Transition: Hillary in the spotlight

Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:12 AM by Domenico Montanaro

The Boston Globe previews Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearing today. "Hillary Clinton will be peppered not only with questions about foreign donations to Bill Clinton's foundation, but also about how she plans to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the North Korean and Iranian nuclear programs -- international crises that her husband made great efforts to solve, but ultimately passed on as unfinished business to future administrations. As Hillary Clinton lays out her worldview today, presenting what aides say will be the most detailed account yet of how President-elect Barack Obama's team intends to handle problems around the globe, many observers are looking forward to a return to the pragmatic approach espoused by Bill Clinton, who relied on high-level negotiations, special envoys, and international treaties to advance US interests."

The AP, before the hearing, seems to have already cleared Clinton. "Clinton appeared set to sail smoothly through a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, despite concerns among some lawmakers that the global fundraising of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, could pose ethical conflicts for her as President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state."

CQ also offers a good primer on today's confirmation hearings. For Clinton, look for questioners to pull quotes from the primary contest, during which Clinton was seen as more hawkish than the president-elect. For Energy Secretary-designee Steven Chu, the biggest debate may be over his skepticism about so-called "clean coal." Education nominee Arne Duncan will likely sail to confirmation, but senators on the committee will want to delve into the unique programs he implemented in Chicago. And Obama's appointee for OMB Director, Peter Orszag, may have to revise previous views -- that at times have been at odds with Obama's -- about measures like pharmaceutical pricing.

Here’s our confirmation calendar:
-- Tuesday, Jan. 13, 9:00 am ET: Office Mgmt & Budget: Peter Orszag (Senate Budget Committee)
-- Tuesday, Jan. 13, 10:00 am ET: Education: Arne Duncan (HELP Committee)
-- Tuesday, Jan. 13: Energy Secretary: Steven Chu (Energy and Natural Resources Committee)
-- Tuesday, Jan. 13, 10:00 am ET: HUD: Shaun Donovan (Banking Committee)
-- Tuesday, Jan. 13, 9:30 am ET: State: Sen. Hillary Clinton (Foreign Relations Committee)
-- Wednesday, Jan. 14: Veteran Affairs: Gen. Eric Shinseki (Veterans' Affairs Committee)
-- Thursday, Jan. 15: Interior: Sen. Ken Salazar (Energy and Natural Resources Committee)
-- Thursday, Jan. 15: Attorney General: Eric Holder (Judiciary Committee)
-- Thursday, Jan. 15, 10:00 am ET: Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano (Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee)
-- Thursday, Jan. 15, 9:30 am: UN Ambassador: Susan Rice (Foreign)

Per the transition office this morning, Obama has announced that Bill Corr -- currently executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and a former chief of staff at HHS during the Clinton years -- will be Tom Daschle’s No. 2 at HHS.

In news on the inauguration, "Obama, facing criticism from gay rights advocates for picking an evangelical pastor who helped overturn same-sex marriage in California to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, has chosen the openly gay Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire to offer a prayer at a pre-inauguration event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial."

There will be a free concert for inauguration to be broadcast on HBO from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the Lincoln Memorial. "The star-studded lineup for the "We Are One" concert, announced Monday, includes Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp, Usher, Shakira, James Taylor, will.i.am, Stevie Wonder and, yes, Obama. Actors Jamie Foxx, Denzel Washington and Queen Latifah, as well as Martin Luther King 3rd, will lend their voices by reading historical passages at the concert two days before Obama's swearing-in."

"They're going to party like it's 1861!" the New York Post writes. "In what will be a Lincoln-themed inauguration from top to bottom, Obama won't only follow in the footsteps of the former president -- he'll also eat like him, it was announced yesterday." The takes the theme to its cover with a PhotoShopped Obama in top hat and tuxedo with the headline "Abe-bama." (Slow news day?)

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Comments

Dems Lightly (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:37 AM)

Hillary will do well in her confirmation hearings. I recall when she worked to sell her health plan during the Bill Clinton Presidency. She was not successful, but she handled herself quite well. She conducted herself well in the 20+ debates and she is up on the issues. There will always be questions about Bill, and Hillary will answer them. By Friday Hillary will resign her Senate seat as she will be confirmed as the new Secretary of State.

Ron Indiana (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:38 AM)

Bush's Prescription for the GOP.

In retrospect, it is simply amazing that Dubya got elected in 2004. He is the same inept, bumling, lackluster leader that he was when he was appointed in 2000. The GOP, under Rove's guidance, used fear, religion, and patriotism to railroad some of us into thinking that George would finally fix what he had broken. It was not to be and we knew it.

Sarah Palin, using Rove's playbook, tried to employ the same tactics, and thankfully they failed. Her acceptance speech at the RNC convention gave America a true revelation of what the Republican party had become. They appeared to be an exclusive club that displayed very little diversity in race, age, or open mindedness. It was a party of the 1950's and a stark contrast to the DNC of the 21st century.

The Republican party will regroup and re-invent itself, but I hope it is no time soon. The country needs time to heal and recover from the last 8 years.

J. Ellis, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:05 AM)

Boy, that Chuck Schumer just has to find a TV camera somewhere doesn't he LOL.....

First time Hillary locks horns with Obama, she will find out why she got her butt handed to her the first time by Obama.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:09 AM)

The AP has cleared Hillary? No surprise there. The AP is nothing more then one big cheerleader for the Clinton's in particular, and the Democrats in general. They should print pom-poms around all of their stories about the Democrats.
Dems Lightly
====================================================
I wonder how FOX is going to cover the Hillary hearings. Of course they will be biased big time in the other direction. So if we listen to one liberal media outlet and one conservative media outlet we get the middle and most likely the closest to the truth.

eagle1776 (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:11 AM)

The AP has cleared Hillary? No surprise there. The AP is nothing more then one big cheerleader for the Clinton's in particular, and the Democrats in general. They should print pom-poms around all of their stories about the Democrats.
Dems Lightly
***************************************************

GREAT IDEA! Let's Do it!

At least this country now has a chance with a new administration coming in. I never once voted for Bush, and I am so glad to see him leaving office. He has left the country in a shambles. However, with that said, I will also hold Obama accountable, if he errs, I will be the first to admit it. (Unlike repubs who only blame others) I voted for Obama, but he still has to deliver....

Pom Poms are Cool! (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:26 AM)

I never wanted Hillary for President. Having said that, Hillary -- and this was written in the Stars...is right where she needs to be, in the position she needs to be in...at the time that this Nation of ours needs her in there. For months and months, I said Obama was going to pick her for Secretary of State. I had it down to Hillary or Joe Biden.

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:40 AM)

When Hill's away on business pretending to like Obama's policies and spread his good will to other nations (we all know she leans more toward Bush), what will her chubby hubby be doing?

Your guess is as right on as mine.

Here Kitty (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:48 AM)

I think hillary will do well i also feel that guy next to her is nothing but a senator looking for free advertisment and i hope he get voted out nothing but a glorified senator who has contributed to this mess. I think he setting up his campaign for next election...Boy we keep getting the same and we keep getting screwed, buy power hungry politicians who only care about themselves.....

Russell Fox Wells, Me (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:23 PM)

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