Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Will Be a Strong Voice for Women Around the World

President-elect Barack Obama made the right decision when he offered Senator Hillary Clinton the post of Secretary of State and she made the right decision when she accepted.

Some are already wondering, can these two former rivals get along? Can she report to the President when she wanted to be the President?

I believe they both understand the dynamics of their new relationship and are ready to make it work. One chapter--their battle for the Democratic nomination has closed, and a new chapter, working together has begun. As Secretary of State she is part of the Obama administration. It is in both their interests to succeed. He wants a strong, well informed, and highly respected person to represent his new administration to the world--one that commands respect more by action, than by threat. Both Obama and Clinton understand how much American soft diplomacy is in need of repair. They also understand that tough diplomacy, to keep America safe, must also be demonstrated. No one has more stature and respect around the world than Hillary Clinton. She knows many of the world leaders, from her time as First Lady, when she not only accompanied the President, but also traveled on her own. My first insight into Senator Clinton's diplomatic power was at the World Conference in Beijing when thousands of women cheered when she announced, "Human Rights are Women's Rights and Women's Rights are Human Rights." She fervently believes these words must apply to women and men all over the world.

What does this new position provide for her? She will be Secretary of State in her own right, not as a spouse, not as a First Lady. As United States Senator she took the first step towards establishing an authoritative and independent role for herself. But she was relegated to being the Senator from New York.

Now she will be the Secretary of State of the United States, a position of greater depth and breadth than she had before.

One of my friends continued to ask the question that has been asked of the Clinton's all along, "What about Bill?"

Bill Clinton made it clear during the vetting process that he would do what was required to distance himself from any conflict of interest, and he appears to have done so. He wants desperately for her to succeed. I believe he will have the discipline to enable her to succeed in her job without any spousal interference. Throughout their marriage, he knew that she was as committed and talented as she was. Until her election to the Senate and her campaign for the Democratic nomination, she supported him through thick and thin, even through his very public infidelity.

He knows that now it is his turn. I believe he cares passionately about her success because he owes it to her, but also because he loves her.

This appointment will also burnish President-elect Obama's image among women. His confidents appear to be men, and other than Governor Janet Napolitano for Secretary of Homeland Security, the names floated for his cabinet are men as well. One consequence of Clinton's appointment will be that women will have her a strong voice when she is seated at the table.

This was originally posted at Chelsea Green.

Madeleine M. Kunin is the former Governor of Vermont and was the state's first woman governor. She served as Ambassador to Switzerland for President Clinton, and was on the three-person panel that chose Al Gore to be Clinton's VP. She is the author of Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead from Chelsea Green Publishing.

Click here to read more developments and analysis on Obama's cabinet picks

Comments

[ntmessage]

Spot on.
The petty and the personal will, eventually, see that high school level trivialities are of little concern to serious minded people that want the best chance of a good outcome for the post Bush world. Hillary doubters and Hillary haters are simply acting out. Some having tantrum like episodes with little grasp on reality or the importance of the situation. How else can you explain extrapolating the exception into world ending hyperbole while ignoring a lifetime of public service, credibility, experience and real respect all over the world. If anyone can fix the Condi/Bush/Cheney debacle, it is she. It will not be easy, the chances of success is dicey so we must support her and Barack. This holds for anyone that does their homework or was paying attention prior to the last couple of years. Oh yeah, she is progressive and pragmatic and a Democrat that campaigned for Obama after winning the majority of the actual votes in the primary. She and Obama have mutual respect and are of like minds. Obama is the leader. Let us follow him.

This woman will rock. Others should find someone else to use to project upon or play out their petty issues. I hope that they grow up first.

[piul05]

The chance for a serious argument in favor of Hillary's appointment ended with the sentence "No one has more stature and respect around the world than Hillary Clinton".


I commend what appears to be enthusiasm for someone who is probably a friend, but such subjective (not to say naive) remark has no place in an honest debate.

[hardybear]

HuffPost's Pick

I would strongly recommend withholding judgment of Gov. Kunin's remark as "naive" unless you have actually been abroad and seen first-hand whereof she speaks. Having been in over a dozen countries since the Clintons came on the American political scene I have to agree with the premis that Senator Clinton does not receive the visceral criticism and hatred one sees here. Certainly there are reasoned opinions of her as of any public figure, but the questionably-based or blind negativities seem to be uniquely American.

As an Obama supporter I find much to fear in the renewal of petty squabbles and adolescent divisiveness that appear to have taken fire since Hillary's near-appointment as SOS. Were we not all getting along swimmingly just a couple of weeks ago? Is it not incredibly selfish and self-serving to devote all this energy to tearing down a woman the president-elect clearly respects and trusts enough to place in this enormously important role?

To watch this petty infighting grow and descend into petulant temper tantrums and doom-saying before the man even moves into the White House is disheartening. At this juncture I want to revel in the historical victory and be hopeful and committed to going forward with the plans I voted for. Honestly, do we have the time, energy or emotion to waste on this media-created Greek drama?

Do we not owe our next president more than this?

[rzan1]

I am one woman who is not pleased with the choice of Hillary as Secretary of State. She did, after all, threaten to obliterate Iran. There are women living peaceful lives in Iran, so I guess her concern for women was suspended when she made that statement.

[K-Dog76]

Sorry to say that Clinton's as Secretary of State does nothing to advance the status of women around the world. This is no huge victory for women... why? We have a woman as Secretary of State right now.

It seems that because Rice is not a liberal, she does not qualify as a voice for women. Women should be ashamed of the fact that despite differing political ideologies, they give no credit to Rice for her historic contribution to government being the first woman Secretary of State. And last I checked, Rice got where she is not because her husband was a celebrity president.

