WashPost: Clinton torn between ‘leading’ and ‘blending’
This weekend, the Washington Post (published by the Washington Post Co., which also owns Foreign Policy) ran a huge A1 story, "A Team Player Who Stands Apart," about Secretary Clinton. It says that Clinton is torn in two directions, between being a leader on signature issues such as women’s rights and being a team player who works harmoniously with ...
This weekend, the Washington Post (published by the Washington Post Co., which also owns Foreign Policy) ran a huge A1 story, "A Team Player Who Stands Apart," about Secretary Clinton. It says that Clinton is torn in two directions, between being a leader on signature issues such as women’s rights and being a team player who works harmoniously with other members of the Barack Obama administration.
Those of you who are tired of the "Hillary in the shadows" theme probably won’t be too crazy about this piece. Here’s a taste:
By all accounts, she is the consummate team player and is often the best-briefed, most prepared person in the room. President Obama’s aides say he values her advice and appreciates her dedication, dampening speculation that he and his erstwhile rival would not work well together.
But after eight months in office, Clinton, 61, sometimes seems torn between her inclination to lead and her need to function effectively within the administration, creating a certain tension between her aspirations and her status.
She has been prone to making pronouncements and blunt comments that have put her ahead of, or out of sync with, the rest of the administration. She maintains a robust public persona — her lengthy overseas trips are filled with town hall meetings and softball television interviews — but she is largely invisible on the big issues that dominate the foreign policy agenda, including the war in Afghanistan, the attempt to engage Iran and efforts to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Interestingly, during her interview, Clinton hinted that she might not be secretary of state for eight years. The end of the article states:
Asked if she would be sitting in the same office for eight years, Clinton shuddered.
"Please! I will be so old," she said with a shake of her head.
The full transcript of Clinton’s interview with the Post is here, along with audio clips.
•As for interviews, Clinton is on PBS’ NewsHour with Jim Lehrer tonight. A preview clip is above.
•And, the full video and transcript of Clinton’s Friday speech at Brookings is here.
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