Committee backs Clinton for secretary of state

THE Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted overwhelmingly yesterday for Hillary Clinton to become the next secretary of state, with lawmakers saying they were hopeful her leadership would mark a turn from warfare toward diplomacy.

The 16-1 approval by the committee paves the way for a full Senate vote after US president-elect Barack Obama takes office next Tuesday. Clinton is not expected to hit any major roadblocks, with Republicans and Democrats alike praising her acumen on the issues. But concerns about her husband’s charitable fundraising overseas remain.

Senator David Vitter of Louisiana, who was among several Republicans who raised the issue at her confirmation hearing earlier this week, cast the lone opposing vote. Vitter called former president Bill Clinton’s foundation a “multimillion dollar minefield of conflicts of interest”.

“This could produce explosions at any minute, particularly concerning the Middle East where we least need them,” Vitter said.

Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina said he too remains wary that contributions to the Clinton charity could pose a problem.

But, he added, he wouldn’t stand in the way of her appointment and noted Clinton could become one of the nation’s best secretaries of state to date.

Her departure from the Senate has been closely watched as it would give New York governor David Paterson, a fellow Democrat, the power to appoint her successor. Caroline Kennedy wants the job.

Clinton told the panel earlier this week the US must elevate the role of foreign policy and diplomacy in handling tough problems. “America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America. The best way to advance America’s interest in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solutions,” said Clinton.