John Kerry: Clinton Will Be Approved As Sec. Of State

WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kerry says Secretary of State designee Hillary Rodham Clinton has done a "terrific" job fielding questions from senators.

Kerry told NBC's "Today" show on Wednesday that he expects Clinton's nomination will be approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday. Clinton spent much of Tuesday testifying at a confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill.

Kerry is the new chairman of that Senate committee. The Massachusetts Democrat says that Clinton has been very clear about how the incoming administration of Barack Obama will proceed on such major issues as Iran, nuclear proliferation and China.

Kerry himself had been considered a top contender for the post of secretary of state in an Obama administration.

Comments

[stell]

As if there were any doubt about the rubber stamping.

[troykendal]

May the force be with you.

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

NOW ALL U HAVE 2 DO IS WORK ON YOUR OWN IMAGE :)

[HeavyHitter]

Hillary is amazing, and we need amazing right now. She is taking to this job like a duck to water. Just give her what she needs and get out of the way!

[ebanks84]

I am so proud of Hillary for being a "team" player with Obama. She will do a wonderful job as Secretary of State and will represent the US in the best light possible.

[EllisWyatt]

It's a love fest. She's qualified. Can we now talk about the tax evading Treasury designee?

[AnnfromCA]

*chuckle*

True, and it is funny, isn't it?

He's in charge of the IRS? Oh my!

[fadetoblack]

Yeah, I think Obama better start fielding other candidates because the Geit is gonna run into some issues. Or at least he should, geez. Sorry I didn't pay my taxes, I forgot.

[Docbcs]

Even MSNBC's Chris Matthews, hardly a Clinton afficionado, commented on the remarkable breadth of knowledge that Sen. Clinton displayed during the hearings. Wolf Blitzer, however, on CNN's The Situation Room, reported the hearing's over a title that read "Clinton Power Grab". Turns out that he was referring to Sen. Clinton's goal of obtaining more resources and personnel at the State Department, so that diplomacy can once again be in the forefront of Amrica's engagement with the world, a goal suggested several weeks ago by Bob Gates, Sec. of Defense Bob Gates, and supported my numerous military leaders. Hardly a "power grab". I wonder why CNN had to headline it that way.

[AnnfromCA]

Because they need filler?

Obama is just realigning resources. She's not going to get anything that he hasn't decided he wants in the State department. I presume that he saw flaws in how Bush had things lined up.

A lot of this, I think, is just workstyle preferences on the part of the presidency.

[shedances]

Sen. Clinton did an excellent job ~ in my opinion ~ outlining the forthcoming Obama Administration's goals & strategies (as much as she could, in such a public-type forum) ~ and I hope it shows to others how serious Hillary Clinton herself is about restoring our diminished global reputation & our commitment to productive relationships with our world neighbors ... as well as addressing wars & how we approach the issue of terrorism.

Good for her!

[AnnfromCA]

I don't think it will work, and I'll tell you why. The global "opinion" isn't really that. It's the opinion of some countries who joined us in Iraq initially.

Obama will have the exact same problem. It's not going to be one bit sweeter with diplomacy, because.....and we all really know this......diplomacy won't work.

[checkitout]

Neither does torture, imperialism, dictatorships, fascism or war profiteering - not for long anyway. For reference, review the last 8 years. We can't occupy sovereign countries and then call them terrorists when they revolt. If you think the USA needs to be the world's bully then you are part of the problem.

[troika]

I had watched the entire confirmation hearing proceedings on C-Span yesterday. It was incredible to hear her answers to the various questions posed by the committee members. Her deep knowledge of foreign affairs and the smart and succinct answers makes me go back to the one question I still have in mind "Why was she not elected to be the commander-in-chief"? Moving past that, the senators on that committee from both sides of the aisle were clearly impressed with her knowledge and there were not more than two or three questions from each one of them. She will definitely make a TERRIFIC Secy. of State. Definitely no flaws in her answers. Now I go back to Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg wanting to be the senator. You cannot compare the two women on any front, infact is it is even unthinkable to do so. Sen. Clinton is only probably a decade older then Caroline but her resume speaks volumes about her achievements, capacity to accomplish even more in the coming years. She is a great asset to this country. I wish her all the best as the Secretary of State.

[NikkiT]

And the World will be a better place!!! Go Hillary!!