Hillary Spokesperson: Reports That She Will Accept Sec State Gig Are "Premature"
Hillary spokesperson Philippe Reines says the reports that Hillary has decided to accept the Secretary of State gig are "premature."
Asked for comment on the stories, Reines emails me this:
"We're still in discussions, which are very much on track. Any reports beyond that are premature."
It's still possible that it's true that she's told confidants that she'll accept the gig and that this statement refers to the question of whether she and Obama have shaken hands on it. But perhaps a bit of caution is in order.
Late Update: Jake Tapper reports that after deciding against taking the gig...
On Thursday, many people in Obama's world reached out to Clinton and convinced her to take the job.By Thursday night, she had conveyed to President-elect Obama that she was interested in the job. In other words, she essentially accepted his offer.
Details are still being worked out, but everything is on track for Clinton's nomination for the job to be announced after Thanksgiving, along with other members of the Obama national security team.
That would square with the statement from Hillary's spokesperson, as well as the Obama camp's claim that the deal is "on track." She's decided to take the gig, but she and Obama haven't shaken hands on the particulars.
Late Late Update: More here.
She loves me... she loves me not... she loves me... she loves me not...
November 21, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is how it works people, HRC will take the job, but she wants it to be on BHO terms-- not from her side (only).
HRC is playing team ball people.
November 21, 2008 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's nice to see that at least some news outlets (yeah, I'd say TPM is in that category) are at least taking a second to try to confirm things with the folks that the rumors are actually about. Very nice change of pace versus one outlet sourcing another.
November 21, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is Blog posting overload! heh
I think it would be great if she were there in the mix. It's defiantly becoming a star studded cabinet event.
Hey, go play the stock market game. Go to cnn business, hit f5 and watch the stock market fluctuate up and down 50+ points every few second. It's a hoot.
November 21, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
And . . . the drama continues. Hilarious. And just when I was resigning myself to the fact that I would be hearing about the clintons 24/7 for at least the next 4 years. Oh, well, on to the next leak from the Hill. Too funny.
November 21, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's still hope Coonsey!
November 21, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, there is still a glimmer of hope. Just like sands trough the hourglass, these are the days of our lives, or clintonland.
November 21, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary will keep us all political addicts well fed...LOL.
But seriously, I think it's only proper for them to deny until the Obama camp confirms.
November 21, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Booboo. That's why I asked if the NY Times didn't speculate!
I won't believe anything until the Obama team makes an official announcement...
November 21, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kind of hope it's someone else entirely. Not because I necessarily disagree with the choice, but so that Andrea Mitchell gets egg on her face.
Juvenile, petty, and small, but there it is. It would be a good lesson for the media.
November 21, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
They've said they won't make the formal announcement until after Thanksgiving, so anything until then I believe would be speculation regardless of how many sources confirmed the story.
November 21, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is absurd. It really is. Both the Obama and Clinton groups are starting to look silly with all this back and forth between anonymous sources, spokespeople, and the media.
November 21, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was thinking the same thing. This is a PR disaster especially if she isn't nominated.
November 21, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
But one that will last only short while as things like the economy continue to race across the headlines. Come December it will all be a faint memory.
November 21, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was thinking the same thing. six months from now no one will care about cabinet. The country is in deep shit, they will look for real answers.
November 21, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Totally absurd. I agree 1000 percent. Either sh*t or get off the pot. I hope I don't get censored for that one. I used an asterick and it is a common phrase employed by a substantial amount of the populace.
November 21, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is with the censoring, anyway?
I'm afraid I didn't really understand Andew's comments last night. And I notice Tena isn't around at all.
November 21, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
They deleted one of tena's posts and typed in [DELETED BY MANAGEMENT]. I can't say what she said or I will get deleted. She's pissed and said she's not posting any more. In the future, if they are going to delete somebody, they should just do it as opposed to highlighting that they deleted somebody. That's what most sites do.
November 21, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is one thing we can agree on. And it would have been a good idea to announce the new changes and how they were going to be instituted rather than seemingly springing it on out of nowhere and publicly chastising somebody simply because some folks didn't like the mention. It seemed to come out of nowhere and was handled poorly.
I don't even think I can report abuse as when I cursor over the "button" it doesn't show a link or turn to a finger from the arrow.
Also what is abuse on this site? Foul language? spamming? talking in caps? ad hominum attacks? vulgarity? blatant trolling?
