Ethics concerns surrounding Obama cabinet choices should be scrutinized

Jan 13th, 2009
by James Kane.

Confirmation hearings are already underway for Obama’s cabinet and other nominees. Presently, Senator Clinton has been the focus of Senate proceedings. Obama is seeking to appoint New York senator and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State.  Despite little opposition to the appointment thus far from the U.S. Senate, lingering questions cloud her potential conduct in such a role.

Former President Clinton’s library and foundation benefited from foreign contributions, and Mrs. Clinton’s involvement with those efforts have been a point of concern. In discussing President-elect Obama’s foreign policy priorities, the junior senator from New York expressed concerns about the standing of the United States in the world, vowing to renew U.S. leadership.

Senator Clinton is right to say that the United States should not “give up” on Mideast peace, but the concerns over Clinton’s conduct on behalf of her husband’s interests are a legitimate matter, particularly considering her statement on future donations to the former President’s pet causes. American foreign policy will be hindered and not helped if the appearance of impropriety is present in the conduct of the chief U.S. foreign policy officer, the Secretary of State.

The warm reception Senator Clinton has received in the confirmation hearings should not result in a vote to make her Secretary of State until she has made assurances regarding her husband’s business interests. Incidentally, Mrs. Clinton is not the only nominee under scrutiny. Republicans should be willing to work with the President elect, confirm ethical people who hold his trust, and are right to invite him to address the party’s congressional caucus, but his nominees for important governmental appointments should be scrutinized, if the President-elect really does seek to represent a break with past administrations.

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Posted in: International Affairs, National Security and Defense.
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3 Comments

  1. David says:
    January 13, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    There are no clean Democrats who have any experience…not trying to be inflammatory, just being honest.

  2. James Kane says:
    January 14, 2009 at 11:53 am

    I’d disagree, David. Corruption and cheating may be common in politics, but they are not universal traits in either party.

  3. Junior says:
    January 14, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    At least Tim Geithner’s confirmation has been “delayed” although I don’t quite understand why, they are just going to blow it off anyway and pretend as though it’s no big deal that the future head of the IRS conveniently forgot to pay his taxes.

    James up there is exactly right, you have corruption on either side of the party line, however this absolutely sends the wrong message.

    I am more concerned with the ethical question of the head of the IRS not paying his taxes than any crap Hillary ever did or didn’t do.

    “Same you can believe in!”

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