Bill vetting could cost Hillary her Cabinet post

[DeepModem Mom]

Politico: Bill vetting could cost Hillary her Cabinet post
By GLENN THRUSH & MIKE ALLEN | 11/17/08

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is President-elect Obama’s first choice for secretary of State but his aides are becoming exasperated by the Clinton camp’s pokey response to demands for extensive information about former President Bill Clinton’s finances, according to numerous Democrats involved in the process. “The sense among the no-drama Obama world is: This is well on its way to winning best Oscar for drama,” said one well-connected Democratic official.

There are signs, however, that the Clintons may move decisively to satisfy the vetting requests in coming days, clearing the way for a “Team of Rivals” cabinet that would bring the president-elect’s opponent for the Democratic nomination into his historic administration.

Democratic officials make it sound like the job has been all but offered to her. But the ball is in her court to show that the former president’s many foreign and financial entanglements would not pose huge conflicts of interest if she were the nation’s chief diplomat, the officials said. Obama isn’t likely to formally offer the post to Clinton unless he’s given assurances Bill Clinton’s global charitable foundation won’t create future conflicts of interest with foreign governments, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The Clinton Global Initiative has earned widespread plaudits for its efforts to eradicate AIDS, malaria and poverty in Africa. But it could prove problematic for Obama if the former president continues to seek donations from foreign countries – at the same time his wife is asking them for diplomatic concessions as Secretary of State. The Clinton Global initiative, which has raised more than $30 billion since 2005, has solicited major donations from a handful of foreign governments, including a $1 billion pledge from Norway in 2007....

"I doubt that they are looking for an excuse to pick someone else,” a neutral Democratic official said, “but rather are genuinely concerned that Bill Clinton’s work, while worthy, would be greatly complicating if she were SecState."...

***

The former president was in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Kuwait City, Kuwait, over the past four days and returned to the United States on Monday morning. Friends outside government said it seems reasonable for a couple to want to talk about a life decision over the kitchen table rather than over a crackly cell connection 10 time zones away. In Kuwait, the former president sure sounded like a man who wanted the job for his wife, so he might be expected to do what is necessary for her to earn Obama’s nod....

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15680.html

[FLAprogressive]

1. good. Now maybe someone with bona fide foreign policy cred like Bill Richardson can get the job n/t

[political_Dem]

6. I do too. We need people who actually have had positions within the international relations realm

to be considered.

[Metric System]

7. I assume Richardson needs to be vetted too. He has "issues."

[FLAprogressive]

8. no one can have more baggage than a Clinton. n/t

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[karynnj]

13. What about GHWB or his son?

Who are fortunately not on any short list? There are many people who's baggage is completely or at least substantially unknown to us.

[karynnj]

11. Exactly - any one needs to be vetted

The 2 most significant that I have heard on Richardson was that he completely mishandled the Wen Ho Lee case, leaking his name to the media. It is disturbing to me that this scientist was mistreated this way possibly because he was Chinese. He also seems to have he should not be allowed anywhere near any environmental treaty after his advocacy of piping Great Lakes water to the dry west.

There is no one that is above vetting or perceived so clean that vetting is not needed - even Gore and Kerry - who the Republicans failed to find anything on.

I hope they consider some career diplomats - especially as Biden will play a role.

[mkultra]

12. yup, everyone gets vetted. live with it.

[Metric System]

14. What is wrong with you? I've said in every single thread that Hillary and Bill should be vetted just

as any other candidate for SOS would be.

[mkultra]

16. so why are you asking the question then?

people are vetted irregardless of perceived "issues" ahead of time. whether you think Richardson has issues or others think Hillary does never changes the fact that all cabinet posts are vetted.

[Kalyke]

18. Or Wes Clark - who has oodles more than Richardson.

[onehandle]

2. I sincerely doubt that Obama would have made the offer without covering the bases. nt

[Cosmic Charlie]

15. that's just it, he didn't make any offer. he asked if she was willing to be vetted.

but that didn't stop 'leaks' from assuring everyone it was a done deal.

then we find that Bill Richardson was interviewed after this 'done deal'.
then we find that the Clintons haven't even agreed to be vetted.
then we realize the initial 'leak' was bullshit.

[S_E_Fudd]

3. Amazing how they can write so much...yet say so little...

An entire article based on nothing new...

The 24 hour news cycle I guess...

[WI_DEM]

4. Why does it always have to come down to Bill?

[Medusa]

10. Because Bill is not a neat package.

And he may well cost Hillary this SoS position.

[Median Democrat]

5. The Trick Is How To Do An Ethical Wall. Think of Buffet As Treasury Sec

Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State creates severe conflict of interest issues with Bill Clinton's global initiative, since Bill's group is essentially freelancing albeit for good causes. The upside is that the Global Initiative and Bill Clinton's connections give Hillary tremendous advantages as a SoS. The downside is that it also poses significiant conflict issues.

This is part of the reason why Warren Buffet as Secretary of State was a non-starter. Buffet simply could not divest himself of Berkshire Hathaway. With Bill, this should not be a problem, since it is a non-profit, and Bill does not "own" the Clinton Global initiative.

[DeepModem Mom]

17. NOTE: THIS DELAY AND ACRIMONY ARE BEING DENIED BY TRANSITION SOURCES. SEE THIS...

article from Marc Ambinder in The Atlantic:

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/11/on_wednesday_the_call_came.php

It's posted here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7882330

[Avalux]

19. What cabinet post? I haven't heard an 'official' announcement of any kind from Obama's team.

Everything that the media's reporting and clogging up this board is nothing more than speculation.

It's insane.