Clinton & Rice Meet To Discuss Transition

So yesterday Senator Clinton and Secretary Rice met to discuss the job of Secretary of State.  I sure hope Senator Clinton took copious notes, she’s gonna need all the help she can get.  Perhaps Senator Rice gave her a user’s manual so to speak, since I hold the belief that Senator Clinton DOES NOT have the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to serve as our top diplomat.  President Elect Obama’s statement announcing her appointment says as much:

Over nearly four decades in public service, as an attorney, First Lady, Senator, and presidential candidate, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has become one of the nation’s foremost champions for children and families and advocates for women’s rights and human rights. During the Clinton Administration, she transformed the role of First Lady, fighting for universal health care and helping to lead successful bipartisan efforts to improve the adoption and foster care systems, reduce teen pregnancy, and provide health care to millions of children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program. As a representative of the United States, she championed American interests as well as the rights of women and girls in more than eighty countries around the world. In November 2000, Senator Clinton became the first First Lady elected to public office and the first woman elected independently in New York State; she has since won reelection. In the Senate, she has continued to advocate for equal access to health care, education, and economic opportunity for women and girls around the world. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Clinton has fought for and secured in law improved health care for members of the National Guard and Reserves and worked to bring our troops home safely and responsibly from Iraq. She also serves as the only Senate member of the Transformation Advisory Group to the Joint Forces Command, working to modernize our military. And Senator Clinton has continued to fight for quality, affordable health care for every American, working to strengthen the Children’s Health Insurance Program and expand the use of health information technology. Most recently, as a groundbreaking candidate for President of the United States, Senator Clinton became the first woman ever to win a presidential primary, receiving more than 18 million votes as an advocate for working families and a voice for millions of Americans who have felt invisible to their government.

The only international experience I see clearly indicated in this statement is the fact that Senator Clinton has championed American interests as well as the rights of women in girls to more than eighty countries around the world, as first lady.  Hmmm…..  During those times where she was championing American interests, and the rights of women in girls in over 80 countries, did she have to interact with world leaders?  Did she discuss serious diplomatic issues during these meetings?  I would like to see more specifics on those achievements that seem to make her oh so qualified to be our top diplomat.  Also, a newsflash, being married to a former president, and traveling with him around the world, does not make you qualified to be secretary of state. I’ve also traveled around the world by virtue of being a military brat, does that make me qualified?  A lot of people would say no. 

The domestic issues that Mr. Obama mentions in his statement have no relevance on her qualifications, or lack thereof, to be secretary of state.  Sure, it’s great that she’s been an advocate for health care for vets, guardsmen, reservists, and children, but those accomplishments are domestic in nature, not international.

Also, how does being the first woman to win a presidential primary make you qualified?  Give me a break, that’s all window dressing.

My advice to Senator Clinton, take some classes, by the way, my alma mater, GW, has the Elliott School of International Affairs, they have classes that can help, and read a lot of books, you’re going to need it, madame Secretary.