The Falcon   |   Volume 83, Issue 52

Published 5/22/13   |   Log In

Clinton should run for presidency

Secretary shows great leadership during hearing

By ALLEY JORDAN, Opinions Editor

Published: January 30, 2013

After stepping down from her position as secretary of state on Feb. 1, Hillary Clinton will hopefully be preparing for her candidacy in the 2016 presidental campaign. And she’d be a great president, too, though she has made no such statement. But we’ll see.

In 2008, then-senator Barak Obama promised America hope and change, whereas Clinton promised strong leadership from experience. The 2008 presidential campaign did get many Americans actively interested in politics again. We needed serious hope and change. Obama gave us that hope and he gave us change, which just depends on whether or not you believe the change was for the better or worse. But that’s another column.

After losing the 2008 presidential election, Clinton nonetheless had a great run as secretary of state. In fact, she had such a great run that she’ll undoubtedly grace the pages of our history books, both as secretary of state and, if she decides to run, as president.

Along with her strong leadership and incomparable experience, Clinton will most likely be able to pass legislation on issues such as America’s infrastructure, climate change and immigration reform. Because she is able to work with Congress and contend with them when necessary, Clinton will be more proactive in executing the goals she will set out.

Clinton is lauded by both Democrats and Republicans, more so from the former. Clinton is the most-liked member of Obama’s cabinet, with a 67 percent approval rating. She’s proven worthy of American politics and criticism.

Not only is Clinton positively influential in domestic politics, but her experience as the secretary of state, her relations with foreign leaders and her years on the Senate Armed Services Committee will undoubtedly serve her as America’s commander-in-chief in our increasingly globalized world. In fact, back in September, Clinton received a standing ovation from the United Nations, before even giving a speech. Suffice it to say, Obama, or nearly any Republican, would not receive such a greeting from the international community.

It is highly unlikely in 2016 that there will be another equally notable Democratic candidate as Clinton. As for the Republicans, that much cannot be said. This will allow Clinton to run uncontested as the Democratic nominee.

Although it is rare in today’s partisan politics, many Republicans are supportive of Clinton, which is a sign that she should decide to run for the presidency in 2016. In fact, former Romney vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan gave praise to Clinton. “If we had a Clinton presidency … I think we would have fixed this fiscal mess by now,” he said.

As it pertains to the recent Benghazi hearing on Jan. 23, Republican Senator on the Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker said in Clinton’s defense after the trial that “The deception around the Benghazi issue did not come from the State Department ... It was more of a White House political operative deception that was carried out, not from the State Department.”

Clinton did admit fault for the Benghazi attack when she repeatedly said, “I take responsibility. And nobody is more committed to getting this right. I am determined to leave the State Department and our country safer, stronger, and more secure.” From Corker’s statement, however, it seems that not all Republicans think that it was just hers to admit.

Some are saying that the Benghazi attacks will scare Clinton off from running for the presidency, but I don’t think so. She defended herself to the best of her ability during the trial, which, by the way, is a grand ability.

Clinton was emotional when discussing the four Americans killed from the attack, and she retaliated justly in a heated debate against Sen. Rob Johnson who contended with Clinton on the announcement as to whether or not the attack was spontaneous or a terrorist plot.

Should she decide not to run for president in 2016, there are rumors that Clinton might engage in philanthropy, write a memoir or teach, among other endeavors uncharacteristic of herself. If there’s one thing that we can all agree on, it’s that Hillary Clinton loves the political fight. We should expect to see more and more “Hillary 2016!” bumper stickers on the streets in the coming years.

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