November 27, 2012--Not In Distress
Briefly, as I am feeling a little achey this morning, UN Ambassador Susan Rice is doing exactly the right thing today meeting with John McCain and his sidekick Lindsey Graham to talk about Benghazi.
I must admit that when two of the three amigos raised questions about her intelligence and fitness to serve as Hillary Clinton's possible successor as Secretary of State, I dismissed this as the frustrated ranting of angry white men and felt that she should not respond to them and leave it to Barack Obama to take the two senators on. Or, better, to simply ignore them.
But, three things--
First, so as not to appear to be a damsel-in-distress who needs a man to protect her, Ambassador Rice, by confronting (of meeting with) the senators will be demonstrating that she can take care of herself, thank you very much.
Second, as Rona noted, as the nation's top diplomat she has to meet and find ways to work with all sorts of high- and low-lifes. So why not McCain and Graham? Good point.
And, finally, it's smart politics--to get anything done with divided government, Obama and his administration, like it or not, have to find ways to work in bipartisan ways. Including to get his cabinet nominees approved by the Senate.
Personally, I'd prefer to see Senator John Kerry become the next Secretary of State, but I realize the loyalty Obama may feel he owes Susan Rice (a former Clinton official who at great political risk was with him from before the beginning) and know they fear that if Kerry is selected former Republican senator Scott Brown might easily get himself elected to replace Kerry and that this would tip the the numbers in the Senate toward the GOP.
On balance, Rice's personal diplomacy later today and Obama's ability to act dispassionately, though at times it feels like passivity, are signs that he intends to attempt to make his second term consequential.
I must admit that when two of the three amigos raised questions about her intelligence and fitness to serve as Hillary Clinton's possible successor as Secretary of State, I dismissed this as the frustrated ranting of angry white men and felt that she should not respond to them and leave it to Barack Obama to take the two senators on. Or, better, to simply ignore them.
But, three things--
First, so as not to appear to be a damsel-in-distress who needs a man to protect her, Ambassador Rice, by confronting (of meeting with) the senators will be demonstrating that she can take care of herself, thank you very much.
Second, as Rona noted, as the nation's top diplomat she has to meet and find ways to work with all sorts of high- and low-lifes. So why not McCain and Graham? Good point.
And, finally, it's smart politics--to get anything done with divided government, Obama and his administration, like it or not, have to find ways to work in bipartisan ways. Including to get his cabinet nominees approved by the Senate.
Personally, I'd prefer to see Senator John Kerry become the next Secretary of State, but I realize the loyalty Obama may feel he owes Susan Rice (a former Clinton official who at great political risk was with him from before the beginning) and know they fear that if Kerry is selected former Republican senator Scott Brown might easily get himself elected to replace Kerry and that this would tip the the numbers in the Senate toward the GOP.
On balance, Rice's personal diplomacy later today and Obama's ability to act dispassionately, though at times it feels like passivity, are signs that he intends to attempt to make his second term consequential.
posted by Steven Zwerling at
5:53 AM
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