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Jason Reed / Reuters
Sen. John Kerry waves at the end of his speech during the final session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on September 6.
Updated at 7:01 a.m. ET: When he ran for president, many in the GOP slammed Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., pilloried for his late opposition to the Vietnam War and his famed flip on the conflict in Iraq. But, as criticism mounted against U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice as the apparent frontrunner to become the next secretary of State, Kerry was publicly embraced by Republican colleagues in the Senate as a comparatively slam-dunk candidate to replace Hillary Clinton.
Now that Rice has withdrawn her nomination to the post, as NBC News reported exclusively on Thursday, all eyes turn to the onetime Democratic nominee. An official close to the process told NBC's Andrea Mitchell late Thursday that Kerry is now almost certain to get the job. "There were two people on the list," the person said. "Two minus one is one."
In her withdrawal letter to the president, Rice said she was convinced her nomination would prove "lengthy, disruptive and costly" as Republicans have raised questions about her role in the public response to the 9/11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. The exclusive NBC News interview with Rice aired Thursday on Rock Center with Brian Williams.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News' Brian Williams, Ambassador Susan Rice described the moment she called President Barack Obama and told him to withdraw her name from those he is considering nominating as secretary of state. Rice defends her comments made about the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and describes what it's been to like to be in the center of a political firestorm.
In a statement, Kerry praised Rice as an "extraordinarily capable and dedicated public servant" and alluded to his own past political battles.
"As someone who has weathered my share of political attacks and understands on a personal level just how difficult politics can be, I've felt for her throughout these last difficult weeks, but I also know that she will continue to serve with great passion and distinction," he said.
EXCLUSIVE: Rice drops out of running for secretary of state
Elected to the Senate in 1984, Kerry rose to national prominence as a foreign policy expert when he returned to the Senate after his failed 2004 presidential bid. The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee since 2009, he has made high-profile visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan and helped negotiate the new arms treaty with Russia that was signed in 2010.
Respected in the upper chamber and nationally as a shaper of the nation's foreign policy, Republicans have indicated that Kerry would face little opposition to be confirmed to the secretary of State post. "I think John Kerry would be an excellent appointment and would be easily confirmed by his colleagues," said Republican Susan Collins, R-Maine, late last month. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, a close ally of former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, declared that Kerry would have "an easy time" being confirmed in the Senate.
Kerry's confirmation would likely not come without some minor re-litigation of past controversies. One of Congress's richest members, he was painted as an out-of-touch patrician by his presidential foes. The onetime Navy lieutenant was criticized by opponents during his campaign for his high-profile protests of the Vietnam War, including his nationally-covered challenge to a congressional panel in 1971 to defend the deaths of men "for a mistake."
Kerry worked closely with the president in the just-finished election, playing Romney in debate preparations and had been seen as a potential choice to head either the State Department or the Department of Defense. Earlier today a top Pentagon official told NBC News that former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel appeared to be the likely choice for secretary of Defense.
NBC's Chuck Todd details the events that led up to Susan Rice removing her name from consideration for the role of U.S. secretary of state.
But the main headache for Democrats if Kerry is appointed will be the triggering of a special election in Massachusetts next year to replace him. Democrats recently celebrated the ousting of Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who won a January 2010 special election to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Elizabeth Warren bested Brown in the heavily blue state by a margin of 54 percent to Brown's 46 percent.
If Kerry is picked, Brown will be viewed as a formidable Republican candidate to replace him. A wider bench of Democrats, including former Senate candidate Martha Coakley, may vie for the nomination.
But whoever wins the potential replacement race would have a grueling path, as would voters weary of statewide contests. Another special election would be the state's second in three years, and Kerry's successor would be up for re-election again in 2014.
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Hey, message for Susan Rice! I hope it was worth your career doing Obama's dirty work for him! I wonder what she is secretly thinking about the selfishness of this man and what he would do and who he would hurt in order to hide the truth to protect his sorry ###! I hope your President was worth it Mrs. Rice!
Just when you think things could get no worse, alonge comes "ketchup" kerry's ma,e again, and, martha coakly? We have, if people would stop to look clearly at it, a very well planned infilteration of the American federal government with people, I consider, not for America as a free nation, but people who embrace a socialist form of government, not a free government, but a government in control of everything, and we see how good that has worked in other parts of the world. And now, we see the chicago political machine joining with the boston political machine? Who next, the new jersey political machine? All for power and money, well folks, there is one small consulation----they too will be thrown under the bus when no longer useful to the "FORWARD" MOVEMENT.
