Why Hillary Clinton Will Restore America's Standing in the World
The authors argue that Senator Obama is the best candidate to restore America's standing and authority based on his "transformative personality, personal history and appeal."
Here's why they are wrong.
While personal appeal and oratorical skill are certainly helpful in building diplomatic ties and conveying goodwill, they aren't a substitute for strong relationships and demonstrated leadership on the international stage. And as valuable as Senator Obama's Kenyan roots and childhood in Indonesia are, these experiences are not, in fact, indicators of diplomatic skill or the knowledge of global affairs needed to navigate international relations in our treacherous world.
By contrast, Hillary Clinton has been practicing public diplomacy for years and is widely respected around the world for her longtime commitment to international development, human rights and America's global leadership.
During the years that Hillary Clinton served as first lady, she became a symbol of America's human face and the values we cherish as a people. In an unprecedented role, she traveled to more than eighty countries to highlight the importance of investing in people. She gave voice to those living on the margins of society, particularly women and children, but also the poor. She put a spotlight on US development programs that offered solutions to pressing problems like infectious diseases, illiteracy, and economic marginalization. She advanced important causes -- from microcredit to global health initiatives -- with an array of foreign leaders, international organizations, and grass roots activists. And she also talked to Americans about why these investments were critical to expanding our influence and enhancing our own security.
Hillary Clinton traveled to places no first lady had ever gone, and where presidents can't go. Visits to some of the most troubled places around the world certainly offered her a measure of exposure and acculturation that she would carry with her to the presidency.
While her oratory may not be as soaring as Senator Obama's, her words helped galvanize a global women's rights movement. Her now famous speech in Beijing at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 -- which declared that "human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights" -- became a call to action to millions of women who joined together in a common purpose - the struggle for women's rights and human rights on a global scale.
Given her status as one of the world's most visible champions of these causes, it's not surprising that thousands waited through the night to hear her speak in the Philippines; that men and women stood ten deep along the streets in Mongolia to salute her when she traveled there; that the residents of Soweto danced in the streets awaiting her visit to their township.
Indeed, Hillary is today a familiar and beloved presence in many parts of the world. A street in a housing project where she helped squatters in South Africa was named after her. So was a clinic in Eritrea, a village in Bangladesh, and a school in Romania. When she arrived in Nicaragua after a devastating hurricane had hit, women held up a banner in Spanish that said: "Welcome to Hillary, the ambassador to the poor."
Perhaps as relevant today is her stature in the Muslim world. Having traveled extensively in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, she conducted vigorous outreach to diverse religious groups and convened leaders of different faiths to work together on religious tolerance and ways to combat extremism.
In 1999, a plaque was dedicated at the US Agency for International Development to recognize Hillary's leadership on global issues.
It said, "May all who pass through these portals recognize the invaluable contributions to worldwide development made by the First Lady of the US, Hillary Clinton." The Bush Administration had the plaque removed. Plaque or not, her legacy around the world endures in the hearts and minds of millions of people for whom she was an embodiment of America at its very best. That is what Hillary Clinton would bring to the presidency.
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"[S]he became a symbol of America's human face and the values we cherish as a people."
Speak for yourself. She doesn't represent my values.
Just curious, but how old are Ms. Muscatine and Verveer? It appears to me that the most vociferous supporters of Hillary were born in the 50s. From their pictures, the authors look to be from that age group.
Listen, I don't hate Hillary, but there's a reason Democrats, and even some Republicans, 45 and younger are overwhelmingly in support of Obama... Hillary is a divisive figure at best.
As for Ms. Muscatine, Ms. Verveer and all the 50+ year old rich, supposed liberals out there - it's _our_ futures at stake here, much more so than yours. And while I understand that, as an older woman, it would be nice to have a female president, I believe it to be far more important to show young black men in America that they can achieve anything too. We don't see one out of every five women serving jail time now, do we?
That's not to mention Barack's cross-party appeal. I know many Republicans personally who've said they would vote for him. Or his international appeal - Obama would heal so many of our problems with the Middle East by merely being elected; he wouldn't even have to do anything (though he will)!
Again, dear authors, you can make all the hollow arguments for her supposed "experience" as First Lady you want, but the fact remains that Obama just makes more sense...
This blog post is a joke right? I mean I find this so laughable. Uh! My stomach hurts I was laughing as this.
