Clinton getting secretary of state post
By Joseph Williams, Globe Staff
WASHINGTON -- Hillary Clinton has agreed to serve as Secretary of State in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, and her nomination to the post will be announced after the Thanksgiving holiday, a member of the presidential transition team said today.
A key stumbling block over Senator Clinton's appointment -- full financial disclosure of international dealings and contributors to the foundation of her husband, President Bill Clinton -- have been worked out, according to the senior aide, who did not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak publicly. Obama and Senator Clinton have been working out the final details, the aide said, while the president-elect's advisers work to fill out the final slots on the new national security team.
The New York Times is also reporting this afternoon that she has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position, quoting two confidants.
Meanwhile, Obama is also expected to name Tim Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve, as his treasury secretary, according to NBC News and the Times.
That would mean Obama has bypassed former Harvard president Lawrence Summers, who was treasury secretary under President Clinton and, at the time, Geithner's boss. Bloomberg is reporting that he will get a senior adviser's role in the White House.
As the nominee for one of the most influential cabinet posts, Clinton would face a confirmation hearing before her former colleagues in the Senate, but analysts predict she would be confirmed with little opposition.
Now allies, Clinton and Obama engaged a long, bitter fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, a battle that divided the party along racial and gender lines. Obama repeatedly criticized Clinton for voting to authorize the Iraq war, while she suggested he wasn't ready to lead the nation through an unexpected crisis.
They also sparred over their policies on Pakistan and other issues, and their records and credentials on foreign relations.
Their rivalry exploded in late spring when party officials, weighing what to do about disputed primary votes in Michigan and Florida, ruled in Obama's favor, guaranteeing him the nomination. Powerful Clinton allies talked of boycotting the party's convention in Denver, and her angry grassroots supporters threatened to vote for Republican nominee John McCain out of spite.
After weeks of talks this summer, Clinton and Obama eventually buried the hatchet: he agreed to help her retire a massive campaign debt, and she agreed to campaign for him during the general election. Still, evidence of the split lingered when her supporters urged Obama to pick her as his running mate. When Obama chose Joe Biden of Delaware, Clinton's backers pushed Obama to pick her for a high-profile cabinet post.
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It is Geithner not Geitner....
Geitner is a good choice. Why Clinton? Obama doesn't own any debts to those he defeated. Surely their is others who are more qualified,
Here's the CHANGE all you Obama supporters voted for.....
So much for Change... Appointing Hillary as Sec. of State shows how little Obama cares about credentials--remember her key issues were all domestic; she's an international lightweight. It's just politics as usual: use the taxpayer's money to payback all those favors you've collected over the years. This is the part where a the die-hard liberals say that it's bad but a Republican would be worse.
Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and the Three Stooges would be better picks than the people representing this country both abroad and at home for the past 8 years . To all of you haters go eat your sour grapes after all, what did the Bush administration and the Republican Congress offer Gore and Kerry supporters these past 8 years? Sour grapes...
Can people seriously at least PRETEND to be educated in their responses?
I'm talking to you, rcsew.
Geitner is a good choice. Why Clinton? Obama doesn't own any debts to those he defeated. Surely their is others who are more qualified
It's Geithner, not Geitner, as JC pointed out. And it should be "Surely there are others..." Thanks, bye. Go back to work.
Don't think placing the former first lady and Senator of NY in the Sec of State job can be considered politics as usual in any way. She is one of the most well known Americans around the globe and leaders from country to country will happily take a meeting with her. She has one hell of a halo around her.
"There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree."
-Barack Obama; November 4th, 2008, Chicago, IL
what is wrong with you people!!!! obama is not in the white house yet ..how do you know how good or bad he is going to be... and hillary too let her run as a senator of the state and let just wait to see what she is going to do...
Yup...just what they wanted...the Clinton's back in office...scary.
Two solid choices. Clinton is well respected internationally, and brings a strong, opposing view to the White House. Unlike W, we now see that Obama is willing to surround himself with people who will actually disagree with him.
And as for the Geithner choice, well, Msnbc.com's Al Olson reports that immediately after NBC News' report on Tim Geithner likely to be named Treasury Secretary, stocks rebounded sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was trading in negative territory -- down about 38 points -- before the news. Moments after, the Dow zoomed more than 300 points.
so.....Hillary will not be in the presidential race on 2012?
YES!!!!! Good Choice for H Clinton!!!
