Clinton Arrives at State, Eager to Show No Tension with Obama
EmailABC News’ Martha Raddatz and Kirit Radia Report: Newly-minted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was warmly greeted by employees at a ceremony at the State Department this morning.
Employees packed the building’s lobby and overflowed into adjacent corridors, all craning their necks for a glimpse of America’s new top diplomat as she entered for the first time. Those late to arrive were out of luck as it was soon impossible to move. The building’s security team attempted to clear people out of certain spaces for fear of a security risk, but in many cases there was simply nowhere for them to go.
The event was similar to now former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s warm departure last Friday, though Clinton’s reception was more enthusiastic (lots of cheering and applause) and much more crowded.
Clinton said the new Obama administration will place diplomacy and development at the forefront of its foreign policy.
"I believe with all my heart this is a new era for America," Clinton said. "We will make clear as we go forward that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States."
In both a sign of that commitment to diplomacy and to dispel the notion of any lingering tension between Clinton and President Obama from last year’s heated primary, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will come to the State Department this afternoon to meet with Clinton and deliver remarks to employees.
Clinton said they want to send an "unequivocal message" that "this is a team, and you are the members of that team. There isn’t anything that I can get done from the seventh floor or the president can get done from the Oval Office unless we make clear we are all on the American team. We are not any longer going to tolerate the kind of divisiveness that has paralyzed and undermine our ability to get things done for America."
"The president will be here on his second day in office to let all of you know and all of who are serving on our behalf around the world how seriously committed he is to working with us," she added.
Secy Clinton will visit USAID tomorrow to thank and greet employees there. "They will be our partners," she said today.
Clinton also gave a nod to what has been known (both endearingly and perhaps not so) as "the building" — diplomats who have been disgruntled in recent years for feeling they had been marginalized.
"I want you to think outside the proverbial box. I want you to give me the best advice you can. I want you to understand there is nothing that I welcome more than a good debate and the kind of dialogue that will make us better," she said.
Those remarks brought big cheers from the assembled crowd.
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I think this is the first mistake the President has made. I think she’ll undermine him every chance she gets.
Posted by: Tbone | January 22, 2009, 7:26 am 7:26 am
Hoooooo-Ahhhhhhh! Go get ‘em Hillary. Great choice for State.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | January 22, 2009, 7:35 am 7:35 am
She is perfect for the role
Posted by: Adam | January 22, 2009, 7:52 am 7:52 am
Obama’s first call outside the US went to the leader of Fatah, who has a terrorist background and terrorist units reporting to him, such as the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade? How comforting. Even as a tip of the hat to his focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shouldn’t the first call have been to America’s ally, Israel?
In fact, the choice of this particular conflict makes little sense. We have nations actually fighting alongside of us in Afghanistan in our own war on terror. Nations like Canada, the UK, Australia, Holland, and others have joined us in combat and taken casualties to help further the West’s goal of defeating al-Qaeda and the Taliban. They should have gotten more attention from our incoming president if only to recognize their sacrifice and ongoing commitment to our shared cause.
Instead, Obama chose to reach out to Abu Mazen, WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PLOT TO KILL Israeli athletes in Munich during the 1972 Olympics, and who still runs terrorist organizations out of the Palestinian Authority. Small wonder France has suddenly lost its enthusiasm for adding to the NATO contingent in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Obama's First Call to Foreign Leader is to a Terrorist | January 22, 2009, 8:07 am 8:07 am
Posted by: Obama’s First Call to Foreign Leader is to a Terrorist | Jan 22, 2009 1:07:24 PM
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Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Posted by: d | January 22, 2009, 8:31 am 8:31 am
I think Madame Sec. Clinton sincerely wants to do well and also that her intentions are good in working with our new President… This relationship could be very good or turn very badly…The good thing is both really want to do a good job for our country…if they keep focus on their common ground without egos becoming involved, they could do well together.
It’s the same for all of us… focus on the common good not just some but for everyone willing to put forth some honest effort…and we can perform miracles…
Hey way to go McCain for waving Clinton on board… Thank you, Sir…
Posted by: braith morgan | January 22, 2009, 9:03 am 9:03 am
I wonder if Hillary will have to dodge the same sniper bullets she dodged as the first lady. You know, the imaginary ones? It would be a lie if a prole said it. If a member of the elite says it, it’s a “mis-statement”.
Posted by: Oonogil | January 22, 2009, 9:03 am 9:03 am
I don’t think we want to take a look at the COUNTLESS “mis-statements” said by Obama, Oonogil. He is the king of “mis-statements.”
