Why did Obama advisors leak to NBC that Hillary was under SoS consideration?

[S_E_Fudd]

“Two Obama advisers have told NBC News that Hillary Clinton is under consideration to be secretary of state,” reports Andrea Mitchell at MSNBC. “Would she be interested? Those who know Clinton say possibly. But her office says that any decisions about the transition are up to the president-elect and his team.”

Trial Balloon?

Pressure to get her to take the job?

Given how well they hushed up the VP pick before it was announced this is certainly on purpose...

[tekisui]

1. I don't trust MItchell. With unnamed sources we don't know where

they came form or what the intent was.

[ErinBerin84]

2. Andrea Mitchell seemed convinced that it was not an intentional leak

But I still find it strange that they would blab to Andrea by accident...maybe Andrea just wanted to make herself sound like a super sleuth journalist. She also said that these were advisors that she has known for many years.

[KittyWampus]

37. Andrea Mitchell may have been lied to or misdirected.

[gateley]

3. One of the 'experts' today on MSNBC said that it was an intentional leak --

and I have no idea what they would hope to accomplish by doing that. Politics. :eyes:

[onehandle]

4. I dunno, but this is Exactly how they did it with Rahm. nt

[Barack_America]

5. So they could spend the weekend eating popcorn and reading DU.

Of course.

[HeraldSquare212]

6. or Richardson, for that matter.

[S_E_Fudd]

7. Good point...nt

[Sanity Claws]

8. I thought Hillary's camp were the leakers

I don't trust Andrea.

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. I'm guessing HIllary haters not happy with the concept

Just a hunch though :)

[ellacott]

10. They didn't to just Andrea

Gloria Borger and Candy Crowley said that had also talked to two sources. They gave them the same information.

[ErinBerin84]

17. They seemed to have less info than Andrea to me

Maybe they are just not as big a drama queen as Andea. She seemed to be projecting a little bit into this....probably because she wants credit for the SCOOOOOP.

[ellacott]

23. I listened to both the night of the report

They had the same information. Andrea just embellished.

[ErinBerin84]

26. yes, and

Gloria and Candy seemed a bit more diplomatic than Andrea "OMGOODSSSS, now he HAS to give to her!" Greenspan. Though Gergen was trying to say that this leak means he has to give it to her too. I hate that reasoning....the media desperately wants to make itself seem relevent. Also, didn't Andrea technically have it at 6:30 and CNN at 8? Maybe Candy and Gloria did follow up...I didn't see them until 11 on AC360, so it's possible that I missed their original reporting on this at 8, if Brown had them on their show when CNN showed it as breaking news.

[ellacott]

56. I saw them on CNN at 8pm

I first saw Andrea's report on Keith's show(was flipping back and forth).

Most of Andrea's reports always has a lot of extra information that I question. I remember when the rumor was circulating that Hillary was being considered for VP. Howard Fineman said it wasn't a credible offer for VP. Andrea insisted that it was true and stood behind her story. The network went along with Andrea's story and it turned out that Howard Fineman was correct.

[FrenchieCat]

64. Andrea was probably one of the sources for Gloria and Candy.....

which would make sense.....

The media likes to use itself as a source oftentime. MSNBC will say it via unidentified sources, Washington Post will report it per MSNBC, and Newsweek will use MSNBC and Washington Post as its two sources. Round and round they go! :crazy:

[ellacott]

65. That's possible

[Cosmic Charlie]

11. Obama doesn't have to leak, he just has to decide. Leaks are made by those trying to influence Obama

[liberal N proud]

15. BINGO!

And Andrea Mitchell would be oh-so happy to help them.

[S_E_Fudd]

20. So after running a tight ship for two years...

All of a sudden he has lost control of his team?

Hard to believe...

[Cosmic Charlie]

25. it's hard to believe because it isn't true.

Obama has leaked nothing.

Remember, there are plenty of Clinton people who can claim the title of Democratic Official or Obama adviser.
That doesn't mean that what they say is in any way informed by what Obama actually intends to do.

