US News
Bill says Hillary was "shocked" by secretary-of-state proposal
Dec 3, 2008, 19:17 GMT
Washington - Senator Hillary Clinton was 'shocked' by the possibility that president-elect Barack Obama would consider her as his secretary of state, according to an interview with her husband, former president Bill Clinton, on CNN Wednesday.
'I think she was shocked' when she read speculation about the nomination, he said of the leaked indications she would be named.
On Monday, Obama nominated his erstwhile bitter rival, Hillary Clinton, as the nation's top diplomat, bringing her high-profile name into his cabinet and helping to heal wounds among Democrats over the long contest for the Democratic Party's nomination.
Sketching out his vision of his role if Hillary is confirmed by the Senate for the job, Clinton told CNN in an interview in Hong Kong that he expects to be a 'helpful sounding board' for his wife, 'but I don't think I'll do any more than that.'
'I really care about all these profound challenges that our country and the world are facing,' Clinton said. 'But the decisions will have to be ultimately president-elect Obama's decisions.'
Clinton said he would remain in the background unless Obama 'asks me to do something specifically, which I'm neither looking forward to nor closed to.'
The former president said he and the former first lady always discussed issues during his years as Arkansas governor and his 1993- 2001 presidency.
One of the pre-conditions of her nomination set by the Obama team was that globe-trotting Bill Clinton, who gave CNN the interview in Hong Kong, disclose the estimated 200,000 donors to his foundation that reportedly include foreign interests.
Clinton said he had agreed to the conditions to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest and to defuse worries that donors were trying to influence US international policy - even though the move would be 'over and above what the law requires.'
'If she is going to be secretary of state and I operate globally and I have people who contribute to these efforts globally, I think that it's important to make it totally transparent,' the former president said.
The disclosure of contributors was one of nine conditions Clinton signed off on during discussions with Obama's team, the New York Times reported last week.
Other concessions included separate incorporation of his Clinton Global Initiative from his foundation, so he has less direct involvement. The initiative focusses on fighting disease, poverty and climate change, and will no longer meet outside the US or accept foreign government donations, the Times wrote, quoting unnamed people close to Obama.
The former president also is to give advance copies of his speeches and business activities for State Department and possibly White House review.
Bill Clinton routinely gets paid high six-figure fees for speaking to foreign organizations. He travels the world for both business and charitable events - activities which could raise questions while his wife is leading US foreign policy.
Some of his donors have included the Saudi royal family, the king of Morocco, a foundation linked to the United Arab Emirates, the governments of Kuwait and Qatar and a tycoon who is the son-in-law of Ukraines former authoritarian president, the Times reported.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
the other person shocked was our stupid buddy sp4
'...we landed under fire'
'..I rode in the back with the black guys'
'...Vince Foster'
Did ya ever wonder why they took his law license away?
Ever wonder? No that was over 8 years ago and what has transpired since then trumps any negative any idiot could still get out of the Clinton years. The funny part is that still 8 years later, more people have respect for Bill Clinton that GWB.
To bad you can't live in today's world SP4, but we really don't care what you think anyway!
Bush never lied to a federal judge. He may not be respected for that, but...
that still makes Clinton a liar.
Now, this marionette you elected president will jump to a cadre of Clintonites, who are already pulling the strings. This is because empty shirted citizens like you either do not know, or refuse to believe the truth. Libnazis rely on the weak minded to not know, as proven by the exit polls.
Change...the change you wanted and the change you got..Pinochio.
Old guys just continue to live in the past. This is a new day, the Republicans lost big time. They had 8 years to screw with this country, and they did it royally.
continues to be a drug addled moron.
..would not make me wrong.
'Bush never lied to a federal judge. He may not be respected for that, but...'
No he just lied and got 4000 US soldiers killed and 15,000 wounded---kind of the same don't you think?
'that still makes Clinton a liar.'
And that still makes Bush the worst president in history....
'Now, this marionette you elected president will jump to a cadre of Clintonites, who are already pulling the strings. This is because empty shirted citizens like you either do not know, or refuse to believe the truth. Libnazis rely on the weak minded to not know, as proven by the exit polls.'
We will see don't you think. The good thing is that you got your pompus asses handed to you. There is nothing working as it should and it is you and yours fault---good job, set our country back at least 25 years.
'Change...the change you wanted and the change you got..Pinochio.'
Thank god, see comment above---and as usual that still makes you worthless and wrong.
SP4: well ProfessorDec 4th, 2008 - 23:09:59
'Bush never lied to a federal judge. He may not be respected for that, but...'
No he just lied and got 4000 US soldiers killed and 15,000 wounded---kind of the same don't you think?
SP4 - '...we do not need to find WMD's to know...that Saddam used them or that he has the will and means to make them' - Martti Ahtisaari, 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner - that being the case, it is not the same, professor.
'that still makes Clinton a liar.'
And that still makes Bush the worst president in history....
sp4 - perhaps but his collegues do not see fit to remove his professional credentials, or impeach him. That being the case, I'd say you need to re-evaluate...everything...
'Now, this marionette you elected president will jump to a cadre of Clintonites, who are already pulling the strings. This is because empty shirted citizens like you either do not know, or refuse to believe the truth. Libnazis rely on the weak minded to not know, as proven by the exit polls.'
We will see don't you think. The good thing is that you got your pompus asses handed to you. There is nothing working as it should and it is you and yours fault---good job, set our country back at least 25 years.
sp4 - yes, as he writes a check for the auto compaines McCain would not write...ponder that.
'Change...the change you wanted and the change you got..Pinochio.'
Thank god, see comment above---and as usual that still makes you worthless and wrong.
SP4 - yeah, read the comments above and be sure to get back to us.
'SP4 - '...we do not need to find WMD's to know...that Saddam used them or that he has the will and means to make them' - Martti Ahtisaari, 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner - that being the case, it is not the same, professor.'
So the rightwing stance is that it is OK to sacrafice 4000 + and 15000 wounded of 'Americas Best' for the 'chance' that this guy could reconsitite? Typical and shows just why you lost big in '06 and bigger in '08.
'sp4 - perhaps but his collegues do not see fit to remove his professional credentials, or impeach him. That being the case, I'd say you need to re-evaluate...everything...'
'Collegues'? Even the most adamate supporter of this joker has run for cover. I did not see many people asking their 'collegue' GWB to hit the campaign trail with them. What a joke, your fallen hero will never recover.
'sp4 - yes, as he writes a check for the auto compaines McCain would not write...ponder that.'
I do believe that McSame did in fact vote for the $750 bailout of Wall Street---and would in fact greenlight this bailout---you on the right have forgotten that it is OK to do something for the country without getting your own pockets greased.
'SP4 - yeah, read the comments above and be sure to get back to us.'
As stated, 'worthless and wrong'---idiot stick.
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SP4: yeah, Sure and...Dec 3rd, 2008 - 19:19:12
...'I did not have sex with that woman'
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