[kissmygrits]

Um, Rice isn't the first woman secretary of state... Madeleine Albright was... and she WAS awesome.

[NC1432]

Madeleine Albright awesome ??? Her and Clinton gave the terrorists a pass and everyone knows it.......

[kissmygrits]

Madeleine Albright was the first female SoS, not Rice... (reposting b/c HuffPo is censoring for some reason...)

[NC1432]

K-Dog76.......I absolutely agree with you........say what you will about Palin........she got to elected to office based on her own merits........I salute this site for all of us being able to voice our opinions.......

[rzan1]

Wrong. Madeline Albright was the first woman to be Secretary of State.

[hardybear]

K-Dog, Mme. Secretary Madeleine Albright ? Highly qualified, effective, sans husband??

Perhaps not noticed by you due to differing political ideologies? ;-)

[Cesaria]

As a woman, I couldn't care less about Hillary's gender. I was for Obama from the beginning so I suppose I'm not one of those women Obama will receive praise from. After all this shouldn't be a choice reflecting quotas.

[valkyrie607]

Hello Madeleine! I saw you at the VLS commencement and your address was very inspiring. I agree with you: even though I was never a Hillary supporter, I think she will make a great Secretary of State.

I do have to point out, though: I don't think it's accurate to say that all of Obama's closest advisers are men. I'm thinking of Valerie Jarrett, but I'm sure there are a few others.

Anyway, thanks for all your great work!

[Shortyfuse]

They better make damn sure that their replacements will be Democrats and not throw away any power we gave them in the last two votes.

[britethere]

I told my granddaughters not to emulate Hillary and to get where they were going on their own, that they did not need a man to achieve success, and that if anyone ever treated them the way Bill treated Hillary to "off the low-life" and proceed with their life "solo"

[AlinaM]

Dear britehere, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with your granddaughters and for sharing it with all of us. This is one of the reasons that I believe that Hillary's blood runs cold and why she cannot be trusted. However, I have to agree that we have to give our President elect the benefit of the doubt. He must have some very good reasons for his appointment and I hope that it will work out.
Your granddaughters are lucky to have you.

[TheFez]

Let's assume we need a female SoS. Do you honestly think HRC is the most qualified woman in the US for the position?

Seems to me Obama's going to make his first blunder in his Presidential career by not putting Richardson in the office.

[standard]

"He wants a strong, well informed, and highly respected person to represent his new administration to the world."

That's just conjecture. Had he truly wanted to meet those criteria, he'd have selected George Mitchell or Bill Richardson. Mrs. Clinton just isn't seen as all that well-informed, nor is she all that highly respected, beyond her own circles. Obama may have simply lured her into a position from which he can dismiss her at the slightest sign of incompetence or disloyalty on her part.

"[H]e cares passionately about her success because he owes it to her".

He seems to care deeply but dispassionately about most things. What passion he's shown publicly has been exclusively for his family. Importantly, he owes her NOTHING. Neither the Presidency nor Vice Presidency were (somehow) "hers" and no one took them away from her. Had she elected NOT to distort his policy positions, misrepresent his credentials and generally disparage and demean him during the campaign, she might have become our 44th President. That's not what happened.

"His confidents appear to be men, . . . "

Actually, his confidantes apparently include Claire McCaskill, Susan Rice, formerly (and again, one hopes) Samantha Powers, and Michelle Obama, not just Gov. Napolitano.

The Secretary of State is supposed to effect the diplomatic policies of the President, not advance pet causes or personal ambitions. Failure to fully grasp that will cost Mrs. Clinton even more dearly than her campaign tactics and decision to leave the Senate have.

[MagisterLudi]

You conveniently forgot his important adviser and confidant Condi Rice. No need to mention it in a polite company eh?

[kissmygrits]

Condi? That's the first I have EVER heard of that... total fiction.

[kmb08]

I feel Hillary will be an excellent SOS. The only people I've seen criticizing the pick are people who garner much higher ratings for "hating" the Clintons, and/or people who haven't actually "worked" with her. She has great experience on the Armed Services Committee, which necessitated her travel the world on fact finding missions. In addition, since '93, she supposedly immersed herself in foreign policy, and is now lauded by both Reb & Dem alike, as having a masterly grasp of foreign policy detail. She knows most foreign leaders by their first names, and has met most of them numerous times over the course of her Wash. years. She and Bill are loved and respected worldwide, which can only be an advantage. She gained much respect when she gave the speech in China stating women's rights are human rights, as well as admonishing the Chinese Gov. for systematically killing baby girls simply because they were born female. She works her heart out, and I know she will in this post as well. She has earned very high marks as a NY Senator, and I feel she'll continue to develop as a world leader. Some criticize her for not having a "titled" foreign policy post, but since when does title qualify one for anything...really! Pres. Bush has the title of POTUS, but it sure as heck doesn't make him qualified to be President!!!

[britethere]

Ask her what she thinks of Bill's business deals with countries that have terrible human rights records. As a matter of fact ask her why she took massive campaign contributions from them as well....See Chinese $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[kmb08]

Let me let you naive ones in on a little something......Nobody, and I mean NOBODY gets to the top of national politics without help and connections along the way....NOBODY~~~~ Somebody earlier mentioned Palin...Well, hell, were you aware she had help from the police chief to become mayor, then she had help from the Republican Chairman to become Gov., then, if it hadn't been for Hillary's historic primary, Palin would never have been selected by McCain. Geeeeezzzz....

For the poster who said Hillary wasn't that informed.....You have got to be kidding me....?!?!? What are you smoking?!?! I suggest research......................