Nov 18, 2008 8:08am
Latest on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
EmailABC News has learned that serious progress has been made on the notion of a Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
It is not yet a done deal, but sources say both President-elect Obama and Sen. Clinton are increasingly optimistic that her assignment will happen.
And some Democrats say it could happen as early as in the next week.
One of the sticking points, of course, has been the complex web of international business dealings of former President Bill Clinton. But sources say there has been movement on that front, with some vetting being supervised by Obama attorney Christine Varney with serious involvement by many officials whom the Clintons know and trust, including some Clinton Foundation officials.
- jpt
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“ABC News has learned that serious progress has been made on the notion of a Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.”
Jake, we are your very loyal readers. So surely you will listen to some of our questions: what is serious progress? How is this different from last week? was it somewhat a less-serious affair then? and most important to me who are these sources? If there is something I have come to dislike intensely about this whole reporting thing is the whole ‘sources’ business. If what is going on is confidential stuff, then you really shouldn’t be intruding on confidential things. If its not, then report it wholly. i’m just ranting here because i just read that the whole background to the story started when an [unknown] black motorcade emerged from the basement of the Chi-town building and somebody connected that to Hillary’s sighting at a NY airport. Seriously?! thats a basis for reporting? I never, since the primaries, trusted anything when I hear ‘sources say…’ coming from Andrea mitchelle but this is really new heights even for her.
Posted by: Question | November 18, 2008, 8:25 am 8:25 am
Why can’t Hillary just say Yes or No? Why does this selection have to drag out? And what does former President Bill Clinton have to do with her appointment? Isn’t that his deal – not hers? If it drags out any longer, I would advise Obama to go forward and pick another candidate. So much drama surrounds the Clintons
Posted by: Bob | November 18, 2008, 8:32 am 8:32 am
Just remember what Obama said on December 27, 2007:
“The real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result.”
So, will this mean, that we should not expect any change in Obama’s administration?
Posted by: Frieda | November 18, 2008, 8:34 am 8:34 am
I’m pleased that Obama supporters will now come to the realization that Obama is just another Washington politician, not a messiah.
Posted by: tina | November 18, 2008, 8:39 am 8:39 am
Now, we are seeing the “real administration” and IT’S NOT CHANGE!
Posted by: jill | November 18, 2008, 8:41 am 8:41 am
I just read this NYT headline: “Aides: Sen. Clinton will only get job if husband’s activities pose no conflict”
If Hillary doesn’t get the Sec. of State position, then she will also be disqualified from running for president again, because she couldn’t pass the vetting process. This may be how Obama finally disposes of her for good.
I wonder when Obama will be vetted?
Posted by: tina | November 18, 2008, 8:43 am 8:43 am
Hillary already said yes that’s why she is being vetted but they want to keep it from the public. The change is bringing Bill Clinton’s people to power again. So what you have is the old leaving and the previous old coming in. Obama has to choose Clinton’s people because he doesn’t have the skills to run this country and they do. He needs extensive training and he will get it from Hillary as secretary of state and also Bill Clinton in secret. Obama knew forehand that he couldn’t run this country because he lacked the experience. Biden can’t help him because Hillary knows more than him.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | November 18, 2008, 8:44 am 8:44 am
Come on, guys! Isn’t it good that Obama is being prudent? I would rather he take his time and do this right than rush into a mistake. Don’t think the Repugs aren’t just sitting there waiting for a mistake to pounce on. They’ll stage their phony outrage and mock indignation, which is pretty much what the GOP is best at. So take your time, President-elect and Senator. Do it right.
Posted by: rbyanes | November 18, 2008, 8:46 am 8:46 am
tina: Hillary will get the secretary of state job because Obama will make sure of it. Hillary will not run for president again. If something happens to biden I believe Obama would select Hillary as his VP and that’s what he should have done in the first place. He owed that to her since she got cheated out of her delegates so he could be the nominee. And that was the dirty work of Nancy and Dean. Nancy likes power and wanted to be the only one in power. 87% want Palin to run for president and I hope she does. She has four years to prepare and get the republican’s back where they were in the days of Reagan. Obama is going to make drastic changes in this country and the people who voted him in are going to be stunned by it.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | November 18, 2008, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Real change: checking out a spouse before making an appointment.
To bad BHO never checked out the other characters he’s been associated with.
Posted by: tom beebe | November 18, 2008, 8:51 am 8:51 am
The tone of many of these comments speaks worlds about the right wing being sore losers.
Why should Obama not vet Hillary if he is going to vet others? Putting your political cronies in power without seriously vetting them IS the politics as usual in Washington. “You’re doing a heck of a job, Brownie.”
Posted by: Roger | November 18, 2008, 8:55 am 8:55 am
Tina -
Obama was vetted by the American people during a campaign that lasted for almost two years.
His detractors call him The Messiah. His supporters have always seen him as a politician who can get things done by changing the game and playing to the “finer angels of our nature.” I’d say he’s off to a pretty good start.
Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | November 18, 2008, 8:56 am 8:56 am
Jill and Tina,
We are pleased too that we selected the right president to lead this country in the right direction so your petty, divisive methods are not working. By the way, getting an Inauguration ticket? Oh that’s right, millions of people want them! Get over your bitterness. We will always back the steady, intelligent and diginified Obama! Yeah and on to January 20th. And those who don’t like it should move away because we got 4 years!
Posted by: GoObama! | November 18, 2008, 8:56 am 8:56 am
Mariann, it speaks volumes that you think Sara Palin is the future of your party. I really hope she does run for president and gets the GOP nomination. You see, people will remember what happened the last time they put a folksy, under-intelligent, incurious wingnut in the White House. For the sake of the country try to open your mind from the steel trap it’s in now.
Posted by: rbyanes | November 18, 2008, 9:03 am 9:03 am
From someone who didn’t vote for either party, those who did vote for Obama will soon see that he is just like bill clinton, a smooth talker and knows how to stretch the truth. Hillary Clinton appeals to most women today only because she is a women. If she was a man with her ideals, no one would listen. The out going SOS would make an excellent choice because of her wealth of knowlege and she excelled on her own merits.
Posted by: CHARLIE | November 18, 2008, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Wow. Some of these comments are utterly ridiculous.Why wouldn’t Obama pull on people who have experience in running the country?If he brought in all new unexperienced people what would some of you say about that? There are going to be familiar as well as new faces in this administration.No one said the Clinton years weren’t productive.What was needed was a new democratic leader to represent what democrats would do.Despite the obvious ignorance of these statements against our new president, he is seeking the best possible people to serve the American people and guess what, they have served our country in previous administrations.Obama is a great mind and he is seeking to service the serious needs of or country.Smart people recognize this and applaud it.Others criticize,complain and call him BHO.Thank God the majority of the country had sense and voted for the change that we needed.
Posted by: TV | November 18, 2008, 9:40 am 9:40 am
I Dont think Hillary should be sos,Hillary voted for the war in Iraq,she doesnt have much Foreign policy experience and Obama and her have different views, too much Conflict of Interest,I think Hillary should be Supreme court Justice!
Posted by: ANGIE | November 18, 2008, 9:53 am 9:53 am
The lastest. Thanking GOD for voting for Obama. Now who is really ridiculous, maybe the one who puts their trust in a lawyer, or maybe the one who believes this country is in trouble becuse of one man or party or maybe the one who is blind and can’t see how greed and corruption has plague our society.
Posted by: CHARLIE | November 18, 2008, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Barack Obama has terrible ideas and terrible policy, just like Bush did his last 4 years. Maybe people will wake up after economic crisis destroys their families. Obama is the end of America.
Posted by: ConFist | November 18, 2008, 10:24 am 10:24 am
no bush was almost the end of america.
we saw all the signs of HIS DUMBNESS and we ignored them, and we see where it has got us.
but hey, what else would you expect from someone who everyone wants to have a beer with?
time for the smart people to run the country again.
Posted by: What? | November 18, 2008, 10:29 am 10:29 am
It’s the end of America!!! God hates Democrats!!!! The United States of America survived the last eight years, it will survive eight hundred more despite the crybaby rantings of men who sound like they just scraped their knees and are bawling for their mommies.
Posted by: rbyanes | November 18, 2008, 10:34 am 10:34 am
no bush almost ended america,
we saw all the signs from HIS DUMBNESS, and we ignored them,
but hey, what else would you expect from someone everyone wants to have a beer with?
time for the smart people to run the country again.
who wants to have a beer with bush now?
Posted by: What? | November 18, 2008, 10:34 am 10:34 am
we love Obama! Clinton would make a great SOS and then we would get Caroline Kennedy in the Senate!
Posted by: philosopherkingtomas | November 18, 2008, 11:17 am 11:17 am
Just what we need, another Kennedy to
screw up more of Washington.
Posted by: Moline | November 18, 2008, 11:22 am 11:22 am
there may have been a kennedy and a clinton screwing around in washington
but the screwing of the country did not start until bush got to town.
Posted by: What? | November 18, 2008, 11:31 am 11:31 am
Obama is doing what every incoming President does, i.e. look for the best and most experienced “hands” to fill out his Cabinet. It would be ludicrous to pick all new, inexperienced people.
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | November 18, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
The voters voted for the inexperience and now the inexperience is looking for the experience. Seems like Obama is the only one who understands logic.
Posted by: CHARLIE | November 18, 2008, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
Dont you get it folks??? Appointing Hillary, working w/ McCain, even pardoning Lieberman : It isnt about punishment. Its about working TOGETHER and helping Americans to have better lives and futures. Stop complaining and get with the program!
Posted by: nathan | November 18, 2008, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
Obama is doing what every incoming President does, i.e. look for the best and most experienced “hands” to fill out his Cabinet.
if the above is true, why would MRS Clinton be considered?
Posted by: james | November 19, 2008, 6:24 am 6:24 am