Should Hilary Clinton be chosen for Secretary of State?

No

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by T J Neale

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Barack Obama won his historic election because he promised the US people, "Change they can believe in." He promised a change in the way of doing things and a change in the direction of policy. As much as anything else, that is why he won the Presidency.

Senator Clinton represents the old guard. She is a continuation of the political dynasties that have dominated US politics for the last 20 years. As much as anything else, that is why she lost the Democratic primary to the Barack Obama.

Two weeks ago, few would have given Senator Clinton much chance of being in Obama's administration. If her name was suggested at all, it was in connection to health care reform. Now she is hot favorite to be charge of foreign policy. How did this happen?

After Senator Clinton visited Obama in Chicago, an, "uncharacteristicall y undisciplined" anonymous leak from within Obama's transition team, suggested that Obama had offered her the job. That she was considering taking it if Obama met her conditions. No details of the thinking behind the offer were given. No chance to question further. That is the nature of anonymous leaks.

SAME OLD SPIN

It is difficult to see why Obama would want Senator Clinton to be his Secretary of State. After the original leak, there was much discussion in the US
media as to why she should have the job. Most of the supporting arguments were spin rehashed from her primary campaign.

There was talk of how she ran a great campaign. In fact hers was a terrible campaign. Throwing away a massive lead and managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of almost certain victory.

Clinton loyalists often refer to her "extensive experience." But being married to a President does not give you the experience of being a President. Any more than being married to a brain-surgeon gives you experience of being a brain surgeon. Would you want your brain operated on by someone whose main qualification was, "Eight years being married to a brain-surgeon"?

KEEPI NG HIS ENEMIES CLOSER?

There are plenty of reasons for Obama not to want the Clintons on his team, the main two being Hilary and Bill Clinton. Would they ever accept Obama as rightful president? Their support for Obama has been grudging at best. Has Hilary really given up ambition to run for president in 2016 or even 2012?

Then there would be the difficult confirmation hearings. The Republicans will drag up the Whitewater and the Lewinsky affairs all over again. And what other distractions are in the Clinton's closet?

Hilary has repeatedly claimed her 18 million primary votes is an electoral mandate. Neither Clinton
considers Obama is up to the job. The Clintons
would run US
foreign policy as they see fit. The problems facing the USA are financial, environmental and security ones. These are all global problems and needing global solutions. If President Obama is not in control of his foreign policy then he is not in charge of his presidency. He is just a poster boy for the American dream.

Some say, "Not a problem. If she does not toe the line, he can sack her." But Obama can not sack his Secretary of State without damaging US interests and admitting to terribly flawed judgment for appointing her in the first place.

THE PLOT THICKENS

Then on 21 Nov. the New York Times reported two of Senator Clinton's, "confidants" as saying she has decided to quit the Senate to serve as Secretary of State. Senator Clinton's office backtracked later, saying discussions are, "very much on track." But says further reports are premature.

The narrative presented does not ring true. Has Barack Obama he really offered her the job? Is he so desperate that he is allowing here to lay down conditions? To paraphrase Bismarck, "Politics is the art of the impossible." There is an old political strategy to make the impossible happen. You first persuade people that it is inevitable. Are these carefully orchestrated leaks part of a campaign to rail-road Obama into making Hilary Secretary of State?

CLACULATED SILENCE

The Obama camp is keeping quiet. They will not make a formal announcement until after thanksgiving. But there is a feeling in Washington that if Obama did not want Hilary for the job, someone from his team would have already have scotched the rumors. Perhaps they are hoping that Bill's business dealings will provide an excuse for not giving it to Hilary.

What is clear is that to not give Senator Clinton the job now without good reason, will look like a calculated snub. She could use this to rally her supporters for a presidential bid in four years time.

Perhaps nominating Senator Clinton to be his Secretary of State, only to let the nomination die in confirmation hearings, would be the smart move for Obama.

Having Hilary and Bill running US
foreign policy certainly is not.

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