Transition: Progress on Bill's vetting?

Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:22 AM by Mark Murray

Per the transition office, Obama and Biden hold private meetings in Chicago today and have no public events.

Speculation over Hillary Clinton becoming Obama’s secretary of state continues to dominate the transition chatter. The New York Times has this piece (and it’s not your ordinary story; it's by investigative reporters Van Natta and Becker): “While aides to the president-elect declined Monday to discuss what sort of requirements would make it possible for Mrs. Clinton to serve as secretary of state, they said Mr. Obama would not formally offer her the job unless he was satisfied that there would be no conflicts posed by Mr. Clinton’s activities abroad.”

Video: Former White House Chief of Staff discusses the transfer of power to Barack Obama and what it would mean for both Clintons if Hillary Clinton was chosen as secretary of state.

”Associates of the Clintons said that Mr. Clinton was likely to have to make significant concessions and that he was inclined to do so. Among other things, they said, he would probably have to agree not to take money for speeches from foreign businesses that have a stake in the actions of the American government. Another obvious issue, Democratic lawyers said, would be whether Mr. Clinton’s foundation should accept money from foreign governments, businesses or individuals for the foundation’s philanthropic activities and if it should disclose those donors publicly.”

But Politico says the vetting of Bill Clinton is not going well. Obama "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.”

More: Democratic officials make it sound as if the job has been all but offered to Hillary Clinton. 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."

Channeling First Read, the Boston Globe notes the would-be irony if Obama were to pick Clinton to be secretary of state. "[H]e would be giving her oversight of an area where the two former rivals diverged sharply during their prolonged primary battle: foreign policy… It is the one arena in which Obama and Clinton articulated significantly different visions."

Politico's Ben Smith adds, "From his supporters on the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, to campaign aides of the soon-to-be commander-in-chief, there's a sense of ambivalence about giving a top political plum to a woman they spent 18 months hammering as the compromised standard-bearer of an era that deserves to be forgotten.”

Bloomberg News reports that Gates' chances of staying on at the Pentagon rise if Clinton is tapped as secretary of state. Do note the very positive words that Jack Reed, someone Obama relies on for national security advice, has for Gates.

The Washington Post delves into the overall vetting process for every Obama appointee. "Inquiries into candidates' backgrounds grow deeper as each administration's scandals add new thresholds. In the 1980s, a history of marijuana use killed some nominations. During the past decade, scandals about domestic workers clouded transitions. Clinton's nominee for attorney general, Zoe Baird, withdrew from consideration when it became public that she and her husband had hired a Peruvian couple living in the country illegally as a babysitter and chauffeur. Eight years later, Bush's nominee for secretary of labor, Linda Chavez, withdrew after she was found to have provided haven to an illegal immigrant from Guatemala. Obama's questionnaire has four questions about domestic workers."

The Washington Post also notes the number of aides being hired by Obama who have Capitol Hill experience, and it speculates this could mean that Obama ends up with a better relationship with the Hill than any previous president in quite some time.

USA Today dives into the choices Obama has for picking a church.

OUR OBAMA CABINET SPECULATION LIST:
Chief of staff: Emanuel NAMED / Deputies: Jim Messina NAMED, Mona Sutphen NAMED:
Senior advisers: Valerie Jarrett NAMED, Peter Rouse NAMED
Assistant to the president for legislative affairs: Phil Schiliro NAMED
White House counsel: Greg Craig
Press Secretary: Robert Gibbs
Biden chief of staff: Ron Klain NAMED

