Clinton as Secretary of State

How is this NOT a conflict of interests?

Hey folks,

Alright, Hillary? Hillary Clinton is going to be the new Secretary of State. According to the Chicago Tribune - Report: Clinton to accept Obama cabinet By Peter Nicholas and Christi Parsons Tribune staff reporter 7:56 PM CST, November 21, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama has settled on former campaign rival Hillary Clinton to be secretary of State, following a high-stakes courtship that is expected to lead to a formal announcement after the Thanksgiving holiday, aides to both said.

We are also hearing that she either has or will be resigning her Senate Position. But how is this NOT a conflict of interest? According to the Tribune.

After an extensive examination of Bill Clinton's complicated financial dealings, the Obama transition team is now satisfied that the nomination will not pose any conflicts of interest, an aide to the president-elect said.

Oh well I'm glad that they are sure of that. {Sigh}

On her end, Clinton is ready to give up her Senate seat and become the nation's top diplomat, taking one of the most prestigious cabinet posts, friends and advisors said Friday. They added that she has not yet accepted the job.

She will. According to this article.

The Obama transition team and Clinton's Senate office both said the nomination is "on track.'' At least two other prominent Democrats were also in the running for the secretary of State job: Richardson and U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004.

After a withering presidential campaign, bringing Clinton into Obama's circle was a feat of diplomacy in itself. As candidates, the two competed hard for the nomination, with loyalists trading tough charges.

Not all are happy about this. No not happy at all.

In March, Obama's team put out a memo challenging Clinton's foreign policy credentials. Greg Craig, who worked in Bill Clinton's State Department, wrote that as first lady she "did not do any heavy lifting with foreign governments, whether they were friendly or not. She never managed a foreign policy crisis, and there is no evidence to suggest that she participated in the decision-making that occurred in connection with any such crisis.''

{Laughing} So the NEW White House Counsel is counseling again it.

Obama recently named Craig to the post of White House counsel. Obama and Clinton have also represented different factions in the party. He was favored by better-educated, wealthier voters; she was the hero of women and a more downscale swath of the electorate.

"a more downscale swath of the electorate?"

One obstacle to the appointment was Bill Clinton's finances. The former president has made a fortune delivering speeches around the world, while taking in hundreds of millions of dollars from anonymous donors for his private foundation and library. Some of the money has come from foreign sources, including a $10 million gift from the Saudi royal family.

AND SHE WILL BE THE SECRETARY OF STATE!

During the campaign, Obama released a memo claiming that the secrecy surrounding the donors showed that Hillary Clinton, despite her years in public life, had not yet been fully vetted and had a "history of misleading voters.''

What has changed?

To clear a path for his wife's appointment, Bill Clinton agreed to several concessions: He gave the Obama team the names of more than 200,000 donors to his foundation and library; he agreed to clear any future paid speeches with the White House and State Department; and he said he would distance himself from his foundation.

{Laughing} Yeah, but he is not doing away with the foundation. This really is incredible.

An Obama aide said Friday the "financial disclosure issues have been worked out.'' And a Bill Clinton aide said: "If she does not do it, it won't be because of my boss.''

Idiot. But there are more that do not like this appointment.

The selection of Clinton for the State Department prompted Latino groups to ask Obama to consider the ethnic makeup of his cabinet.

Richardson, a Latino, had hoped for the State job, a Democrat close to him said. He is now a top choice for Commerce secretary, a member of Obama's circle said.

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) surfaced Friday as a possible candidate for secretary of the Interior. "Everybody's hope in the Latino community was to see Gov. Richardson as secretary of State," said Janet Murguia, president and chief executive of the National Council of La Raza, the country's largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. "Obviously, we felt like he was eminently qualified.''

While Clinton would be an ``excellent'' secretary of State, Murguia said, Latino activists want to see Richardson installed in an important cabinet position and several Latino candidates-Grijalva and others-considered for other positions.

"We've got qualified Hispanic candidates who could fill any cabinet role," she said. "Giving them due consideration is only right."

Yeah they want AMNESTY. They think this would be a GIANT STEP in that direction. Even Richardson is not happy.

A Democrat close to Richardson brushed aside talk of the Commerce slot, at the same time acknowledging Richardson's interest in a cabinet position. "Richardson's interested in being secretary of State. Until that's resolved, he doesn't want to think or talk about anything else," this person said..

So not all are happy in Obama World. As we see his cabinet taking shape, all we see is Clinton 3. Including Clintons themselves. I only see one that I have hope for, the rest, nothing but Clintonistas and no change whatsoever. Where is the CHANGE? I guess "you can't have change if you put a representative of the same ol' guard in the drivers' seat," but it is OK if you are driving the bus FILLED with them. Right?
Peter

Sources:
Chicago Tribune - Report: Clinton to accept Obama cabinet post