November 21, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just click on it, Jonze, and you get another option. Try it on my comments! I don't mind!
I imagine quite a few people find my comments "objectionable"!
November 21, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dang! They censored Tena!?! I'd better watch my potty-mouth, I guess.
November 21, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lila has a thread at the Cafe right now about this. Go on over and let rip.
And yeah, I think Tena had to take a hiatus, or she was going to take a chunk out of Josh's ass.
November 21, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw that "DELTED BY MANAGEMENT" too. Though I'm not sure what she said. Frankly, Josh may owe her a cut for driving up traffic in the last year. I was a bizzare way to censor someone who is a very committed memeber of the site. I don't know if what she said deserve a all-cap censor, but they could have handled it better.
November 21, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing like the heavy hand of "Management" to ruin a good time.
November 21, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw what she wrote (she was reply to a post of mine) and she just wrote one word, a play on Clinton's last name. Given the foul language I've seen on this site in the short time I've been here, it was, even if one agreed with the concept of the management censoring comments (which I don't), the word was pretty dang mild.
November 21, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess the first three letters of the word were Cli? Sorry, I don't have any intentions for you to be warned?
November 21, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
So now Obama had an out as Hillary decided against it and Obama had to grovel and beg her to take it? Great PR there Barack.
November 21, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bah not supposed to be here. regarding the topic at hand,
And here I thought Tena was talking about a Clinton dinosaur species...
November 21, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought she was as well.
November 21, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't mind saying the word shit unless it's personal or at someone. I wouldn't mind thrown out either really. LOL. May be it would be one way to cure my addiction for the site.
November 21, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
notice that it's "clinton confindantes" who are doing this "she loves me , she loves me not" bullsh8T
November 21, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
And there, ladies & gentlemen, is your famous clintonian drama. I posted about this "breaking news" rebuttal in the last thread.
I suspected this would happen when all the NYT piece sources were from the clinton camp.
November 21, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
WHAT A BOOB!!!!
these clinton "sources" are the biggest pieces of sh*t i've ever seen.
November 21, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pieces of SHIT, it's ok, you can say it. It's a word for goodness sakes, and an apt description of these idiot leakers. If you insist on continuing with this self-censroship, I will personally come over there and shove that asterisk up your a**!
(I'm only kidding, and that is not a threat, please don't report me as abusive. Pretty please!)
November 21, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're on report. I don't care that you're a fellow Connecticut....person? Fellow Nutmegger?
What's the term, anyway?
November 21, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL. Gosh-dorn-it.
November 21, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton camp to Obama camp:
We want a shadow White House operation, the state department to hire all the lobbyists we want, the ability to take Bill on all foreign trips and let him "meet" the people (aka cut deals with foreign entities), and of course reserve the right to resign in the fall of 2011 so Hillary can run again.
Oh and we almost forgot we want to face some real sniper fire this time...
November 21, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
is trying to emulate hamlet on this?
a simple yes or no would suffice, hillary...
November 21, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Drama surrounding the Clintons, you say?
November 21, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I must say the whole thing has become a unwarranted national soap opera and Obama camp must share the blame as well.
November 21, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
In fairness, Obama's camp stated early on that there would be no announcements until after Thanksgiving, but the rumours and leaks, My. God. The rumours and leaks!!
November 21, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
In a wierd sort of way, I think there will be farless drama if she's within the cabinet than outside. I don't know if it makes sense.
November 21, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
If she takes the position, this will her biggest moment to shine. She'll want to run a disciplined a team as possible.
November 21, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
So now Obama had an out as Hillary decided against it and Obama had to grovel and beg her to take it? Great PR there Barack. She has your testicles now.
November 21, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jonze- Just following your comments in the last two days I'm sorry you already have the buyer's remorse.
Atleast in this instance, trust me. It's not a big deal. The whole messaging is so convoluted no one is keeping track of who said what. It's annoying but minor convinience.
November 21, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess it is a case of buyers remorse, but I want to like it. it's just that every time I come back around to believing Hillary will be a kickass SOS, there is more leaks and drama.
This one has really soured me, this whole idea that Hillary turned down the spot and Obama had to so further stroke her ego to convince her to take it (and no doubt give certain concessions). I remember folks were up in arms about Emanuel's dancing on the COS offer and that was only a few days. It just sounds to me like Hillary is pulling a power play here and then running to the press with her "win".
