The Seattle Post Intelligencer published an editorial today suggesting that if Hillary Clinton were selected as Secretary of State,
Bill Clinton could also serve well in some sort of unofficial capacity as a diplomatic troubleshooter.
It's a short article, so I've posted it below, plus the Link is here.
Now I have some real issues with this idea. Follow me below to discuss.
Obama transition: A team of rivals
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD
President-elect Barack Obama's meeting with Sen. John McCain is a promising sign about how he will govern. Obama appears willing to embrace rivals and their ideas.
The president-elect should make that a theme as he selects Cabinet members. It would be particularly impressive if he chooses Sen. Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state.
Obama's team has a number of possible nominees to head the State Department, all of them well qualified. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a former U.N. ambassador, has excellent experience, and Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel would be an attractive choice.
But nothing would better show Obama's commitment to hearing a diversity of ideas from well-established leaders than selecting Clinton. She would also be outstandingly capable: smart, well informed and devoted to improving lives worldwide and protecting U.S. security.
With her popularity from trips as first lady, Clinton would also be an asset in changing the country's image. If his complex financial dealings don't derail her consideration, former President Bill Clinton could also serve well in some sort of unofficial capacity as a diplomatic troubleshooter.
It takes a confident leader to consider Clinton. Obama should follow through with appointments of able members of both parties.
This editorial is wrong on so many levels, I hardly know where to start.
That they would suggest Hillary could need or would use Bill as a troubleshooter is an insult to her own career and her role as a female leader in the Democratic Party. It's demeaning and sexist right on it's face. If in one sentence, you call her capable, why do you feel it necessary to suggest it's a twofer? While I realize that there have been situations in the past where special envoys have been used in certain situations, to suggest her husband for this role, despite him being a former president, makes it sound as if she cannot handle the tough problems.
For those would argue that it's not sexist (I know you are out there), consider their comment that her
popularity from trips as first lady, Clinton would also be an asset in changing the country's image
. Choke, this is not about seating arrangements and dinner partners. This is the big leagues, and her changing the image would be about her representing the new leadership of the country, and for this her role in the Senate is much more appropriate than her years as first lady.
Add to that Bill's ability to fuck up a one man parade, and it just gets more ludicrous. Let's see, he goes and sees a head of state about some obscure business deal for one of his buddies (ala Khazakstan), then a donation gets made to his library. Then something happens between Russia and this head of state, and Hillary has to deal with Russia. Hmmm, then when things get really sticky and Obama needs a troubleshooter he should call.....Bill??? Hello, people, can you spell CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
On top of all of that, Obama has his own ideas of foreign policy, which were not shared by EITHER Clinton during the campaign. After the way that Bill behaved during the primaries, is there anyone who wouldn't consider him a loose cannon? So now he should be given unofficial status to meddle in our foreign policy because his WIFE is made Secretary of State. Yikes.
I have the utmost respect for Hillary Clinton. But for this job, right now, I see Bill Clinton as a huge albatross around her neck. It's unfortunate, but I have to say no way, no how, no Hillary for SecState.