slides: Politicians and Experts Speak Out On Kerry Nomination
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Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Joe Dilworth, GoLocalWorcester Contributor
President Obama's nomination of John Kerry for Secretary of State has the political world buzzing. To help make sense of the decision and its aftermath, GoLocal has rounded up quotes from politicians, leaders of organizations, and various experts from across the country.
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Barack Obama
“In a sense, John’s entire life has prepared him for this role. Having served with valor in Vietnam, he understands that we have a responsibility to use American power wisely, especially our military power…Few individuals know as many presidents and prime ministers, or grasp our foreign policies as firmly as John Kerry.”
Position: President
Source: Boston Globe
Photo: White House Photostream
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Hillary Clinton
“John Kerry has been tested- in war, in government, and in diplomacy. Time and time again, he has proven his mettle. Senator Kerry has fought for our nation’s diplomats and development experts- and for investing in their mission and America’s global leadership.”
Position: Current Secretary of State
Source: CNN
Photo: Department of State
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Susan Rice
“America is fortunate that Senator John Kerry will be our next Secretary of State, once confirmed by the Senate. For over four decades, Senator Kerry has served extremely ably and demonstrated selfless commitment to our country.”
Position: U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.
Source: Politico
Photo: U.S. Embassy New Delhi's photostream
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John McCain
“We have known John Kerry for many years. We have confidence in John Kerry’s ability to carry out the job.”
Position: Republican U.S. Senator from Arizona
Source: Yahoo News
Photo: John McCain Facebook Page
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Richard Grenell
“I’m hopeful about him. But he has to cut the politics. To run the State Department you have to be nonpartisan. It is an incredibly important post. I am hopeful he will enter the State Department and immediately take off his Democratic Party hat.”
Position: Political Consultant and Media Commentator, former National Security Spokesperson for Mitt Romney
Source: Boston Globe
Photo: Salon
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Lindsey Graham
“He has a lot of experiences, he’s been on the Foreign Relations Committee for a very long time, he knows most of the world leaders. So when he goes into a country, he will be a known quantity."
Position: Republican Senator from South Carolina
Source: Politico
Photo: U.S. Senate
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Marc Morano
“Having a secretary of state who views the emission of a trace essential gas in the atmosphere-CO2- as some sort of monster threat to national security or the equivalent the 9/11 terror attacks or the equivalent of old Soviet nuclear warheads, is a sad day in American history. Kerry is ignoring a large body of data and research that demolishes his beliefs. The American people deserve much better.”
Position: Executive Director of Climate Depot
Source: Fox News
Photo: The Benshi
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Charles Stith
“He’s the man for the job given the state of the world. Given the unsettled times, you need someone who’s seasoned. John Kerry knows the world and he knows Obama’s agenda.”
Position: Former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania, current Director of Boston University's African Presidential Center
Source: The Christian Science Monitor
Photo: APARC
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Brent Scowcroft
“I am very high on John Kerry. He is not beset by illusions or campaigns on behalf of abstract principles. His instincts are solid. I think he’ll do a great job.”
Position: Former National Security adviser for Presidents George H. W. Bush and Gerald Ford
Source: Boston Globe
Photo: Cherie Cullen
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John Cornyn
“I don’t see any reason right now why I would oppose Sen. Kerry’s nomination. I’m likely to support it. I look forward to the hearing.”
Position: Republican Senator from Texas
Source: Politico
Photo: U.S. Congress
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Heather Hurlburt
“His leadership on energy and trade, nuclear proliferation and the changing Middle East make him particularly qualified to meet the twenty-first century challenges that transcend national boundaries and cabinet departments.”
Position: Executive Director of the National Security Network
Source: The Christian Science Monitor
Photo: Center For American Progress
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Chad Griffin
“The State Department’s unwavering commitment to LGBT people around the world under the leadership of Secretary Clinton has been exemplary. We look forward to even more progress, including growth of the Global Equality Fund and continued support for the human rights of LGBT people, as Senator Kerry takes the helm.”
Position: Human Rights Campaign President
Source: Queerty
Photo: U.S. Congress
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Rudy DeLeon
“The Senate is going to be a key participant in much that the administration does on foreign policy, so his relationships there will be an asset. And he has ties to world leaders from China to the Middle East.”
Position: Former Democratic aide and Pentagon Official during the Bill Clinton administration
Source: Los Angeles Times
Photo: Scott Davis
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Jim Gomes
“John was someone who from an early age dreamed of being president. As someone who grew up in a Foreign Services family, who testified before Senate Foreign Relations after coming home from Vietnam and who wanted to serve on Foreign Relations, this is a pretty terrific Plan B.”
Position: Former Chief of Staff to John Kerry, Director of the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise at Clark University
Source: The New York Times
Photo: Trinity College
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Elizabeth Warren
"John Kerry has been a spectacular Senator for Massachusetts for more than twenty years and a national leader for decades in the quest for a thoughtful and effective foreign policy for the United States. While his confirmation will be a loss for Massachusetts, it will be a tremendous plus for the United States and the world. Hillary Clinton has been an outstanding Secretary of State and John Kerry will be a strong successor. I applaud President Obama for his selection."
Position: Democratic Senator-elect from Massachusetts
Source: Statement
Photo: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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Comments:
Iron Mike Farquhar
12:27pm on Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Given that his 'entire life' has been one of a traitorous lying phony – always in it for his own glory – even when courting starlettes and marrying rich women, - yeah, I day his whole life HAS prepared him to be oBummer's 2nd choice for SecState.
Obummer really wanted the brain-dead Susan Rice – someone who would go on 5 network shows on a Sunday morning and tell the same vapid lie. THAT's oBummer's kind of Secretary.
So now he'll have to settle for 'War Hero Lurch' – three (3) Purple Hearts / no blood – and a Dishonorable Discharge [later upgraded by Jimmy Carter – one traitor upgrading another].
Watch Lurch do his 'Live Shot' act over-and-over. Watch career diplomats retire in disgusted droves. Jeez, first Hillary - now Lurch? Nobody will respect us!