POTENTIAL CABINET MEMBERS:
Agriculture: Tom Vilsack, Tom Buis (Natl Farmers Union), Charlie Stenholm, Jim Leach, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
Commerce: Penny Pritzker, Kathleen Sebelius, John Thompson (Symantec), Ron Kirk (former Dallas Mayor), Scott Harris (Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis fndr)
Defense: Robert Gates, Richard Danzig, Chuck Hagel, Sam Nunn, Jack Reed, Colin Powell, John Hamre, Tim Roemer, Thomas Pickering, Anthony Zinni
Education: Joel Klein (NYC), Linda Darling-Hammond, Kathleen Sebelius, Colin Powell, Jim Hunt, Arne Duncan, Inez Tenenbaum, Michael Bennett, George Miller
Energy: Kathleen Sebelius, Philip Sharp, Ed Rendell, Arnold Schwarzenegger (has said no), Al Gore, Jeff Bingaman, Jennifer Granholm, Steve Westly, Frederico Pena, Dan Reicher, Jason Grumet
HHS: Tom Daschle, Howard Dean (reportedly ruled out), Eric Whitaker Homeland Security: Tim Roemer, Ray Kelly, James Lee Witt, Tom Kean Sr, Jane Harman, Janet Napolitano, Artur Davis
HUD: Jim Clyburn, Shirley Franklin (Atlanta mayor)
Interior: Bill Richardson, Jay Inslee, John Kitzhaber, Tony Knowles, Ken Salazar, Jamie Rappoport Clark, Brian Schweitzer
Justice (AG): Eric Holder, Janet Napolitano, Charles Ogletree, Deval Patrick, James Comey, Patrick Fitzgerald, Artur Davis, Tim Kaine, Jamie Gorelick (but was vice chair of Fannie), Ken Feinberg, Cass Sunstein, Kathleen Sullivan (Stanford Law prof, possible Solicitor General. Also possible SGs: Beth Brinkmann – DC Atty; Preeta Bansal – Skadden, Arps; Elena Kagan –Harvard law dean; Pamela Karlan—Stanford; Teresa Wynn Roseborough -- MetLife litigation counsel)
Labor: Andy Stern (SEIU) (said not interested), Richard Gephardt, George Miller, David Bonior
State: John Kerry, Bill Richardson, Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, Richard Holbrooke, Chris Dodd, Hillary Clinton, Thomas Pickering
Transportation: Ed Rendell, Jane Garvey, Mortimer Downey, Earl Blumenauer, Steve Heminger, James Oberstar
Treasury: Larry Summers, Tim Geithner, Paul Volcker, Robert Rubin, Jon Corzine, Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Laura Tyson, Jamie Dimon (JP MorganChase), Jacob "Jack" Lew, Sheila Bair, Indira Nooyi,
Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland, Tammy Duckworth

OTHER POSITIONS:
CIA: Tony Lake, John Brennan
DNI: Tony Lake, John Brennan, Tim Roemer, Rand Beers, Jane Harman, John Abizaid, Evan Bayh
FEMA: James Lee Witt
EPA: Howard Learner (Pres, Exec. Dir, Environmental Law and Policy Center), Ian Bowles (MA), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kathleen Sebelius, Kathleen McGinty (former secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection), Mary Nichols (chair of California's Air Resources Board), Robert Sussman, Dan Esty
FBI: Robert Mueller (term expires 2011)
Fed Chair: Ben Bernanke (at least for first year)
FDA: Steven Nissen (Cleveland Clinic), Joshua Sharfstein (Baltimore health commissioner), Janet Woodcock (Big Pharma's choice), Susan Wood (GWU occupational and environmental health professor), Diana Zuckerman (president, National Research Center for Women & Families)
Natl. Economic Council: Jason Furman, Austan Goolsbee, Laura Tyson Natl Sec Adviser: Jim Steinberg, Rand Beers, Susan Rice, Greg Craig
NSC: Dennis Ross, Susan Rice, Tony Lake
OMB: John Spratt Jr., Gene Sperling, Jason Furman Peace Corps: Chris Shays
UN Ambassador: Caroline Kennedy, Susan Rice
USTR: Cal Dooley (American Chemistry Council president), Daniel K. Tarullo (Georgetown University law professor), Lael Brainard (Brookings Institution vice president)

Other mentions for various White House staff posts: Patti Solis Doyle, David Wilhelm, John Rogers, Bill Daley, Cass Sunstein, Bob Bauer (WH counsel), Michael Froman, Federico Pena, Lawrence J. Korb, Carol Browner (Clinton's EPA head), Thomas Perrelli, David Ogden, Terry Tamminen (climate change, adviser to Schwarzenegger)

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Comments

Vet Hillary Clinton all you want -- it's still going to be a tough sell.

There is a huge conflict of interest in employing the spouse of a former POTUS. President Clinton is able to make a phone call and sit down with virtually ANY world leader. And what about any monies that the Clinton Global Initiative has taken from potentially unfriendly entities or countries?