King David-it is so easy to throw around the terms "socialist" and talk about the "Boston political machine" or the "Chicago Political" machine as if no other influential political forces exist in this country. But when you're through with your FOX talking points, consider this. Kerry fought for his country and earned a purple heart, like it or not. Was he defending "socialism"? You want to take issue with his observations or comments, fine. But please contrast that was such "Great Patriots" like Cheney or Bolton, or even no-show reservist W, who were so eager to send other people's sons and daughters off to war, yet found every reason under the sun not to defend their country when their numbers were up. Just what were they defending, and please explain to me how in the world they were defending it?
I can't believe how much the right is just aching for a scandal here. Yeah, no doubt there were mistakes made in Benghazi on the left and right (recall the republicans voting down extra security). But even Patreaus testified the info made available by intelligence was a deliberate "slip" as they feared leaking anything to Al Q. And call him what you want, he is not a liar. Rice was repeating the info available, as was Condi when she testified about WMD. But I didn't see McCain, Graham, or any of those other blowhards attack her! Doesn't matter. She would have never been nominated anyway.
Apples to Oranges here stageleft! The information coming from Condoleezza Rice was found in EVERY Intelligence agency worldwide. The information coming from Susan Rice, was found in NO Intelligence agency, not even our own!
Stageleft, There is a big difference about when Rice was told what to say from what Condi was told to say. Rice was given information to tell the public that was knowingly false as was proven and she was set out to DELIBERATELY lie to the American people. that was not Conoleeza's case. No one sees a difference in this? Look, if mistakes were made about what happened, I would be ok with it, these things happen! But when mistakes were deliberate, yes, I have a problem with this and so should everyone else!
She did not DELIBERATELY lie. And she did not cause Benghazi to happen! If she did lie, then the good (or not so good, depends on your viewpoint) General lied as well. Leftisfascist-first of all, define fascism. Once you do, you will realize that truly has nothing to do with the current administration. And what does "half-white" president have to do with this, other than exposing the real reasons you may dislike the current Commander in Chief?
Well then, if Ms. Rice did not know the truth by the time she went on 5 networks to give false information when it was already public knowldedge much before then, she then has to be the most incompetent person and should resign in disgrace for her incompetency!
Hey Dee-she did not get the nomination! She wouldn't have anyway! It was NOT public knowledge, or Patreus wouldn't have testified the way he did! And if incompetency were a reason to resign, they would have had to clear out at least half the last administration. Is incompetency what we are talking about here? It exists on both sides!
Put the dope in there. He can help complete the circus and join the clown that got elected president.
The State Department will have to factor in the cost of Mr. Kerry traveling with his windsurfer while he showers platitudes on our allies and enemies around the world!
The Fed gang of 12 owns Obama, they have their hand up his a$$ and he speaks what they say. They are accomplishing their goals because we have a total moron in the WH. Endless money printing until the jobless rate hits 6.5%? In what imaginary world is that in? Manufacturing has gone overseas for two reasons: Unions and cheap continuous printing money. The ONLY way Demrats will wn, is promising entitlements and handouts, and they must keep printing for that to continue. Minimalist trinkets of cash, created out of thin air, and spread among people who now have accepted a minimal existence. It is , oh so sad. I first saw it when traveling China in the late 70's and 80's. China purposely developing their poor working class. Achievers went off the grid quickly.
All the left-wing are nutjobs, and upon here is their Mecca we attack.
Wow how hypocritical of the Republican party to fawn all over Sen. Kerry. They had no time for him when he was running for president and even discredited his military service through the "swift boaters" anti Kerry PAC with the help of Rove! Typical face of the Republican Party. Sorry, I mean two faced!
Even though I'm a Massachusetts Democrat I'd like to see him out of the Senate because he hasn't done a thing I can think of except serve his own interests. He's an Ivy League fraud. But to his annoint him as the next Secretary of State will be Obama's downfall. The man is useless. A shadow of the man he thinks he is. When he first thought about running for President back in 2000 he was spending a great deal of time in New Hampshire so a Boston paper asked his wife, Teresa Heinz, what kind of President he would make and she replied, "He's not qualified to be President." Two weeks later Kerry ended his speculation. I wonder how she sees his qualifications for this job? Just because his fellow Senators think he's got the right stuff doesn't mean much when they can't make the Fiscal Cliff go away. I say let Teresa decide.
Demrats forcing their voting block down the food chain with entitlements. The message of "you do not need to accomplish anything, stop dreaming", "go into $200,000 in debt to get your worthless liberal arts degree", and "go work for the government for life" mantra explains why the Demrats want a tax on achievement. The problem with socialism is: eventually you run out of other peoples money. Leftwing nutjobs drive by looking barely above the hood of their fiscal car. They hit the wall crying, "I didn't see it coming!" Another Trillion infused into play, and the markets barely moved. A$hit storm is coming, people.
Urban Roman, geesh man, you got the talking points all down. Did you cut and paste that crap? I suppose you think that Social Security is also an entitlement, right? See how stupid and low informed you are. Hey, keep voting against your pocketbook.