Up nearly 500 points, Wall Street clearly agrees that Geithner is an excellent choice for Treasury Secretary. When the announcement surfaced earlier this afternoon, I was thrilled to learn he didn't pick L. Summers...among others.
As for Clinton, I give Obama credit for this decidedly bold move. Many feel she will make a terrific SOS, others are skeptical. Her qualifications are impressive, still, time will tell. In any case, given the international legacy left by eight years of the Bush/Cheney bomb-now, ask-questions-later policy, the woman has her work cut out for her.
Clinton is a GREAT choice for Sec. of State and she would have been a better President then Obama will be. After all, we all know HILLARY ran the white house for 8 yrs not BILL(LOL). She has the knowledge and experience to handle the job.
We can assume "stopping climate change", which both Clinton and OB believe is actually possible, will get top billing now. What a sad, sad waste of American resources, brainpower and enthusiasm when so many of the world's real problems remain unaddressed.
Tom Harris
Executive Director, International Climate Science Coalition
Ottawa, Canada
Change! Right. Here we have the same old "buddy-buddy" system. Now why would we ever think that HillaryMs. Clinton may not be quite qualified for this position...after all , if we put Ms. Clinton's resume next to Dr. Henry Kissinger or Madeline Albright we would certainly glowing similarities and credentials, No?
How Fashionable!
Change! Right. Here we have the same old "buddy-buddy" system. Now why would we ever think that HillaryMs. Clinton may not be quite qualified for this position...after all , if we put Ms. Clinton's resume next to Dr. Henry Kissinger or Madeline Albright we would certainly glowing similarities and credentials, No?
How Fashionable!
nothing says change like appointing an unqualified former 1st lady whose foreign policy judgment you just questioned a few short months ago!
The #1 Secretary of State involvement for the USA is the ongoing Arab / Israel issue. Over time this is the topic that is the old standby for the mid-east agitators. Any solution here would help immensly. Condi can play the piano and dress lovely but failed to bank any results politically. Sidestepping Hillary's obvious intellect in international politics and reviving Clinton hate is unbecoming of anyone regardless of political affiliation. Trolling for old shoes on the bottom of the lake by bleating about axis of evil has has had painful and unproductive results. Hopefully Hillary can do better. Go USA
To me this is a bad choice. There are many Democrats who would represent our country better than Hillary. She may be "know" by other countries, but I doubt she is respected by them. With the exception of Sarah Palin, there must be other folks who have more experience in foreign affairs. The only affairs Hillary has experience in is.....NO, I'm going to stop myself. It's too easy!
I'm starting to regret I voted for Obama already!
Good for Obama choosing Hillary for something important. She is wildy popular and wil help teh USA to be rspected aoriund the world. I say that as a McCain supporter. I like Obama, I just don't like his tax policy--we will even see if he does it. Odds are, he will not.
This is change, real change. A new generation in charge. There is nothing wrong with that. And as for Bush--these have not been the Bush years, they have been the Cheney years. Let's remember that.
to all you complainers who want to put your 2 cents in as to WHY this WON'T work, etc., YOU run for public office & let's see what you can and will do for our country.
God help us . . .
I was hoping Kerry would be offered SOS so we could elect a true representative in the Seante rather than Mr. Liberal.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Once officially announced as President Elect Obama’s choice for Secretary of State and before her Senate confirmation Hillary Clinton will begin to publically reinvent herself. She will clearly demonstrate her readiness and willingness to serve her country as Secretary of State under President Obama and will present her vision and indicate what her approach and her goals will be as head of the State Department. I can only wonder if the new Hillary will sport a new hairdo and wardrobe as well.
Wasn't the only difference between Obama and Clinton during the primaries was foreign policy...and Clinton not wanting to talk to states like Iran and North Korea? But now shes going to be the one talking to Iran and North Korea for Obama. Yea, this makes sense.
John's right ... this is precisely the change I voted for. I will take Clinton over Rice, Biden over Cheney, Geithner over Paulson, et seq., ANYDAY and EVERYDAY. Praise the Lord, pass the tax increase and bring our boys and girls home.
I don't even know what to say about the Clinton pick. I have no idea how her qualifications meet what's required of the role.
What scares me more I think is this Geithner guy for the Treasury pick. He obviously has experience in economics-related roles, but I find it hard to trust anybody that has had a big role in the Fed (one of the most corrupt companies in its general harm to the country and monetary policy). He's also known for his bailout experience, which is probably why Obama tapped him, and could result in an overly bailout-happy gov't (when what we might need is a little bit more Darwinism).