People are knocking the Obama camp for vetting Hillary this much, but I think that -- given factors like these -- it's extremely necessary. And, it's still going to be a tough row to hoe.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:31 AM)

Well certainly Obama is putting together a list of big names that will surely bring in big crowds where ever they show up. But Hillary has about as much experience in foreign affairs as she did at being President. She's had tea and cookies with foreign leaders but hasn't ever negotiated a deal with a foreign government. Even Palin has done that with the oil deals she has done in Alaska. But the MSM of course will ignore this little fact because, well, this is Hillary, and she's a liberal Democrat.

T. Bradford, Detroit MI (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:33 AM)

Maybe Hillary can start with the NAFTA bill. She was for it when he husband signed it, now she can be against it.

NAFTA-Lite (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:35 AM)

So it turns out, all the "Change" Obama was talking about was bringing back the Clinton reruns. Looks like "Change" is all but gone with these appointments, so the only left is "Hope". I imagine that will go out the window soon too.

Clark Gables, Union City CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:38 AM)

John McCain could have introduced some vetting into his campaign when he picked his VP running mate. Eh, John? Do you even know the definition of the word? You big dope.

Full Moon (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:39 AM)

I HAVE A THEORY AS TO WHY OBAMA IS ATTEMPTING TO GIVE SEC OF STATE TO CLINTON:

He knows how dangerous the Clintons are therefore he has decided to offer her the position in order to castrate their power over his White House. If the Clintons are vetted "Obama Style", all of their dirty little secrets will be out in the open for the world to see. Thus rendering them impotent.
This gives him cover to choose who he really wants in this position and quiets all of the Clinton cronnies.

The Clinton legacy would be official OVER!

Let's pray I am right...

MR (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:41 AM)

In about 8 years Barak Obama will be subject to the same vetting process Bill Clinton is getting.
It is wise to check things out, but Obama is definitely setting the standard for how Obama himself will be judged for future ventures.

bw cinti (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:45 AM)

Hillary would make a great U.S Attorney General for our nation. She knows the law very well, and could put some real legal "guts" back into the Department of Justice quickly. For 8 years the Justice Department under Bush-Cheney has been a joke, and has only helped propel political corruption. Hillary will be a distraction for Obama Administration, because her husband has his hands into too many economic "cookie jars." The future "conflicts of interest" would be very difficult to sort out politically. The best individual for Secretary of State would be Sam Nunn of Georgia. He has solid record, and has a clear vision on foreign policy. That is fact!

Rock,Janesville,Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:46 AM)

Bill screws Hillary again...didn't we just see this in the primary?

Barack is consistent with the Clinton's own shortcomings

BJ, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:54 AM)

No, no, no,no, NO!!! Too many skeletons in BOTH their closets!! Colin Powell is thenatural choice.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:56 AM)

FR - I just want you guys to know, although sometimes I come down hard on the media (and it's only because you guys need at times "oversight) I really do appreciate what you guys do.

Now, the so called bail out, housing crisis etc; why have no one in government or the media pointed out the real reason we are in this financial mess?

We all now it was the greedy oil companies and speculators that created a chain of events that affected our main street markets in an effort to continued the wind fall profits of the wall street markets.

But, yet we bailed Wall Street out, even after many were made billionaires.

The Bush administration is completely responsible for the down fall of our economy.

SO, don’t forget that it was the oil companies and speculators that started the price rise in energy cost and thereby affecting everything directly and indirectly associated with it.

Oil companies and speculators started the big economic downward spiral. Their actions are what caused the rise in prices on food and other everyday needs. They are what caused less money in the consumer’s pockets, which is needed to sustain our economy.

They are why people are scared to spend whatever extra money they had. They are the reason people are losing their jobs.

So, we know President Elect Barack Obama, won’t allow this to happen to U.S. again. He will stop the speculators and the Oil Companies from ever stealing the money of hard working Americans; simply by gauging and monopolizing the markets.

