Hillary Clinton Today Show VIDEO: Nobel For Obama's "Attitude Toward America's Role In The World"

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WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says she thinks President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize because of "his attitude toward America's role in the world."

"His willingness to really kind of challenge everyone ... restores a kind of image and appreciation of our country," Clinton said in an NBC "Today" show interview broadcast Monday.

Clinton said she didn't think winning the award would have any effect on Obama's deliberations over what to do next in Afghanistan, including the question of whether to send large numbers of additional troops into a country where violence has recently surged.

"I think that the president makes each decision on the merits," she said in the interview taped during her visit to Zurich, Switzerland. She said the Nobel award is "not going to influence" the tough decisions Obama faces on Afghanistan.

"Every one of those deaths and all of the injuries of any our men and women in uniform weigh heavily on all us," Clinton said. "I want to guarantee all your listeners that this process will result in a very well thought-out approach." She said she recognizes some are demanding a precipitate withdrawal while others believe there should be a substantial infusion of forces.

"Neither extreme is really focused on the situation, as we are," Clinton told interviewer Ann Curry.

Asked about speculation that, intentionally or otherwise, she now projects too low a profile in heading up the U.S. diplomatic establishment, Clinton called that charge "absurd" and said it is "so at variance with what I do every day."

"Maybe there is some misunderstanding which needs to be clarified," she said. "I believe in delegating power ... I am not one of those people who feel I have to have my face in front of the newspaper and TV every day ... It's just the way I am."

"My goal is to be a very positive force to implement the kind of changes that the president and I believe are in the best interest of country, but that doesn't mean it has to be me, me, me all the time. I like lifting people up."

She answered "no" bluntly – but smilingly – when asked if she would ever run again for president.

"This is a great job," Clinton said. "This is a 24/7 job, and I'm looking forward to retirement at some point."

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Comments

[klondiker]

Observe, ladies and gentlemen, the air-headed and empty-suit interviewer, Ann Curry!

She has close to 10 minutes with the SoS, and this is what she asks. Nothing about Ireland, where she was yesterday. Nothing about her meeting with Miliband. Nothing about her upcoming meeting with Lavrov. Nothing about the historic agreement between Turkey and Armenia, which the US just helped to secure.

It's seems as if she came to this interview with ZERO preparation. "Hey, I'm interviewing Hillary Clinton today! What shall I ask her? Will she ever run for president again? There, interview prep done." These are the kinds of questions I would expect a high school journalist to ask.

[2Bfair]

Exactly, two HUGE egos with no substance waltzing around each other makes for a bad interview.

[lbicomber]

You mean like if M@ureen D0wd interviewed Obama?

[Halfwit]

The next time she has a chance to run, she will be nearly 70. Of course she won't run again.

[2Bfair]

At 70, will she have less ego and better judgment?

[lbicomber]

Compared to who .... Obama?!?! The guy who wrote was supposed to write a book about race relations and turned the book into an autobiography? The guy who , even AFTER the fact, couldn't say how he would have voted on the AUMF?

[northstar11]

put her on the supreme court.

[2Bfair]

or a least nominate her so all the allegations of Rose Law firm corruption can be surfaced again, and the right wing can go bananas opposing it, and the nation can be needlessly distracted for months and months. ...or maybe better, just nominate and confirm someone qualified. just a thought.

[wreckdiver]

"Allegations"? "ALLEGATIONS"?!?!? LOLOLOLOLOL......

You mean like 0rly Taitz's "allegations"?

You two have SO much in common.

[marecek]

In response to Hillary Clinton's assertion that she will never again run for President, I think we it would be appropriate to quote our new celebrity far-right wingnut, Joe Wilson:

YOU LIE!!!!

[northstar11]

its a womans prerogative to change her mind ------those changes are not lies.

[wreckdiver]

Based on WHAT?

Just because Obama lied about it?

[2Bfair]

We know Hillary, she remembers what she wants to remember, denies tne rest, or oops "misspeaks in the moment." She is so accustomed to safety of "he said, she said" deniablity.

Will she ever learn that we are in the 21st Century, the digitial age with instant access to proof? video, news archives, transcripts, google searches, DNA evidence.

[rissole]

I'm guessing that Hillary Clinton will be the first one to announce that she is bailing out of the Obama administration. And I believe that will happen well before 2012.

[Kevins]

What a strange bit of made-up information.

[2Bfair]

he said "guess" ... it was not offered as information, just an opinion.

[marecek]

Why exactly would she do that? Or are you just basing this on the "fact" that Obama is an "empty suit" and a disaster.

[2Bfair]

Let's hope she resigns, "loans" herself $50 million or so from Bill's "speaking and consulting fees" with the Saudis and other foreign business interests, and launches yet another leaderless, failed presidential campagin.