Oh lovely. You know, I have been willing to give the guy a chance and now we are right back into dynastic politics. Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton. If this is change I'd hate to see the status quo.
to barak Obama i am proud of you and you are making good choices ok
from pam in lynn, mass
same ol' same ol'
Yes We Can! Change We Need!
Bwaa haa --
Hey, take look at Bill Richardson's resume...Or even Kerry
Why the HECK did this guy choose Hill-Billy??
And don't gimme that 'Well respected' nonsense
I think Hillary is a marvelous choice. To you doubters - wait and see.
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"Yup...just what they wanted...the Clinton's back in office...scary."
You bitter, moronic, Right-wing sore losers really are something. "Scary"? You have to be kidding me. Have you people no shame?
Your guy lost half the pentagon, two towers, two wars, and an entire American city. He trashed the Constitution, spied on American citizens, tortured prisoners, shipped all our manufacturing jobs to China, handed out millions in welfare to Big Oil and Big Coal, undid laws protecting the environment, wrecked the economy, gutted the Middle Class, and took the surplus Clinton left him and saddled our grandchildren with mind-numbing debt instead. Then for good measure- he made the entire world hate America.
What in the world could be more "scary " than what Bush did to America? What is wrong with you people? Seriously.
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10 Reasons why Hilary would be a terrific Secretary of State.
1- Obama does not have to worry about her spending $150,000 worth of pantsuits with the Department credit cards.
2- Her husband Bill would not mind having her away too long too often.
3-She knows all the male foreign leaders' secret girlfriends.
4- She knows how to throw the kitchen sink.
5-She is experienced in dodging snipers fire.
6-She can hang with them all in any neighborhood bar.
7-She has been in more than half of the world countries and can see the rest of them from her kitchen.
8-When she ran out of conflict to resolve, she would make up one and solve it.
9-She is already Secretary of State at home.
10- She loves 3 AM phone calls.
I just enjoy the GOP's/Libertertarians who have watched their party TANK this country for 8 years criticize and demonize the decisions of someone who has yet to take office. CLASSY!
Senator Clinton won the votes of tens of millions of Americans who believe her qualified to determine this country's national and international policies. I believe she will be a brilliant Secretary of State and I am grateful that the president-elect recognizes her sterling qualities and is willing to put the past behind us all and do what is best for the nation. As to the man who will be the treasury nominee, if the posters here were better read, they would understand why he is a brilliant choice as well, and why he might just save their sorry asses, as well as their jobs. Unfortunately, no one can make these clowns literate, though...
To those who are complaining that what Obama is doing does not represent "change" please tell me who was in office the past eight years. By saying he's for "change" does not necessarily mean he's looking for something completely new, just that he's looking for a change from what we've had the past eight years. Change is getting rid of W and his appointees.
While Bill was visiting heads of state, Hillary was down the road checking out a local grade school for a photo op! She must have some real bad stuff on Obama, otherwise he wouldn't choose such a light weight for such an important post. Her election staff must have compiled a dossier on Obama and now's her chance to hold it against him to get Secretary of State.
I think it's a good choice for SOS.Hillary has more courage than most men and she'll be following the presidents policies.Her experience dealing with people will be an advantage for our country.John Kerry is lost in most positions that do not promote his own image.
Nope, CNN reports that this story is false. Way to do your research, Boston.com
All of those dumb comments gets me back to my point that you all need a refund on your education!
I am amazed by the fact that comments are made based on non factual conclusion. Can someone please name one person at least since Ronal Reagan was president that has ever challenge the president of his own party in a ficticious primary when that president in office sought reelection. Reagan , Bush sr. , Clinton and Bush were never in a primary prior to their reelection. the notion that Hilary if she were to remain the senator from New York instead of becoming secretary of state will lead to her running in 2012 is by far the most uneducated projection that I ever heard.
Well, At this point I can no longer complain about Obama. Where have we come in America where we voted in a Socialist but Oh Well he can't be any worse than the bafoom we have in there now. Sad part is, I really liked Bush but this loss is all his doing and in a way I always though Bush was liberal. The only thing Obama can do for me is create a college playoff system.
Look on the brite side hes has not offered Rev. Wright nor Ayers a position YET.
i did not cast my vote for the pres-elect,but he has the right to appoint whomever he wants to whatever position he chooses.i hope he can bring salvation to all those who did vote for him.