And the markets haven't moved, BS on that. I made over 50K on my stocks and bonds this past year, and I don't have that much invested either. So spread your crap amongst your fellow tea baggers, they may believe it. I sure don't.
John Kerry as Secretary of State? What an insult to Viet Nam Veterans and those wanting a Free Vietnam both inside and outside of Vietnam. Back in 1971, Kerry spoke at a Senate Testimony in which Kerry repeated charges leveled at Viet Nam Veterans in the so-called “Winter Soldier Investigation,” a mock trial held in Detroit by anti-war activists in January and February, 1971. At that event, scores of men claiming to be combat veterans fresh from Vietnam accused themselves of atrocities such as throwing Vietnamese POWs from helicopters and making them drink poisonous helicopter hydraulic fluid. We do NOT need a Secetary of State that lambast our troops in front of Government Officials with outright lies of made up atrocities.
Hey Kerry, The REAL War Crimes were the "Re-Education Camps" of the International Socialists Occupation Forces illegally occupying from Ha Noi. Susan Rice did not get the job for lying about Benghazi, Kerry should not get the job for lying about our Viet Nam Veterans.
Nhan Quyen Cho Viet Nam! Human Rights for Vietnam!
Ahhh yes....Kerry....Giggolo John still (apparently) on benefactor #2. (she who is living along with Giggolo John, on the trust fund of her previous hubby).....Wonder if he's paid the excise tax in Massachusetts (that he had built overseas, with non union labor), since being caught harboring it in Rhode Island? When it comes time for rich dems to "pay their fair share," they never seem to "walk the walk," do they.
Yep, Democrats such as Kerry must be very rich as the can afford to vote for tax hikes (that they don't bother paying anyways)
The Tea Partiers want Kerry appointed for one reason only: to get themselves an additional seat in the Senate. To give in to this would be Obama caving in in the worst way. The balance in the Senate is precarious at best; tipping it toward red would be extreme folly. Please, Mr. Obama, consider why you are being pushed this direction, and by whom, and then walk away. Anybody else -- ANYBODY else -- would be a wiser choice.
Exactly! They want Kerry so they get a seat in the Senate.
Kerry is another POS.. All I want for Christmas is WW3 to Start so we can purge all the lib tards and muzzzzzzzzlims in the world.
Don't be surprised if there will be some kind of revolution! I have never seen this country so divided since Obama started his Presidency and from what I am seeing from his second term in regards to Obama's handling of the "Fiscal Cliff" negotiations I don't see any improvements in the next 4 years, I predict things to get much worse! You guys voted for this guy. You will soon get to see what you voted for coming January!
Oh yes Dee Patriot, and when or if it starts, you tea baggers had best remember one thing, a whole bunch, or so I have been told, liberals also own and know how to use their weapons. So don't be surprised if you lose a bunch of your friends if something ever did start.
You guys voted for GW Bush, and he got us into how many unpaid wars, and lost how many billions of cash in Iraq? Yep, you sure picked a winner there also, didn't you? Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Dumb comment, not surprised from left loons. Yes, we did vote for George Bush, if I also recall, he got support from both parties to go into Iraq so go on and blame Bush like you people always do. If I recall, there was no division and bitterness under Bush like there is now under Obama!
AHH COME ON this is SOO not cool, the country gave this crackpot Kerry a resounding "F" off in favor of George W. Bush, we actually CHOSE four more years of W. ! as to deal with this guy... Why would the guy who was extremely fortunate to be re-elected, intentionally expose the country to this WHACKJOB????
This is ridiculous. What have we gained by Rice stepping down? Republicans just want Kerry in the spot so they can possibly gain a Senate seat. To quote Jack Nicholson "All you did was weaken a country today"
Nope, we want John Bolton as Ambassador not someone such as Kerry who "testified" to the Senate in 1971 with outright lies of made up atrocities against our heroic Vietnam Veterans
I thought we were talkinga about Secretary of State, not Ambassador!
Kerry's stepping stone to 2016 presidential race.
Um no! He won't run just like Hillary won't run. Hard to run again after losing elections.
I don't know about all that, Kerry is not too bright he may make another run and he may squeak by the primaries again but with all honesty IF Kerry makes another run the GOP, WILL!!! weasel their way back into the white house... LEAVE John Kerry right where he is, PLEASE!!!
You know who is gonna be John Kerry, top aid, don't you.. Yep You guess it.. Hanoi Jane. Look them up. Check out who is running thing across the world. Just google them.
Make no mistake. They're not doing this because they like Kerry better than Rice. They're doing this because they want to try and force open the Senate seat to try and get Scott Brown back in there. Don't fall for it.
Scott Brown in the Senate? I heard about that possibility! That could be a good thing!