Frankly, as an American I wish we could prosecute these villains and send them to prison for treason.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:21 AM)

It seems to me that Bill Clinton has hurt Hillary
way more than he has helped her. If she had been on her own I promise you she would have gotten just as far by herself, she is smart and ambitious. She is a political being, she just gets it. She is where she is in spite of Bill not because of him. When shes loses this cabinet seat because of him I hope she will divorce him and get on with her life. She is much better than he is, as a person. She let him and his minions ruin her campaign, although I supported Obama from the begining, I allways thought she could do the job, not as well as Obama but better than McCain. Well good luck Hillary, hope your hubby dont keep you down again. I know he will embarress you again, with his women and with his ethics. But again good luck
marty

marty,columbia,s.c. (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:22 AM)

MR....

And when the vetting , Obama style, is complete and there is nothing to report will you accept the findings?

Bill Clinton is a very popular guy in this world and he has used his popularity to get some very rich people to "spread their wealth" and do some very good things.... What exactly is wrong with a person using their good name and office to promote good causes and to raise money in support of these good causes?

New Indi (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:36 AM)

Can anyone tell me if Barack Obama himself has been as scrutinized for his assoications and his past? Did he sell drugs or did he just inhale them? Give me a break. The Obama team just wants to vett Hillary very carefully now. Oh, I forgot, didn't Mrs Obama have to resign her job because it posed a conflict of interest for her husband's candidacy? The Obama team is a joke. Change is really having those in the White House who have already been there. Add some "dirty" Chicago style politics in there, and you really have what the American people deserve. SCANDAL !!!!!!!!!!!!! Good Luck to the snake oil salesman we now have as our next President. Can't wait to see what excuses the media will make then. I'm just waiting.

Susan (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:52 AM)

I have doubts that anyone (including Bill) can pull in the reins on Bill Clinton. Bill is going to do what he wants to do. He will not play "second" to anyone... Not his wife, not Obama (whom he holds with some degree of contempt).

This is only a problem with one cabinet position - Secretary of State. Put Hillary anywhere else (AG as Rock and other have mentioned) or Labor, Education, Health... anywhere except Secretary of State...

JL, Kansas City, Missouri (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:01 AM)

remember eisenhower and the norman rockwell years.since then we have had kennedy johnson and nixon lie to us about vietnam. carter and reagan both non-entities dismissing reagans' theatrics. bush, clinton,bush skull and bones all.my oh my how does clinton get his cuban cigars past the technological eavesdropping of the present day or better yet snoop dog get his escalade to afghanistan to smuggle in 90 tons of opium for his heroine addicted brethren. my oh my , my oh my.thank god we have palin on the horizon ahhhhhhhhhahahaha. my oh my my oh my.free market feudalism.in the words of my heroes ,bring it on , mr. america tear down that secrecy which envelopes our democracy. do not go gently into the night. it's not over with the election yet it can and must begin with this president. don't think you've done your part by voting, democracy is of ,by and for the people not to be governed by for and of the elite . get involved , it may be the only life you ever have.

rick burroughs (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:02 AM)

No one on the "Democrat progressice side" complained when Hillary's campaigning for Obama gave him the edge in Florida, Penn and possibly Minnesota.
I think she is a great choice. Obama is going to do it his way... get use to it!

Bill Charlotte,NC (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:03 AM)

If Bill fails vetting, look for Hillary to divorce him within the year.
Plus he campaigned for her so hard, and dived head-first into ruining his legacy, that I wouldn't be overly surprised if Hillary was using a bit of "leverage".
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there is affection there. However, he's done her wrong so many times that I have trouble seeing it as anything but a business partnership.

Chris, Seattle, WA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:03 AM)

THE CLINTONS ARE THE MOST VETTED COUPLE IN WASHINGTON. THERE IS NO OTHER PERSON OR COUPLE IN ANY ADM. HAS BEEN VETTED THAT MUCH.

HILLARY CLINTON IS GOING TO BE SEC. OF STATE PERIOD. HOW MUCH MORE DO THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CLINTONS.

IM NOT A FAN OF THE CLINTONS BUT DAMN HOW MUCH VETTING IS ENOUGH.

