James Mann on Hillary Clinton: A Portrait in Consistency

As a "job requirement" (no I am not actually paid to do this - in fact some might contemplate paying me NOT to),  I read a great many articles about our Hillary.  Many are mediocre. Some consist of a lot of left-handed compliments, and a few are mini self-promotion forums for the authors.   Very few make it to this page - spotlighted.  You can never tell from the headers, by the way.  I did not expect to be impressed by this one from the LA Times by James Mann, author of The Obamians: The Struggle Inside the White House to Redefine American Power, but after  reading it I felt like applauding.  It is an insightful analysis of our girl as SOS and how she has remained consistent over the years and throughout her tenure at the State Department. 

I have been fortunate enough, while serving on a Fulbright panels, to meet some folks from DOS.  One descriptor that I have heard from every one of them,when discussing HRC was "consistent."  It has always been mentioned appreciatively and with respect.

Consistency does not preclude evolution on issues.  It does require persistence of vision.  Hillary Clinton's vision of America has never wavered.   This excellent op-ed by Mann shines a laser beam on her basic philosophy of America and its status and role in the world.  It stands as a primer on Hillary Clinton's world view of our country.

Op-Ed

Hillary Clinton, diplomat in chief

The secretary of State's standing has soared, as her views have remained constant.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrives for the action group on Syria meeting in the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. (Haraz N. Ghanbari / Associated Press / June 30, 2012)

By James Mann

July 8, 2012

Two summers ago, in announcing the end of combat operations in Iraq, President Obama told the nation it was time for America to devote itself to problems at home. American soldiers "have met every test that they faced," said the president. "Now, it's our turn."
At first glance, that speech seemed unexceptional. But it left one high-ranking American official privately uneasy: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

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