Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell: Words Matter
PHOTO: Can You Spot An Obama?
Today President-Elect Barack Obama introduced his choices for his national security team, which had been under speculation by pundits since the election. Leading the pack was New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, his former adversary, who will now be Secretary of State.Clinton, being who she is; a White House veteran, Democratic Senate stalwart, and now even foreign policy intellectual was a smart choice for the incoming Obama administration. She'll be the Quarterback on his Team of Rivals. However, Obama has also picked an interesting person, whose name is not really known outside of diplomacy circles as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Susan Rice (no relation to the current Secretary of State), is probably as smart a choice for that position as Clinton is for hers. Reason being is because in addition to being a current Brookings Institution fellow, she has already served on the National Security Council in the (Bill) Clinton administration, was a senior adviser to John Kerry's campaign for national security affairs and as assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. ...
To get a sampling of how she thinks, check Rice out debating Joe Scarborough on MSNBC.
In other words Obama has picked someone who while very young, has not immersed herself in the world of foreign policy, but can guard against the poor choices made in the Clinton administration -- particularly regarding Africa. That time a genocide took place in Rwanda while America watched on television, then shoved another Twinkie in its mouth.
As I've written before, the same type of conflict is shaping up in the Congo, and history will repeat if nothing is done. However, in a position with the United Nations, Rice may be able to sound a strong warning that a humanitarian tragedy may be only months away.
Comments: (13)
Add a comment
By: BETTYEJ on 12/01/2008 4:20PM
I will go on the record and say up front that Hillary Clinton has no more experience then Sarah Palin and will never measure up to C. Rice. I vote for Obama, but so far all I am seeing is Bill Clinton's left overs. If that how we will get that change, I should have stayed at home. And by the way, Bill Clinton will never change so get ready for the Clinton next four years!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: BETTYEJ on 12/01/2008 5:18PM
Hillary Clinton, no experience!
From what I gather, Hillary speaks no foreign language..
Hillary Diane Rodham, Dorothy and Hugh Rodham's first child, was born on October 26, 1947. Two brothers, Hugh and Tony, soon followed. Hillary's childhood in Park Ridge, Illinois, was happy and disciplined. She loved sports and her church, and was a member of the National Honor Society, and a student leader. Her parents encouraged her to study hard and to pursue any career that interested her.
Wellesley College
Yale Law School
Profession Lawyer, Senator
As an undergraduate at Wellesley College, Hillary mixed academic excellence with school government. Speaking at graduation, she said, "The challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible."
In 1969, Hillary entered Yale Law School, where she served on the Board of Editors of Yale Law Review and Social Action, interned with children's advocate Marian Wright Edelman, and met Bill Clinton. The President often recalls how they met in the library when she strode up to him and said, "If you're going to keep staring at me, I might as well introduce myself." The two were soon inseparable--partners in moot court, political campaigns, and matters of the heart.
After graduation, Hillary advised the Children's Defense Fund in Cambridge and joined the impeachment inquiry staff advising the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives. After completing those
Codi Rice, who he should have asked to stay on!
Born November 14, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama, she earned her bachelor's degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her master's from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been awarded honorary doctorates from Morehouse College in 1991, the University of Alabama in 1994, the University of Notre Dame in 1995, the National Defense University in 2002, the Mississippi College School of Law in 2003, the University of Louisville and Michigan State University in 2004. She resides in Washington, D.C.
In addition to English, she speaks Russian, German, French, and Spanish according to her biography. She has major experience in Russian foreign affairs so that is a given. She is no doubt conversational in more languages. She is brilliant by any standard so I have no reason to doubt that rather insignificant accomplishment
From what I gather, Hillary speaks none.
Hillary Diane Rodham, Dorothy and Hugh Rodham's first child, was born on October 26, 1947. Two brothers, Hugh and Tony, soon followed. Hillary's childhood in Park Ridge, Illinois, was happy and disciplined. She loved sports and her church, and was a member of the National Honor Society, and a student leader. Her parents encouraged her to study hard and to pursue any career that interested her.
Wellesley College
Yale Law School
Profession Lawyer, Senator
As an undergraduate at Wellesley College, Hillary mixed academic excellence with school government. Speaking at graduation, she said, "The challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible."
In 1969, Hillary entered Yale Law School, where she served on the Board of Editors of Yale Law Review and Social Action, interned with children's advocate Marian Wright Edelman, and met Bill Clinton. The President often recalls how they met in the library when she strode up to him and said, "If you're going to keep staring at me, I might as well introduce myself." The two were soon inseparable--partners in moot court, political campaigns, and matters of the heart.
After graduation, Hillary advised the Children's Defense Fund in Cambridge and joined the impeachment inquiry staff advising the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives. After completing those
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: a. james on 12/04/2008 2:08PM
I have been a strong supporter of Barack Obama and hold high hopes for the next 4 years. I am, however, somewhat disappointed that Barack's cabinet seems to reflect what I hoped was a passe image of diversity.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: a. james on 12/01/2008 6:22PM
I have been a strong supporter of Barack Obama and hold high hopes for the next four years, but I'm disappointed that his cabinet so far reflects what I hoped was a passe image of Black "diversity".