Posted by: James | January 22, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Obama’s First Call: it is extremely aggravating when people like you put lies out on these blogs. He made four phone calls: Mahmoud Abbas, Ehud Olmert, Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah. No terrorists were called, and there has been no reporting of what order he made the calls. You are wrong, wrong, wrong.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | January 22, 2009, 10:09 am 10:09 am
Journalists grasping at headlines–
Posted by: Mavsreader | January 22, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am
I don’t agree with the first comment. Undermining the president would be undermining the whole country and she cetainly isn’t going to do that her job is with our relationships with foreign countries and trying to find peaceable solutions to arising problems…. oongil at least she went to a country where there was fighting going on and she probably did hear what we can only see in a movie.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | January 22, 2009, 11:19 am 11:19 am
RE:
Clinton Arrives at State, Eager to Show No Tension with Obama
January 22, 2009 11:58 AM
————————-
DEDICATION AND CONGRATULATIONS
I dedicate This Book entitled “BILL A RI AND THERE WAS LIGHT !” to the Former American President Bill Clinton, to his Wife – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – and Their Daughter Chelsea.
Leadership is the trade-mark of both the Former President and his whole family at the dawn of the twenty-first century.
The immediate goal of this Book is to make the leaders and peoples of the West aware of their grave responsibilities in connection with Haiti’s current tragic situation. For this reason, it recalls the dominant relationship the West has had with the Black World.
The case of Haiti, which is used as an example, does not escape this general rule. And my contribution is intended, among other things, to ensure greater Western solidarity with the actions undertaken, in full harmony and cooperation with the United Nations, by Former President William Jefferson Clinton – and certainly in the next future to be take – by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as the New U.N. American Ambassador back by Senate panel.
Lucien BONNET
Posted by: Lucien BONNET | January 22, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
Posted by: isidro garcia | Jan 22, 2009 9:11:07 PM
What part of “PARTICIPATED IN THE PLOT TO KILL Israeli athletes” or “terrorist units reporting to him” do you not understand?
“Direct presidential diplomacy, without preconditions” as Obama promises, whether it be Fatah (=PLO) or Iran, strengthens the grip of tyrants over their suffering people and leads to more terror.
If the Palestinians laid down their weapons, there would be no more war in Palestine. If the Israelis laid down their weapons, there would be no more Israel. That is who Obama is cozying up to.
“The spokesman for President Abbas revealed that Mr Obama had told the Palestinian leader that their conversation was his first with a foreign statesman since taking office.”
Posted by: Obama Drones Keep Spinning Like Iranian Centrifuges | January 22, 2009, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
We fogot all about Hillary, is she still around?
Posted by: Plainfieldglenda | January 22, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
To think she had a chance for pres. What a sobering thought.
Posted by: myron blecher | January 22, 2009, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
If that was his first phone call it shows how much smarter he is than Bush. (as if anyone needed proof anyway) He is the leader America has been waiting for. Thank God he won the election. McCain is a good man but President Obama is a smart man. Bush nearly destroyed the United States but despite his best efforts we survived the last eight years. The long national nightmare of George W. Bush is over.
Posted by: Josuah | January 22, 2009, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Congrats Madam Secretary. We know you will do an awesome job!
Posted by: Jwench | January 23, 2009, 2:47 am 2:47 am
Way way too many Clinton era retreads in Obama’s picks! Why is that?
Posted by: LongT | January 23, 2009, 4:22 am 4:22 am
The Clinton foundation just doubled!
Posted by: LongT | January 23, 2009, 4:23 am 4:23 am
You go girl! Good luck and get to work.
Posted by: kseyetie | January 23, 2009, 4:30 am 4:30 am
Why should there be “TENSION”after all those nice words she said about our President,while she was running for his position….No tension,alot of ANAMOSITY,thats about it!
Posted by: amstaffbru | January 23, 2009, 4:41 am 4:41 am
I agree, I think she will try to do damage to Obama. She still holds animosity towards him. She will be aq liability.
Posted by: Dave | January 23, 2009, 6:02 am 6:02 am
Love you Hill, can’t wait for you to be POTUS in 2016 :) Serve America well as Secretary of State!
Posted by: Jen | January 23, 2009, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm
Hillary is eager to show no tension with Obama? What the hell kind of headline is that? All she has to do is show up and smile. What is it with these writers? Hillary said,”I believe with all my heart this is a new era for America. We will make clear as we go forward that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States.” (Oh God pleeease!)
This is pure Hillary. Obama’s commitment to ‘change’ is to let Hillary lead the way,(with Bill’s help) until Obama figures out what ‘changes’ are politically safe to make.
Posted by: picomanning | January 23, 2009, 10:25 pm 10:25 pm
It’s a shame that there are so many nay-sayers who seem unable to appreciate the fact that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is doing a job that she was clearly born to do.
Hillary has moved on and been graceful in defeat. If only some of the commenters here could do the same.
Posted by: Maria Houser Conzemius | January 28, 2009, 10:03 am 10:03 am
Long all the so called retreads of the Clinton era well look at the Clinton era people were working now they aren’t, that is 1, we were at peace, that is 2, people were able to save a little bit of money since they were working, that is 3 so it looks like the retreads new what they were doing then and can do it again at least give them a chance before you gripe.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | February 3, 2009, 5:56 am 5:56 am