If that Senate seat were to open, to really annoy the Politically Correct Revisionist History Crowd, annoit Allen West to the position eventhough never lived in MA. That would set the Media Elite and the Politcally Correct Crowd to absolutely go bonkers.
When the phone rings at 3 a.m., who do you want to pick it up? Yuk, yuk.
Obama (won't help you), Kerry (it's not their fault!), or Rice (I only eat cat food).
Scary thought! God help this country....
or George (leave me alone while I'm on vacation, or reading My Pet Goat). If memory serves, seems like this administration actually took out Bin Ladin, while the last president couldn't even bother coming back from vacation when he was told Rome was burning. Give it up.
uh?? stageleft, although it is true that Obama has been to Pakistan starting back in 1980. It was the Navy Seals that took out Bin Laden in Pakistan NOT Obama. It was NOT Rome burning but rather Benghazi burning when Obama left 4 Americans for dead (including two ex-Navy Seals) despite LIVE Drone feeds to the White House but instead went to bed to rest up for his campaigning the next day in Las Vegas. Worst of all, he then blamed free speech on the Internet in the USA against an innocent Legal Immigrant Christian Arab for an attack by an Al-Queda Muslim Inspired Group attack on our BURNING US Consulate in Benghazi.
Yes, it was the Seals. but if Bush had been invloved, I'm SURE you would have given him credit!!!Obama is the one that said it would be done, then gave the order. As for Benghazi, whatever happens there pales in comparison to Bush's negligence in 911, or even Reagan's failure to deliver security in Libya. Once again, GIVE IT UP!!!
Being an Independent I'd like to say wow. Did they ever throw Amdassador Rice under the bus. If the comments on this page reflect the tone in Washington no wonder nothing gets done. I believe our real problem is the host of life time politicians that control or government. They have no interest in doing what is best only what they think will get them elected one side pandors to tthe unions the other to the wealthy some to the miriad of special intrestes that pump money into the system . It's time for people to seriously consider term limits at the federal level. If two four year terms is enough for the POTUS then shouldn't two terms be enough for a senator, or four two year terms for a corgressman. These people who spend their whole lives in Washington have no sense of the real world.
What a horrible bunch of people you are here. The anonymity of forums like this allow people to show their true selves, and you all do it so very well. I don't worry about politicians, because they are what they always have been and always will be ... self-absorbed, power-hungry and corrupt. I worry about the rest of us, what we've become as a nation. The country votes Democrat or Republican within about 3 points of 50% almost all the time, yet those who speak for the left or the right in here act as though the "other side" is the most vile and worthless people who ever lived. None of you are right about that. There are good and bad people on both sides of the political argument.
And I waste my time here. What am I doing?! I come back from time to time because I want to actually discuss matters that are important to the nation, but I get sucked back into this cesspool of name-calling and disrespect that is the norm here. God, my God, please forgive me for any part I've played in contributing to the hatred that is so prevalent here. And help me to distance myself once and for all from this pestilence. Spending time here is as destructive to my soul as any drug could possibly be.
Good post and so true. Sad
Rice and Kerry is ALL we have for Secretary of State? Please! I refuse to believe that... LOOK HARDER.!! Keep in mind that in Kerry's generation most young men went to the military. So let's try and find someone who the entire military , active and retired, doesn't hate. He made false allegations against soldiers and then made an issue of returning his service medals only to find out they were not his metals. He had kept his and used someone else's to return. If he is nominated, it will only show, yet again, how much Obama does not understand military culture. The Democratic Party is too diverse to have only these 2 up their sleeve.
Ditto Idaho Beauty, excellent post. My comments mostly the same agruements in #442
I agree, appoint the womanizer, NEWT for sectary of state. He could BS any head of a foreign country into doing what the US wants that person to do. And it would really pee off the tea baggers. Better yet, it would be fun to watch them squirm and wiggle trying to say NO to that.
Not aware of any prior President trying to nominate Newt as Secretary of State. At least we would have someone who actually knows about the History of the USA and world not a Susan Rice who did not know where Benghazi was yet told by our "President" to lie about what happen there.
Maybe he will bring French Fries with that Ketchup!
We almost had a gay SoS to go with our gay president, and we come out with
a 450-page manual that you can't speak about gayness when in Islam countries. Funny $hit.
You can't make this stuff up.
Gay president? Are you delusional?
Consider the comments from Obama's Gay Pakistani Roommate at Occidental that Obama then visited in Pakistian in 1980 & 1981 to be with that ex-college roommate again, not at all "delusional"
Urban, I understand you are not gay or a Muslim and have little knowledge about cultures and history....but voted for W Bush, twice, McCain once and Romney once...you must be very special.
We've already had both a gay President and a gay Vice President! James Buchanan was our gay President and his gay lover Rufus King was our first Vice President under Pierce!
Down Low Club anyone?
Urban-you are a shining example of just what's wrong with the modern day "Party of Lincoln".