B. Clinton, Hagel react to picks
Posted: Monday, December 01, 2008 11:14 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
State Dept.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Two statements reacting to Obama's selection are from Chuck Hagel and Bill Clinton. Hagel, it seems, has been shut out from the Obama cabinet. The Nebraska Republican, who accompanied Obama abroad during the campaign, was talked about for VP, State and Defense, but he has been shut out from all three. Bill Clinton, of course, thought his wife at State was a good move, saying, "As an American, I am thankful...."
*** UPDATE *** Even Joe Lieberman (and Rush Limbaugh) have praise for Obama's picks.
LIEBERMAN: "I applaud President-Elect Obama for assembling a talented and bipartisan national security team. At a moment in history when our nation faces both great dangers and great opportunities in our foreign relations, the President-Elect has begun to build an administration that can lead America forward on the world stage with purpose and principle."
Limbaugh, per AP, called the pick of Clinton, "a brilliant stroke." "You know the old phrase, 'You keep your friends close and your enemies closer?' How can she run for president in 2012? She'd have to run against the incumbent and be critical of him -- the one who made her secretary of state," Limbaugh said.
CHUCK HAGEL:
"The national security team President-Elect Obama has assembled is a serious, experienced and widely respected group of leaders. They are all seasoned professionals. This team gives President-Elect Obama a strong foundation to build a new bipartisan consensus for America's foreign policy that will be required to confront the enormous 21st Century challenges facing America and the world. I congratulate President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden for assembling such an impressive team of strong and capable leaders."
BILL CLINTON:
"As an American, I am thankful that President-elect Barack Obama has asked Hillary to be Secretary of State and that she has accepted. As her husband, I am deeply proud. She is the right person for the job of helping to restore America's image abroad, end the war in Iraq, advance peace and increase our security, by building a future for our children with more partners and fewer adversaries, one of shared responsibilities and opportunities. She has already earned the respect of foreign leaders and diplomats through her work to promote human rights and the empowerment of women through access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity. And Americans know, from her leadership in the Senate on national security, that she will always put the security, values and the interests of our people first.
"In her service to the people of New York and our nation, Hillary has demonstrated the knowledge, passion, resilience, and capacity to learn that our country needs at this critical time. She loves being a Senator from New York, but as she has in all the thirty-seven years I've known her, she answered the call to serve. I commend President-Elect Obama for asking her to be a part of a great national security team. America will be well-served."
