign policy start more crap than we have to contend with already. The only good thing to come of this is the warhawks won't be able to empire build any more, what with the looming depression coming (that would be the logical thought, but we'll be in another war soon and we will fail)

[McChimp]

Watching these immature Hillary supporters here mock me, my handle, call me PUMA and hater, I've realized why the neocons wanted Hillary Clinton as Secretary of state: what better way to make the Democrats go against one another and cause infighting within the party?

I've said it plenty times, I'm willing to disagree without being disagreeable, but the Hillary supporters here feel more like being egotistical with the dissenters and shutting them down rather than moving forward, sounding and acting like Bush Republicans.

I disagree with this decision, but wish Hillary Clinton good luck, I hope she proves me wrong as well as the neocons. To those who mock my name (frenchie and lizziekw) let's agree to disagree, what's more important: an egotistical battle, or supporting the President elect and his agenda?

[Jahmekyah]

Yawn. Why are you posting about yourself?

[thankulord13]

I know, what a loser!