The Clinton Compromise - Bill Tells All for Sake of Hillary's Career
-The presumption will be that both Secretary of State Clinton and former President Clinton will be very judicious in what they take on, because there's a new dimension here.
But, in order to appease his wife (and, more likely, to help his star to continue to rise), Bill has agreed to terms that the President-elect's transition team required. Included are agreements:
-to disclose the names of every contributor to his foundation since its inception in 1997 and all contributors going forward.
-to refuse donations from foreign governments to the Clinton Global Initiative, his annual charitable conference.
-to cease holding CGI meetings overseas.
-to volunteer to step away from day-to-day management of the foundation while his wife is secretary of state.
-to submit his speaking schedule to review by the State Department and White House counsel.
-to submit any new sources of income to a similar ethical review.
While Bill may be willing to compromise like that, the larger question is whether Hillary really is ready to follow suit. By agreeing to take the position, President-elect Obama has assured her that she will have direct contact with him and can pick her own staff. But is she really ready to let go of her campaign and fundraising habits? It certainly wouldn't help the new president's administration to have someone covertly planning a run at his office in 2012. And can Hillary really stand having to wait four or eight years to try again at the office for which she feels entitled?
After the way Hillary and Obama sniped at each other on the campaign trail and Hillary's ambitious nature, is Bill really the biggest concern to the incoming presidency anymore? Maybe this is a way of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
But, in order to appease his wife (and, more likely, to help his star to continue to rise), Bill has agreed to terms that the President-elect's transition team required. Included are agreements:
-to disclose the names of every contributor to his foundation since its inception in 1997 and all contributors going forward.
-to refuse donations from foreign governments to the Clinton Global Initiative, his annual charitable conference.
-to cease holding CGI meetings overseas.
-to volunteer to step away from day-to-day management of the foundation while his wife is secretary of state.
-to submit his speaking schedule to review by the State Department and White House counsel.
-to submit any new sources of income to a similar ethical review.
While Bill may be willing to compromise like that, the larger question is whether Hillary really is ready to follow suit. By agreeing to take the position, President-elect Obama has assured her that she will have direct contact with him and can pick her own staff. But is she really ready to let go of her campaign and fundraising habits? It certainly wouldn't help the new president's administration to have someone covertly planning a run at his office in 2012. And can Hillary really stand having to wait four or eight years to try again at the office for which she feels entitled?
After the way Hillary and Obama sniped at each other on the campaign trail and Hillary's ambitious nature, is Bill really the biggest concern to the incoming presidency anymore? Maybe this is a way of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
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