THE GUARDIAN: HILLARY CLINTON PLANS TO ACCEPT THE JOB OF SECRETARY OF STATE OFFERED BY BARACK OBAMA
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2008 14:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary
of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals
to build a broad coalition administration.
Obama’s advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton’s foundation,
which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with
development, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. But
Democrats do not believe that the vetting is likely to be a problem.
Clinton would be well placed to become the country’s dominant voice
in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected
senator for New York, she has specialized in foreign affairs and
defense. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama
basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops.
Clinton, who still harbors hopes of a future presidential run, had to
weigh up whether she would be better placed by staying in the Senate,
which offers a platform for life, or making the more uncertain career
move to the secretary of state job.
As part of the coalition-building, Obama also reached out to his
defeated Republican rival, John McCain, to discuss how they could
work together to roll back some of the most controversial policies
of the Bush years. Putting aside the bitter words thrown about with
abandon by both sides during the election campaign, McCain flew to
meet Obama at his headquarters in the Kluczynski Federal Building,
in downtown Chicago.
Obama, speaking before the meeting, said: "We’re going to have a
good conversation about how we can do some work together to fix up
the country." He said he also wanted to thank McCain for his service
to the country.
Asked by a reporter whether he would work with Obama, McCain, who has
long favored a bipartisan approach to politics, replied: "Obviously".
Sources on both sides said Obama did not offer McCain a cabinet job,
but focused on how the senator for Arizona could help to guide through
Congress legislation that they both strongly favor.
Given Obama’s status as president-in-waiting, the two met in a formal
setting, a room decked out with a US flag, and were accompanied
by senior advisers. Obama appeared the more relaxed of the two,
sitting with legs crossed, smiling broadly and waving to reporters,
while McCain sat stiffly, with a seemingly fixed grin.
Although the two clashed during the election campaign over tax
policy and withdrawal from Iraq, they have more in common than they
have differences. They both favor the closure of the Guantanamo Bay
detention centre, an increase in US troops to Afghanistan, immigration
reform, stem cell research and measures to tackle climate change,
and oppose torture and the widespread use of wire-tapping.
Although Democrats made gains in the Senate in the November 4
elections, they fell short of the 60 seats that would have allowed
them to override Republican blocking tactics and will need Republican
allies to get Obama’s plans through. This was highlighted today when
the Democratic leadership in Congress announced that a broad economic
stimulus package Obama sought was not likely to be passed because of
Republican opposition.
Obama confirmed at the weekend that he would offer jobs to some
Republicans. One of the names that crops up most often is Chuck Hagel,
the former Republican senator who is a specialist in foreign affairs
and a critic of the Iraq war, The Guardian reports.
Former US president Bill Clinton said that his wife Hillary will be a
"great secretary of state."