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Marilyn on 12/01/2008 7:52PM
The country is in so much termoil that he has to put those old-timers in place so they can manuever through the system. New people will have to start from scratch and it would take too long.
After we get out of this mess, he can put his own new people into place. But in the meantime (we have to wait), it is still the old boys network and they know how to get stuff moving and things done quickly which we really need in this terrible economy.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: BETTYEJ on 12/02/2008 2:45AM
Look, let's be real . They old boys didn't give a fat rat about no one but white people in both parties, so when you got the same faces, there will not be any changes.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: tamekia on 12/02/2008 9:40AM
OBAMA STEP INTO OFFICE ON MY B-DAY JAN 20.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Victoria on 12/02/2008 8:44PM
The younger faces like Dr. Susan Rice are good, but Obama has had to pick all the Washington oldsters to surround him to kickstart his administration. (That young Harvard national security scholar is back now doing transition stuff at State Department. The one who resigned after calling Hill a "monster" on UK broadcast during primary.)
2004 Barack Obama made a speech all touted as red-hot at Kerry's convention when he was just heading for Senate; 2008 Barack Obama is president-elect heading for the White House. It's interesting that this young man, biracial, whipped the Clintons and all that crowd helped by Ted Kennedy and other powers like Daschel who supported his nomination to beat Hillary! Clinton fatigue! Barack Obama was only possibility to take the nomination away from Hillary; he did with a little help from the super delegates; but he indeed whipped McCain though Hillary screamed he could NOT.
What you have now is POTUS 44 coming fully in charge with his inner circle close by in White House__ Axelrod and Jarrett that crowd__ PLUS the Washington old guard headed by Hill and Bill to help him govern. This 47 year old POTUS "hired" Hillary SOS who is boomer like Barack's mother who would be about 3-5 years older than Hillary now had she survived! Now Hillary will be his subordinate, globe-trotting for POTUS 44 and because she wants legacy she will likely work the Obama Foreign Policy vision he touted in the primary campaign against Hillary.
A caveat __ but time will tell if POTUS 44 so young and really of limited governance experience__ smart as a whip though he is and a real operator__ can get the old boys and girl Hillary he hired to "implement" Obama governance and foreign policy vision and do his bidding. Sure Obama wants to hear their "vigorous" debating! But will the establishment pols he picked turn Obama's vision inside out and make Obama POTUS # 44 their "puppet"? We shall find out in due time, but no doubt about it__ young Barack Obama worked a big mojo on everybody everywhere to arrive President-elect over the Clinton machine and their machinations.
A good sign is that O did not let them railroad him into picking Hillary his vice president. Secretary of State is a plum cabinet post for a woman after Madeleine Albright and Condolleezza Rice__a good point further to note is that O has chosen Susan Rice UN Ambassador and is making that post cabinet level in his administration; and a strong pick over Hillary for sure is 4-star 6-5 general Jones as the Obama White House National Security Adviser a nonpartisan with creds way beyond Hillary's globetrotting lst lady credentials. Obama is gambling that "friend" Hillary will be his wonk and work-horse and a known brand globe-trotting and selling Obama foreign policy and paradigm. "Everybody knows her name" helps! If she does well, he does well; if not, he does not on the world stage!
Hillary? She just won't quit; dogged by husband Bill and everyone else and she just keeps on ticking. Even Obama dogged her some before picking her for his SOS. Sure she trashed him in primary but she LOST! Now that Obama has picked her and the run of his major teams, he needs much courage and savvy to keep his mojo working, much more prayer, and much more support; give him a chance, even if you don't like the appearance of so many of his cabinet picks from among the old Washington crowd that he railed against during the primary__including the Clintons!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: casswellT on 12/03/2008 4:44AM
I think it's kind of funny how folks in the media are always trying to separate Obama as a different generation from Clinton and W. Bush - but the President-elect was born in 1961 and that makes him of the Baby Boomer generation. The media itself defines the Baby Boomers as 1945 to 1965. He may not seem like it, since he was a later Boomer and at the tail end, by 1961 - but Barack Obama is a Baby Boomer.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Dr. D.C. Nosakhere Thomas on 12/03/2008 10:48PM
Hillary Clinton is a great choice for Secretary of State based on her congressional and international experience.
If she takes her cues from Obama and operates under his philosphy, all will be well and the country will be better off because of her appointment.
However, if she intentially goes off message--there will be swift reprecussions. While Mr. Obama is very likeable, he is very wise and shrewd. He will not tolerate disloyalty and "palin-like marverickism."
Dr. D.C. Nosakhere Thomas
fdirep.com/137802
delicious.com/DrNosakhere
Reply to this Comment | Report This