JOE GLAYTON GEORGIA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:07 AM)

Frankly, I'm suprised she is even interested inn Sec. of State... I think that Hillary serves our country best in the Senate. By virtue of her name, stature and the state she Represents, she essentially has her seat for as long as she wants it(Senator for Life). She could be very effective in pushing any agenda, even if it's unpopular to some, and have no re-election worries. This is a position that is currently held by Ted Kennedy. I believe this position would hold as much, or more, power than that of Sec. of State.(serves at the pleasure of the Pres.) Besides, what is she going to do four years from now, after Barack is re-elected and is looking to revitalize his Administration with some new cabinet secretaries. I suppose she could start her 2016 campaign, but won't she be close to McCains age by then?

Chris, NH (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:12 AM)

We appear to be over thinking on this blog. We are such a "Perez Hilton" group that we will manufacture all the drama Obama can handle.

Sandy, IN (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:20 AM)

It is Bill, once again, creating doubts about Hillary's future. He was partly responsible for her downfall when campaigning, but, if he has no skeletons why is he stalling?
I think she would make a good Secretary of State, but support Obama's vetting process.
The republicans will grasp at anything to try and destroy the Democrats and the future of our country, so caution has to be used.

katiec Pekin, IL (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:30 AM)

Fred Kirschenmann for Sec. of Agriculture!!!

Collin (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:43 AM)

There are alot of small petty dare I say bitter people that just love to talk smack about the Clintons. You would think that Bill had cheated on them personally. This country needs strong intelligent people with strong skill sets. The myriad of problems that we as a nation face are far to serious to play gossipy parlor games on who is or is not up to some peoples far leaning moral standards. You either want to solve the problems or your satisfied with the mess that we are in. Grow up.

Robin (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:54 AM)

Before Hillary Clinton can become Secretary of State:

1) Bill Clinton must provide a complete listing of all donors to his foundation and presidential library.
2) Both Bill and Hillary Clinton need to clearly indicate that any and all private financial dealings and other interactions with foreign leaders is now over, unless specifically authorized by the US government.
3) Hillary Clinton needs to publically discuss exactly what her approach to the job of Secretary of State would be and clearly indicate how she would be able to perform that job without any conflict of interest whatsoever.

If the Clintons are unwilling or unable to comply with the above requirements Hillary Clinton should not become Secretary of State.

Robert Long Beach, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:04 PM)

I don't see Clinton becoming the next Secretary of State. Why would she give up her super-powerful Senate seat for a transitory position that would be so different from her current politics? I don't see what's in it for her.

Allen, NYC (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:08 PM)

I have serious misgivings about Hillary as Secretary of State. The Clintons have a long history of drama and scandal, and the last thing America and the Obama administration need is scandal. Bill is a proven liar, and I don't think anyone can believe what he may promise. Conflict of interest and the liklihood of scandal are all over this.
Is it even worth the risk? There are a number of other choices for this position, and most, if not all, are more qualified to fill the position than Hillary - all without the risk. I'm sure there are other mutually, more satisfactory places for Hillary, and I think Obama will find them.

Cynthia (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:20 PM)

Colin Powell still makes the best choice for SS in Obama's cabinet. Should Obama be so foolish as to offer Clinton the top job, I trust that he would also be smart enough to get her to write an undated letter of resignation at the same time as she accepts the appointment. Then, at the first ego stunt from either Bill or Hill, he dates the letter and then - BINGO - she's down the road and gone!

Oliver R. Baker, North Vancouver, BC, Canada (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:24 PM)

Why are the American people so in love with the Clinton's? Didn't the voters send a message that it was time for a change. Clinton's OUT, "Defining moment" Get them out.

Dean Otterson, Tipton, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:30 PM)

Comparing H. Clinton and Palins foriegn policy experience is laughable. Clinton could chew her up and spit her out in a heartbeat. The pipeline deal was "negotiated" (and I use that term lightly) with Canada. She has been out of the country twice? Hilary may not have negotiated any deals - but she has many contacts and is well respected around the world. She actually knows what foriegn leaders names are and what they look like. Palin is finally back in the wilderness of Alaska. And, oh, please don't kill any animals now that your there. Take some classes instead.

stephanie, ft. pierce, fl. (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:31 PM)

If the Big Dawg won't come clean, Obama should say "Thanks, but no thanks" and pick Kerry or Richardson.

Ol' Lefty (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 1:13 PM)

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