[S_E_Fudd]

31. And Andrea Mitchell isn't smart enough to check the affiliation...

Of the folks leaking to her?

Did they wear masks or something so she couldn't tell who they were?

[Cosmic Charlie]

35. has Andrea revealed her sources? or her agenda?

[S_E_Fudd]

38. So to be fair then...

You are also discounting the numerous threads here touting reporting based on unnamed "Democratic Officials" purporting to detail "problems" with the vetting process...or that Obamas people are "EXASPERATED" with Bill...right?


I mean to be consistent and all...

[Cosmic Charlie]

51. I already knew there was a problem with the vetting. Didn't need a leak for that.

I could have told you that on Thursday.

[S_E_Fudd]

53. So you DO believe leaks when they are critical of Hillary...

But DO NOT believe them when they are critical of Obama...

Doesn't matter where they come from I guess...

[Cosmic Charlie]

55. which leak was critical of Obama?

I pay attention to all the leaks except those that are already disproven.

The leak that said HIllary had already been offered the position was disproven when we found that Richardson was interviewed afterwards.
It has been even further disproven now that we know that the vetting hasn't even been given a green light yet.

[S_E_Fudd]

59. If Obama's people are leaking that Hillary has been offered the SoS spot...

So either that was on purpose...or Obama has problems controlling his advisors interaction with the press

[AtomicKitten]

12. Gadlfly Andrea Mitchell probably asked if Clinton was under consideration.

and * VOILA * another Clinton bulldozing shitstorm ensues

[Barack_America]

13. The "why" follows the "who".

If we knew who they were, we'd probably know why they leaked.

[zulchzulu]

14. Well, who are the "Two Obama advisers"???

That would answer a couple questions.

Who are they? Are they former Hillary Clinton staffers? Who did they initially leak the "story" too?

[KittyWampus]

41. How long have they been on Obama's team? How central are they to his team?

Are they former Clinton staffers?

[NYCGirl]

16. Mitchell was not the first. Geo. Stephanopoulos on ABC was the first to report:

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/freak-show-behind-clinton-secretary-state-rumors

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/11/secretary-of-st.html

[S_E_Fudd]

19. Didn't say she was the first...my question is...

Why would Obama advisors be talking about it at all...

Has all the hallmarks of a trial balloon...

[NYCGirl]

34. Has all the hallmarks of a lead balloon. NT

[S_E_Fudd]

43. Seems to be playing pretty well outside of the netroots..nt

[NYCGirl]

50. So did Sarah Palin. NT

[S_E_Fudd]

52. Guess you didn't see the exit polls on her...

eom

[NYCGirl]

54. Everyone loved her at first, as with this "trial balloon." It may, like Palin's

popularity, shrivel under further exposure.

[S_E_Fudd]

60. Hillary has been popular for many years...

She is hardly new on the scene

[Zhade]

70. So popular she won the primaries!

Oh, wait...

[Debi]

18. Or did they? n/t

[4themind]

21. One possibility, for the last point is

That these "Obama advisors" may not have been on the campaign from the time of the V.P. choice and react differently to the culture of the Obama campaign relative than other staffers who were there at the time. They are taking on new staffers some of them former clinton staffers, may have had different loyalties during the primary wars and may or may not be trying to push for a role for their former boss(es) Another possibility is, as this is a time of transition, perhaps the group-philosophy/cohesion is not at the same level that it was in the middle of a pitched campaign(while Obama is still at the top, some of the other leaders have either transitioned out, or have different daily responsibilities).Bottom line, Whether HRC, Kerry, or Richardson, become SoS they will have my support going into the confirmation. I hope that you, and most DU'ers agree as well.

[karynnj]

22. many possibilities

1) They don't even exist - Mitchell can always refuse to identify sources - this is a woman who has covered financial issues and seems not to think that even when Greenspan is involved, she needs to identify that she is married to him.

2) It was a trial balloon to judge the impact

3) It is being floated by the Clinton people who are on the transition team - in the hopes of making it a fait accompli or at minimum an Obama slight if she is not offered it.