[wreckdiver]

It won't happen, but it would be nice to have a competent POTUS.

BTW ..... as opposed to Obama's "leaderless, failed" administration?

[NikkiT]

Hillary will run again (imo), she simply has no reason at all to say so right now. If she said "yes", then THAT would be the headline news and that is not what she or the administration want to focus on right now, so there is no reason for her to answer any other way then a definite "No". Ann Curry's interview was kind of stupid, really. Just 2 days ago, Hillary was in Zurich to oversee the signing of the Turkey-Armenia accord. The two sides would not sign the accord due to "wording" in the accord, Hillary successfully negotiated this between the two sides. Why didn't Ann Curry ask her about this? Focus on stupid stuff like "are you being marginalized" is just dumb. I've been watching Hillary for years and I can see she is NOT being marginalized AT ALL. In fact, she's been elevated (imo) to one of Obama's closest counselors.

[dessertsfirst]

Mrs. Clinton has grown in stature in my eyes, since becoming Sec of State. She has matured a great deal and she is incredibly smart. While it is true we haven't seen much of her on TV, it is certain that she has our President's ear. When the appropriate time comes around, it's possible (if all the stars align, so to speak), that Mrs. Clinton could be induced to run for the presidency again, and I believer she would handily win the next time around. but the key words would be: if the stars align.... which means in part, that the economic woes are fixed, health care reform is done, the banks are behaving themselves, and Afghanistan has been"fixed", and our troops are home...

[rissole]

She's certainly grown.

[2Bfair]

very impolite to make a comment about her growth in stature.

[wreckdiver]

Did you see MO in those shorts?

[2Bfair]

What was with Hillary on that Today Show interview? Seriously, when Ann Curry asked her about being marginalized this adminstration, Hillary looked like her eyeballs were going to pop out. Take a look at the video. I've never noticed that about her before.... is she bug-eyed like that routinely, or was this unusual?

And then when asked about whether she would run for president again.... ohhhhh the cackle.

This was not a good appearence for her.

[fem56]

She hates being asked that.

[wreckdiver]

You say that about EVERY appearance she makes, which is funny, since you keep fantasizing about her retirement.

"Cackle"? You must be getting her confused with MO ....

[2Bfair]

I have never noticed Hillary being so bug-eyed, seriously. Never mentioned it before. But this was so obvious. Could be be medication? What causes that? So pronounced. Did you look at the video?

[2Bfair]

btw, no confusion about Hillary's trade mark cackle, it is so plastic, forced,contrived. Amy Poehler capatured it so well on SNL. When you hear it you know Hillary is "dodging bullets Bosnia again."

[vascopyjama]

Go back and look at the video when she was asked a misinterpreted question in Africa. Her eyes looked really freaky. I can see the Republicans using that during her campaign.

[Tommygun264]

Her campaign? What campaign? When Ms. Clinton says flatly that she does not intend on running for President again, I believe her. Hillary Clinton has recovered nicely since the 2008 campaign, accepting the position as Secretary of State with dignity and grace. But let's not forget the toll the campaign took on her. The final weeks of the primary season were not exactly tempered with pragmatism. In fact there were moments where physical, mental and emotional exhaustion had combined with raw ambition and a sense of entitlement that during periods of intoxication brought on by extreme adulation, sanity was left behind. I do not think Ms. Clinton would want to put herself in the position to experience those moments again.

[2Bfair]

vascopyjama, thanks. I will find that video. I guess it was the close up on the Today video that made is stand out so much. Bizarre. Talk about "non-verbal" communication.

[Principaldad]

I see a lot of comments about Obama winning for "not being Bush". I want to look at that a bit. In a roundabout way, it has some truth to it.

Most great leaders are created by the times in which they live. If sIavery had died out in the 1840's, Lincoln would have been a footnote in history, just another president. So too is Obama defined by the times in which he serves. He took over a country that was openly endorsing torture and which had a policy of waging pre-emptive war. He immediately changed that and he has also managed to dial down the rhetoric and posturing in a way that no president has done in decades.

It is also easy to dismiss the ease of "not being Bush". However, nothing is ever easy in American politics. The flack that Obama got just from ending torture was outrageous. His world tour, which is largely responisble for strong gains in the image of the US and a calming of international nerves was met with ridicule in the US.

Yes, Obama is not Bush, and that contributed to his win. However, it contributed to his win because he is very decidedly not Bush. In fact, he is less Bush than any other recent president. and possibly less Bush than any other world leader in recent memory.

[whiskeytangofred]

I'll vote for Hillary for President in 2016.

[dre7861]

I agree - I would vote for her in 2016. The way she has handled herself as Secretary of State has warmed my oppinion of her considerably. Now if she would only loose that deadweight of a husband!

