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Hillary Clinton confirmed as US secretary of State
Source: Agencies |
January 22, 2009, Thursday
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Online Edition
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As the United States Senate confirmed Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of State yesterday, President Barack Obama moved to make his imprint on US foreign policy, mobilizing a fresh team of veteran advisers and reaching out to world leaders.
The Senate voted 94-2, with two Republicans opposing.
Republicans and Democrat alike said her swift confirmation was necessary so that Obama can begin tackling the major foreign policy issues at hand, including two wars, increased violence in the Middle East and the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran.
"It is essential that we provide the president with the tools and resources he needs to effect change, and that starts with putting a national security team in place as soon as possible," said Senator John Kerry, a Democrat and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Obama's presidential rival Senator John McCain was among those who spoke in Clinton's favor.
"This nation has come together in a way that it has not for some time," said the Republican, on the Senate floor for the first time since the inauguration.
Voters "want us to work together and get to work," McCain said.
As the Senate debated Clinton's appointment, Obama wasted no time in his first day at the White House. According to a White House spokesman, Obama placed telephone calls to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The administration also planned to name former Senate Democratic Leader George J. Mitchell as Clinton's special envoy for the Middle East. Dennis Ross, a longtime US negotiator, was also expected to advise Clinton on Mideast policy, according to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the move.
Clinton received overwhelming bipartisan support despite lingering concerns by some Republicans that her husband's charitable fundraising overseas could pose conflicts of interest.
Sen. Richard Lugar, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, proposed that former President Bill Clinton's foundation reject foreign contributions. But Hillary Clinton rejected Lugar's plan, contending that the foundation's plan to disclose annually its list of donors and a range of its contributions already exceeds legal requirements.
Senator David Vitter, a Republican member of the Senate panel who opposed Clinton, said he was not satisfied with her response and opposed her in a committee vote. Senator Jim DeMint, a Republican, said he remained concerned, but would not stand in her way at that point.
Immediately following the Senate vote, Clinton was expected to be sworn in during a private ceremony at the Capitol building.
Also following the vote, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee planned to endorse Susan Rice to become US ambassador to the United Nations, a post Obama has elevated to cabinet level.
The Senate voted 94-2, with two Republicans opposing.
Republicans and Democrat alike said her swift confirmation was necessary so that Obama can begin tackling the major foreign policy issues at hand, including two wars, increased violence in the Middle East and the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran.
"It is essential that we provide the president with the tools and resources he needs to effect change, and that starts with putting a national security team in place as soon as possible," said Senator John Kerry, a Democrat and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Obama's presidential rival Senator John McCain was among those who spoke in Clinton's favor.
"This nation has come together in a way that it has not for some time," said the Republican, on the Senate floor for the first time since the inauguration.
Voters "want us to work together and get to work," McCain said.
As the Senate debated Clinton's appointment, Obama wasted no time in his first day at the White House. According to a White House spokesman, Obama placed telephone calls to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The administration also planned to name former Senate Democratic Leader George J. Mitchell as Clinton's special envoy for the Middle East. Dennis Ross, a longtime US negotiator, was also expected to advise Clinton on Mideast policy, according to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the move.
Clinton received overwhelming bipartisan support despite lingering concerns by some Republicans that her husband's charitable fundraising overseas could pose conflicts of interest.
Sen. Richard Lugar, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, proposed that former President Bill Clinton's foundation reject foreign contributions. But Hillary Clinton rejected Lugar's plan, contending that the foundation's plan to disclose annually its list of donors and a range of its contributions already exceeds legal requirements.
Senator David Vitter, a Republican member of the Senate panel who opposed Clinton, said he was not satisfied with her response and opposed her in a committee vote. Senator Jim DeMint, a Republican, said he remained concerned, but would not stand in her way at that point.
Immediately following the Senate vote, Clinton was expected to be sworn in during a private ceremony at the Capitol building.
Also following the vote, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee planned to endorse Susan Rice to become US ambassador to the United Nations, a post Obama has elevated to cabinet level.
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