Just the mere thought they actually had the gall to write such nonsense just tells me they are ones that flew over the coocoo nest.
Get a grip! Hillary can't even unite the people in her own country why would anyone even surmise she could repair and restore America's standing internationally.
I needed a good laugh this morning! Thanks...
I don't care what you say. I will vote against any proposition that would result in Bill Clinton take up residence in Washington again (and I voted for this demeaned individual twice). His latest antics prove that it isn't Hillary we'll be electing.
Now if Hillary wants my vote, she should lose this loser. Fast. Otherwise I am voting for her opponent, even if it's Huckster-bee.
Wow! It took me a while to recognize this as a satire. There's a very funny premise here but you should make the humor a little more obvious.
Someone yesterday on Salon referred to Bill as "Ol' Loose Zipper" and her as "Bush Panderer" which I think sums it up in a nutshell.
I cannot stop laughing long enough to actually post something concrete. Boo! I have NO faith in the Clintons restoring America, let alone our standing across the globe. What a REACH!
I should title this comment: "Why I WAS Working for Hillary in FL and NOW I am NOT". To get into it would bring up my blood pressure. There are a whole lot of women out there who feel like I do. I will vote for an Independent if one ends up running this Fall. I voted for Obama down here in the Primaries. All of this "Turnoff" happened when I realized a vote for Hil is really a vote for Bill, and I do not want to relive the 1990's..
Thank you for this article. I"m a Hillary supporter and have been offended by the constant attacks on her on Huff-po daily. No one deserves the names she's been called day in and day out. She will make a great President, but has also said that she would vote and support whoever wins the nomination. After hearing Obamas arrogant statement the other day that her supporters would vote for him if he gets the nom, but his voters wouldn't vote for her then I"m curious if he is so egotistical and chidish that he actually believes that crap. Does he not care, then, if the Repugs win if he can't?
Her depth of experience shows.
Alas, the press is only interested reporting about the drama. Bill C. was dead right about that.
When Bush landed on that aircraft carrier, they held up a sign saying "Mission Accomplished".
I live overseas and you are overstating the "love" for Hillary. Hillary traveled the world as a celebrity tourist. Angelina Jolie probably gets as much if not more attention. If we elected Mickey Mouse we would have a better standing in the world as the bar is just that low right now.
What has caught the imagination and attention of people overseas is Barack Obama. Newspaper after newspaper talks of his candidacy in more flattering terms than Hillary's. The fact that he lived overseas adds to his appeal as does having a Kenyan father.
Our standing in the world is not lost and Hillary would better it, but Obama would make it great and special again!
You are right! Let's give the world another warmonger, another liar, another royalty...
Have you researched the response she might have at this point in history with world leaders and the people they govern? And have the same questions been asked of Obama and his wife? As President, would she still have the same appeal? I have no doubt that she did all of those wonderful things as first lady. But why would Michelle Obama be any different, and perhaps at this point in history, be more even more effective? Just curious.
Lissa and Melanne,
It's clear you feel strongly about this, but I think your argument is partially flawed. Hillary - her fault or not- is not capable of the kind of bi-partisan mandate from the American people that Obama is.
This makes incredibly difficult to pass meaningful reforms and policy changes that will in any way change perception of American in the eyes of the world - especially in the Middle East. She will also be seen as an "heir" to the Clinton throne by those around the world who view America through the lens of their own oligarchial worldviews and political experiences.
Certainly America's diplomacy will have a different tone immediately, but that's different than accomplishing a fundamental shift in the way the globe sees America.
I really like this article. A person's character takes shape over time and from being tested. Barack Obama has not been tested over time. We know Hillary, as your article so wisely points out. We do not know Barack, except as a motivational speaker. I see tendencies in Barack that are dictitorial. He is not responding well to criticism. Does anyone else see similar patterns?
She should put her accomplishments out there during the debates. I'm deeply offended by how she and Bill have gone after Obama. That whole Reagan Obama flap was TOTAL SPIN! Very obviously so to the casual observer. She made herself look very very bad and divisive as people say she is. Why can't these polititions follow the formula "Here's why my opponent is great, but here's why I"m better?" And leave the mudslinging and bickering out of it?
God Bless JRE for being the "grownup". Untill the other 2 learn to behave themselves, JRE has my vote.
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