[wreckdiver]

You mean the only two-term Democratic POTUS in the last half-century? The one that left office as the most popular POTUS in modern history? The one who's still tremendously popular here AND abroad?

Strange definition of "dead weight"...

[2Bfair]

Sometimes symbolic write-in votes make you feel better?

[wreckdiver]

It wouldn't be "symbolic", like say ......

.... basing your vote on "Hope", or Obama's NPP.

[Matt7]

eweqo said: "obama won because of his anti-American attitude."

No, THIS is an anti-American attitude:

. calling your President a terrorist, racist, communist and every other kind of negative -ist you can think of, ALL because you can't abide a black liberal in office
. perpetuating hatred, dissension, division, rebellion among your countrymen
. refusing to serve in the military because you "question" the President's citizenship
. preventing your fellow Americans from gaining clarity and information from their elected politicians, on major pieces of legislation that will affect their daily lives
. pretending to protest unfair taxes, but using the occasion to hurl racial and other slurs at the President
. condoning a political party's attempt to blackmail a Supreme Court Justice into supporting your agenda before they will confirm her nomination
. cheering your country's loss/failure to win the 2016 Olympics, a prestigious, world-class, multi-billion dollar economic opportunity for your country
. SIDING WITH THE TALIBAN and Iran in denouncing America's President's nomination and receipt of the coveted and world-renown Nobel Award
. continually disrespecting the Office and the person of the President in words and actions
. obstructing the progress of the duly elected President and his Administration
. verbalizing and repeating your desire for YOUR President, the leader of YOUR country to FAIL.

THAT is un-American, that is sick, and THAT is what characterizes the Republican Party.

Any questions?

[KillgoreTrout43]

Very well said.

[Michigan-Woman]

WOW!!! Very well said, indeed!

Matt7 really knows how to tell it like it is.

Good for him.

[Clearing-Brush]

Big applause and plenty of woop woops!

[moles]

Spot on Matt.

[EvasDaddy]

Wow. You are one unequivocally straightforward guy. Thanks for saying what would have taken me 1000 words, and saying it much better!

[Principaldad]

Well stated and true on all points.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Just think, HilRod. It could've been yours had you not voted for King George W's w@r. Funny thing, Democratic primary voters don't seem to like w@r. Apparently, they're of a different mindset than the Nobel Peace Prize Pickers.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Hillary and the rest of Congress were lied to. First of all the vote was not to declare war, but to disarm Saddam. We were told he had WMD. Cheney even said he knew where they were. We were told the operation would last 6 days, six weeks, I doubt six months. We were told the the disarmament would cost 80 billion, tops. We were also told that Iraqi oil would pay for everything. All lies.

[JohnFromCensornati]

"We were told he had WMD."

...by people who we knew were li@rs. We also had more credible people telling us that he did not.

Yes, they were all lies and some us of believed they were lies at the time and I believe that includes her.

[2Bfair]

the vote gave Bush authority to invade Iraq which he used to start a elective, needless, dishonest, horrendously long and distructive war.

[billobasher]

Obama's approval rating is clearly trending back upwards. How can this be if the tea party movement is sucha "groundswell?"

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html

[IAM4CLINTON]

Excellent piece on Sec.Hillary Clinton's heroic efforts in sealing the peace deal between Armenia and Turkey. Way to go Hillary ! Congratulations !

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.8d7d5f00e10f34124d253754c8f59ddf.261&show_article=1

[2Bfair]

nice try.

[wreckdiver]

Nice "try"? The word "try" implies an unsuccessful attempt (like say, ...... Nice "try" at getting the Olympics to come to Chicago), whereas the S0S was successful.

The truth hurts, huh?

[Tugar]

THANK YOU HILLARY.......

GW'S ATTITUDE CERTAINLY DIDN'T WIN HIM, OR AMERICA ANY AWARDS !

[KillgoreTrout43]

Bush got two awards. The Size Nine Awards. The left one and the right one.

[JFaye]

I like the "Size Nine's" Award ...

[Altruth]

Sure did!

[Kevins]

Sarah Palin also got two awards. The booby prize.

[fallingsky]

but his actions kept the USA the safest on the planet since 9/11 ( remember 9/11 , it was orchestrated by Islamo terrorists, not Pres Bush )

[KillgoreTrout43]

WOW! You still believe that? 9/11 happened on his watch. Then he took his eye off of Afghnistan (were the real terrorists were/are) and put our military strength and billions of dollars into a war with a country that never attacked us, or even threaten to do so.

[Altruth]

What happened before 911? Remember 911 happend on Bush's watch while he was trying to read My Pet Goat!

[KillgoreTrout43]

Iraq didn't attack us either.

[Deman]

Do you know how funny that sounds? His actions kept us safest since 9/11?

That's like a doctor saying "I haven't lost a patient since last week."

[amanaceo]

hmmm...