Clinton: Obama Should Save Indonesia Trip Until He Needs A Break

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says President Barack Obama is so loved in Indonesia and his job is so difficult that he might want to put off a visit there until he needs a break from the stresses of work.

Indonesians claim Obama as one of their own and are eager for him to return to the country where he lived for four years as a child, but Clinton told a group of civic leaders in Jakarta on Wednesday that her advice would be to hold off for a rainy day.

"I have already been asked over and over again: When is he coming? Now, I know a little bit about the difficulties of being a president," the former first lady said to laughter from the audience.

"The president has to cope with all kinds of pressures and hardships and challenges, so for a president, knowing he could go somewhere in the world where he is so loved as he is loved in Indonesia, he may just want to wait until he really needs that visit," she said to more laughter.

"You could lavish on him all of the love that you are telling me you feel for him," Clinton said.

Speculation has run high that Obama might make an early visit to Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic nation, perhaps to deliver a major speech he wants to give in a Muslim capital. Clinton did not speak to the possible address, but added on a serious note that she would tell the president "to look for the opportunity to come as soon as his schedule permits."

Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told reporters after meeting Clinton that his nation would welcome a visit from Obama. "President Obama has a very strong constituency in Indonesia; of course, without the right to vote," he chuckled.

"We cannot wait long," he said with a smile, noting that Indonesians shared the "joy" of Americans when he was elected president.

Obama is wildly popular in Indonesia and among those who turned out at the airport to welcome Clinton were 44 children from his former elementary school, singing traditional folk songs and waving Indonesian and U.S. flags.

Comments

[wagthedog1001]

Glad to hear a positive response from abroad. Finally.

[PhilipB]

Hillary is outstanding in this job!
Go hillary!

[FebM]

Go Hilary you are great! Now to the China but be good remind them again, womens rights are human rights, children's rights are human rights. No lead in milk and no poison in our cat food.

[LovingHope]

Great intelligent, woman. She is so wise. Obama's smart move in surrounding himself with people that matter. I'm hoping for Howard Dean to join us soon.

[scorpioleidy]

Wow! Just last year, when it became apparent BO would become the Dem nominee over HRC, everyone on this site thought I was crazy for even suggesting he make her his SOS. Funny how things turned out, isn't it?! Even when we don't fully understand what/why President Obama is doing something, it turns out right in the end!

I think she is fantastic in this role - go HRC! - and our president can do no wrong in my eyes (love!)!

[independentjukebox]

It's funny . The other day Obama was saying ' there are some die hard obama fans that will always vote for me , but if I don't show positive move towards helping us get out of this crisis , I wont be elected again.

The comments from his die hard teenage voters can be read here. they are attacking Hillary over what is openly a light moment. all they( die hard obama fans) have to see is the word HILLARY in any subject header and they wind themselves up in tizzy over it.

[idisVA]

Obama Revolution: Peace Corps to return to Indonesia after three-dacade plus absence

[Erdgeist]

I think Hillary makes a great SOS. She behaves like a real human being -- not someone working for the dark side of the force. President Obama picked the perfect SOS.

[toocoldout]

Who's the president again; I'm confused.

[wagthedog1001]

It's President Obama.

[learnsomething]

WTH! Who does Hillary think she is. She needs to keep quiet.

[GeorgeP922]

Hello to any brain cells firing in there..........

This is a complimentary fluff piece.

Do you know how SIGNIFICANT it is that our president is loved in INDONESIA.

Make sure you wake for school on time tommorow, there is alot about geopolitics you need to learn.

[TruthfullyYours]

president obama is loved in indonesia just as he is loved in most parts of the world. remember the over one million people who gathered to hear him speak in germany during the presidential campaign? remember how the rest of the democratic world rejoiced when he won the election? even in most parts of the middle east?

the president knows he's got the eyes of the world, and that's why he's doing the very best he possibly could to elevate once more the stature of the U.S.A. to the rest of world.

[imjustawitchywoman]

I think that Hillary has genuinely become fond of our President.

She has a great sense of humor and I think she has the ability to make people feel comfortable and at ease.

I truly hated the way she ran her Campaign and disagreed how she tried to destroy Obama....

BUT.....Hillary and Bill have always been great American's who love this Country.

I think she will be an EXCELLENT SOS .

I have put the bad feelings that I developed during the Primary , to rest.

There is too much to get done to let these things hamper us.

It is starting to look like the Obama's and Clinton's have started developing a friendship that will help them all work together to make decisions to further our Country. A friendship based on respect and love for our Country.

I don't think she spoke out of turn.....I think she was showing her support for President Obama and I think she is entiteled to express herself.....joke around a bit.....and just totally be Hillary.

That is why people love her so much.

[JadeRain]

Umm the Secretary of State? A respected member of the Administration appointed by the President to ADVISE him on foreign affairs? Someone well respected in places where they don't vote for candidates based on whether or not they remind you of your mother telling you to eat your vegetables?
It's not her job to keep quiet, it's her job to represent Obama and she did it perfectly here, complimenting the Indonesians whilst not making any promises on his behalf for a future visit. It's called "states craft and diplomacy" in the West and "saving face" in the East.

[scorpioleidy]

Go back & read the article again - then simmer down! - this is a good thing!

[ebbtide]

Doesn't seem to me that Hillary Clinton should be telling Obama what to do and when to do it, especially to the press. If that is her opinion, she needs to advise Obama privately.. Just does not seem within protocol. Typical Hillary, look at me, me, me..

[Rigso]

get off it, secretaries of state can give their opinion and make a few jokes. Get over it Hater! Hillary is SoS, that earns her plenty of rights to speak out and talk about President visiting countries.

[learnsomething]

Hillary just wants attention. She can't stand it that she is not the president.

[ebbtide]

To the press? Wow, she certainly is more important ( in her mind) than Obama I guess, eh?

[Monrocsol]

Hillary is so much better than Obama. Remember when Obama said the very same thing as Hillary in the debates? Hillary has a mind, Obama has got a mouth.

[learnsomething]

Monrocsol....Your statement is so ridiculous.

[GeorgeP922]

I remember that too, than she lost Maryland and it was all over from there.

Obama went on to win 64% of the electoral votes, a historic landslide.

Then he WISELY picked Hillary as his secretary of state, one of the most powerful positions in the world.

Then 4 million people rushed DC for his innauguration, and people camp out for a chance to enter his town halls.

Yea I remember, and it is all good.

[ebbtide]

Well;, I suppose that he won the nomination because he does not have a mind? Feh. Her mind ran along the line of lies to the people--ie. her dodging sniper fire. Obama was gracious enough to appoint her SOS, but here she is definately stepping out of line. She is NOT more important than she is, and right now, she is the SOS and as far as I can determine, she has done nothing of import. George Mitchell seems more attuned than she. She is fuming because she has not been in the headlines and Huff po is the only place I have seen any reporting about her. Do the job, Hillary and meet with your president to discuss your opinions. Don't blab it all over the press about your perceived shortcomings of this man, your president, under whom you serve.

[EgyptianMysterySchool]

I also remember when he said during a debate that he looked forward to having Hillary be one of his advisers. Here's the reminder for you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhPxSm9Es0w

[Yman]

Missed the part about the audience laughing? It's called a "joke".

Ask someone who doesn't have CDS ..... they'll explain it.

[Patricia84]

Aw, cute.

[learnsomething]

Nothing cute about what an attention wh*re does.

[Yman]

We'll defer to your expertise on the subject.

[happycat]

I am beginning to really like you.