Hillary wants it or Bill wouldn't have opened up his life to the vetting. Now maybe this whole "turned it down leak" is to rebut the very idea that Clinton wants it so badly, and to counteract the leak that Bill made "major concessions to the vetting process".
Hillary isn't an equal partner here, she's working under Barack Obama. She isn't going to be co-President, or have autonomy over the State Department.
I don't now why everything has to be about drama with the Clintons and everything is a powerplay. There was no pressure to bring her into the cabinet, Obama could have named any of Kerry, Richardson, Holbrooke, or Hagel there and nobody would have really batted an eye. He recognized Hillary is best for that role - but that isn't enough for her, that was just the opening she needed.
November 21, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
As someone who was strongly against Senator Clinton the primaries I understand your point. But I think we should judge the incoming administration based on the report card on the issues. Give them sometime and benefit of the doubt and see how they address the economy, Iraq, etc.
I doesn't really matter who is appointed for what, at the end of the day issues will rank Obama's effectiveness.
November 21, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
"grovel and beg ?" Why would he do that Jonze ?
It's okay. You can use balls.
November 21, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
blah....I mean minor inconvinience. We are all victims of reading the tea leaves. For the non-addicts this isn't a big deal.
November 21, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would interesting to take a "person on the street" poll and ask - so what do you think of all these leaks coming out regarding the transition? My guess, one would get mostly "Huh?"
November 21, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the "man on the street" is tired of the relentless coverage as well. But he isn't sure who to blame, believe or what to make of it?
I think there is general consensus Obama is doing the right thing.
November 21, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, there is this from the front page of the NYT: Wall Street surged on Friday afternoon after news reports that Timothy F. Geithner would be chosen to be secretary of the Treasury.
November 21, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I imagine that the person on the street might be following these doings a little more closely than in previous elections, but mostly, they're probably wishing Obama were on the TV more. I think they're following Obama, not the moves he's making with respect to his administration.
November 21, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, it's Obama and slices of pie!
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Barack-Obama-President-elect-Manny/photo//081121/480/c142348c9d0b4fbab8d40a3a69e9dd05/;_ylt=AprBeYXbkJqUNIzK9_Ti4oMDW7oF
November 21, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think they're more tired of the relentless coverage and not necessarily the outcome where Clinton joins the cabinet.
And yeah, Obama seems to sit on the sidelines until every had a chance to say about everything before he has the the last word. It does help to see him more on TV, especially because we're without a President right now.
November 21, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't protocol that the candidate has to indicate they will accept the job if offered before it's actually offered? I thought the whole idea was avoid having the president-elect look like he cant' fill his team with the people he wanted, like whomever comes next is his second choice.
November 21, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
You think, Greg ?
November 21, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everyday when I get home I just hope there is headline here that says "Clinton withdraws from consideration for Secretary of State." I do understand why the Obama people can't make a stronger statement about this. What I still feel very strongly is that Bill Clinton and the failed campaign staff, especially Ickes, Wolfson (maybe a few others) are behind all of these rumors.
November 21, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
November 21, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's a dual track going on here. One track is the SoS "offer, acceptance, on track, premature" drama going on between the Hillary and Obama people. The second track is the reported effort in the Senate to set up Hillary in a new power position should she choose to keep her Senate gig. These two tracks are at odds. It seems that a few self-serving rumormongers/leakers out there are trying to make us all schizophrenic.
At the very least, Obama and/or Hillary would do well to get their people behaving a little more professionally. This is not setting a reassuring tone, and first impressions are indeed lasting.
November 21, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think the Clinton people have a clue how to behave professionally or these rumors wouldn't be going around and driving us all nuts. I'm no saint, but I volunteered on the Obama campaign for 20 months and still cannot believe he would seriously consider her for State. She would have no ability to negotiate with Iran, Syria, North Korea or China. People in those countries would not take her seriously. I think it could be really demoralizing for what's left of the career diplomats in the State Department also. And I certainly can't see Bill being able to restrain himself either.
Maybe they can just put her on the Foreign Affairs Committee. There will be two vacancies.
November 21, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
November 21, 2008 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I haven't seen the word "gig" used so often in one piece since reading the reviews of Woodstock.
November 21, 2008 7:55 PM | Reply | Permalink