4) It was leaked by people who don't like HRC in hopes of generating negative comments. There was also a damaging leak that she tried to push to get roles she doesn't have in the Senate and is not due given her seniority and was rebuffed by Reid and Kennedy. The story that she went to Reid to pull Healthcare from Kennedy doesn't make sense. It seems unlikely that Reid would do this if the Chair of the full committee didn't agree. HRC is very junior member of the committee - number 8. Even if a committee was created, the Chair could opt to hold hearings and markups in the full committee. This leak was negative for two reasons - HRC taking the reins from Kennedy who has spent at least the last few months working on it first in Hyannis and for the last 2 weeks in DC, looks repugnant - and Kennedy succeeded in the 1990s when she failed. The other is that it laid out how little power she has in the Senate. (They also ignore that she did have one of the junior leaderships role within the party before she started her run.

[NorthCarolina]

29. I don't think it was a trial balloon by the Obama camp since Andrea Mitchell

was used in the apparent "Leak". Andrea Mitchell, the woman who was so "distraught" over the election going to Obama that she had to take a couple days off afterwards, would not be the "go to" person to send up a trial balloon. My guess is it was floated by either Clinton folks as you suggest, or by the GOP to create waves in the transition process.

[S_E_Fudd]

30. SO your contention is Mitchell is lying ?

eom

[KittyWampus]

42. or purposely misdirected or misinterpreting incomplete information or not weighing leakers position

in Obama's team.

[S_E_Fudd]

46. Or...she's right...

And given that Obama's team has not shot these "rumors" down...I think that is the more likely interpretation

[KittyWampus]

48. Obama's team is NOT in the business of denying false rumors. Doing so simply gives the

rumor-mongers power they don't deserve.

[S_E_Fudd]

49. Sure they are...

In fact they have been impressivley good at shooting down false information allegedly coming from their camp...

Yet here, not even the whiff of a denial...

[NorthCarolina]

44. Not claiming she's "lying", just speculating that her "source" is not from the Obama camp

eom

[S_E_Fudd]

45. So you believe she would report...definitively...that they were "Obama advisors"

Without having verified that first?

[NorthCarolina]

67. I don't recall her saying that her source was "definitively" from the Obama camp

but if you have a link where she did say that please post it as I really don't remember hearing or reading it.

[Marnieworld]

24. In the article at Huffington Post today about it

They said that it was "Clinton people" that leaked it publically in order to create enough of a buzz to make it inevitable. They aren't being very cooperative with the vetting process, especially over Bill's finances and dealings since he left office, that if they create enough of a buzz and just run out the clock she will get it anyway despite not being thoroughly vetted. Makes sense to me.

[Metric System]

32. No, that doesn't make sense at all. Maybe it makes sense to those who said Hillary would fight it

out at the convention. I'm still confused about how she can force Obama to pick her as SOS when there are other qualified candidates to choose from. Obama's the party leader, why are you suggesting she has this great power?

[S_E_Fudd]

33. You'd think after being proven wrong time and time again...

With regards to Hillary's motivations they would stop...

She was gonna fight it out at the convention....wrong!

She wasn't gonna support Obama publicly...wrong!

She and Bill were gonna screw Obama over at the convention...wrong!

She wouldn't really work hard to get him elected...wrong!

And yet again, without a shred of evidence, and having been wrong about her every other time...they continue assume nefarious intent on her part...just incredible...

Apparently they have less faith in Obama than I thought. From their exalted position behind an anonymous keyboard they have insights into Hillary that Obama, having only campaigned with and against her for over two years, could not possibly have...

[MadBadger]

39. Newsweek Reported that she held a meeting during the convention about her 2012 chances.

Its in the Secrets of the Campaign series they have.

[Marnieworld]

68. I didn't make this up or imagine it. I read quotes from an article

This one:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/13/hillary-clinton-secretary_n_143735.html

This quote:
"Team Obama, after all but offering SecState to Senator Clinton, is expressing EXASPERATION with the Clinton camp for the difficulty in getting a clean vet on President Bill Clinton's many entanglements. "The ball is very much in her court, but the president's finances have been a major point of sensitivity from day one," a Democratic official said. ("Day One!") "Given that everyone's mystified by how deliberately public the Clintons have made this once secret process, the assumption is either that the Clintons are trying to use the public buzz to steamroll their way in, create a sense of inevitability that overcomes those concerns, or that it's just a matter of time before they ... satisfy vetting somehow, some way. Otherwise, after all this speculation, there'll be a permanent dark cloud hanging over her finances. ... But generally the sense among the no-drama Obama world is: This is well on its way to winning best Oscar for drama."

I hope I am not the "they" that you are against. Please don't put words in my mouth.

[Tatiana]

27. I think someone(s) wanted to torpedo Clinton.

Yes, Bill Clinton's financial dealings are an issue. However, if there were things discovered during the vetting process, an agreement could have been worked out to ensure that concerns about conflict of interest were resolved.

The only reason to leak this info would be to obtain feedback and I'm sure whoever leaked this info knew the exact type of feedback this information would receive.

Henry Kissinger approving of anything makes me very cautious. So does Lindsey Graham singing Hillary's praises. If the right-wingers can't stand the thought of Obama as President, yet love the idea of Hillary as SOS... that makes me think twice.

However, in Hillary's defense, she has already exhibited the fact that she can be a team player and a DAMN GOOD ONE. There is no reason to think she would "go rogue" ala Palin. She is the consumate professional. I have no doubt that she will execute the President's policy at State, were she chosen to be SOS. Unfortunately, I tend to think her husband has been more of a hindrance than a help for her own political career.

[OHdem10]

28. They were seriously considering her and apparently want jher

to accept. If they did want her, they should never never mentioned
her name.

Now it is hers if she wants it.

All this Clinton Bashing makes our Party look as discombobulated as
the GOP.

[KittyWampus]

47. you have zero evidence they were seriously considering for SoS.

[ErinBerin84]

36. Andrea Mitchell had Kathleen Parker on a little while ago

and they kind of annoyed me with their cattiness....oooh, Bill would maybe run into Hillary once and a while while they are on different continents! Oooh, Ted Kennedy returned to the senate, I wonder if he's rubbing it in Hillary's face that she does not control the health care agenda? This is why I am skeptical of Andrea and her drama. And she clearly is pushing for this to happen so it could confirm her scoop and make her seem relevent.

[Life Long Dem]

40. Obama leaked it to stir up and divide the party like it was in the primary.

This way Obama would have a divided party going into congress. While the media screams divided party!

[Metric System]

57. I think you see the hate on DU coming from one side. I don't see Hillary supporters on here bashing

Obama or any of his other potential cabinet picks.

[S_E_Fudd]

62. On the contrary...

Obama is being defended...

kinda ironic huh?

[Sensitivity]

58. Mitchel has since clarified that her sources were not from Obama Team but

Dem party officials with indirect information -- there are thousands of official who are designated "advisors," especially host of folks from former Clinton Admin

[S_E_Fudd]

61. Link...

I saw her interview on Olbermann the day this broke...she indicated they were Obama advisors

[Sensitivity]

63. "Advisor" apply to host of democrats both from core Obama team and merged from Clinton campaign

On Morning Joe the issue was probed with her and she stated emphatically that it was not a direct leak from Obama team, and she demured as to the real nature of her sources.

[blogslut]

66. Andrea Mitchell has become the Rona Barrett of politics

She's nothing but a glorified gossip monger. This newest leak business is her desperate attempt to remain relevant.

Team Obama does not leak. They also don't play into these silly games.

Senator Clinton met with President-Elect Obama. This is all we know. The rest is pure speculation.

[TexasObserver]

69. My theory: they wanted to quash the story that Kerry wanted the job

The day before, we suddenly heard "Kerry wants Sec of State." That story was barely out of the chute when the story that Hillary was under consideration came out of Camp Obama.