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Subscribe to RSSJohn Kerry, the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is President Obama's pick to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state after U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice withdrew from consideration. A Silver and Bronze star recipient, Kerry has played a role in every major foreign policy debate for nearly 30 years. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Updated 2:20 p.m. -- Saying that his new pick for the nation's top diplomatic job is "not going to need a lot of on-the-job training," President Barack Obama announced Friday his nomination of Senate Foreign Relations Committee head and onetime Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry as the next Secretary of State.
"I think it's fair to say that few individuals know as many presidents and prime ministers or grasp our foreign policies as firmly as John Kerry," Obama said at the announcement at the White House as Kerry stood at his side. "And this makes him a perfect choice to guide American diplomacy in the years ahead."
Kerry, who has been considered the overwhelming frontrunner for the job since U.N. ambassador Susan Rice withdrew herself from consideration, is likely to face few hurdles during his Senate confirmation.
First elected in 1984, Kerry served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy and became a famed demonstrator against the Vietnam War. Since his failed presidential bid in 2004, he has risen to prominence as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, going on high-profile visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan and helping to negotiate an arms treaty with Russia.
"Having served with valor in Vietnam, he understands that we have a responsibility to use American power wisely, especially our military power," Obama said of Kerry. "And he knows from personal experience that when we send our troops into harm's way, we must give them a sound strategy, clear mission, and the resources that they need to get the job done."
The former presidential nominee also served as Obama's stand-in for Mitt Romney for debate preparation during the 2012 campaign, a role Obama referenced in announcing Kerry's new assignment.
"John, I'm looking forward to working with you instead of debating you," he joked.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., leads a hearing Dec. 20 on the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
Rice, the president's reported original pick for the job, faced vehement opposition from some Senate Republicans who questioned information she presented in the immediate wake of the Benghazi consulate attacks in September. Faced with a bruising potential confirmation battle, she withdrew herself from the running for the Secretary of State post on December 13.
Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who had been fierce critics of Rice’s potential nomination reacted warmly to the choice of Kerry Friday. McCain said he has “confidence in his ability to carry out" the job while Graham called Kerry "a solid choice."
If confirmed, Kerry will replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has indicated she will step down from the post early next year.
Clinton was unable to attend the White House announcement, said the president, who noted that she is still recuperating from a reported illness but that she "could not be more excited" about Kerry getting the nod.
In a lengthy written statement, Clinton called Kerry "an excellent choice."
"President Obama and I have often asked Senator Kerry to undertake delicate diplomatic missions and to deliver difficult messages," she said in praising his past diplomatic and political experience. "He has forged strong relationships with leaders around the world. As I have learned, being able to talk candidly as someone who has won elections and also lost them is an enormous asset when engaging with emerging or fragile democracies."
Assuming Kerry is confirmed and therefore resigns from the United States Senate, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will appoint a temporary replacement for Kerry's seat before a special election held between 145 and 160 days from his resignation date.
Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who was defeated in November by Elizabeth Warren, is possible candidate in that special election, while several Massachusetts House members are also eying a run on the Democratic side.
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Just wonderful. Go from an incompetent to a coward. Jesheeeeeeee
Maybe Kerry was just confused. He thought that our soldiers were the enemy.
The insane are running the asylum. Who elects this GOP/Tea Party nuts? Obamacare will give you mental health benefits pathetic Neanderthals
John Kerry will most likely get the nod and get approved by the Senate...Dems have a majority...plus being a member of the Senate makes it easier for him to be approved...
Good chose scratch my finger purple Heart Kerry.
In regards to the comment by Yhbua, if stricter gun control works, we should consider motor vehicle control. Perhaps it would reduce the yearly carnage on our roads and highways. Oh, wait. I believe drivers are already tested on their ability to drive and knowledge of laws and safety requirements. Maybe what we need to do is take automobiles away from the general public. If only government workers were allowed to possess automobiles, surely the death toll would be reduced, right? Can you name one place where strict gun control has reduced crime? No, I didn't think so.
Money talks and Kerry's wife has lots to spend buying posts. What a shame to put such a loser in that office.
Yhbua'ba. Right .... An ObamaNation lover speaks for the Deceiver-in-Chief. Kerry is a puppet of the communists during the Vietnam War and definitely Not the expert of the war with his limited service ... he sure puts on a show. Ask the millions of vets that actually served and he just spewed what he was told to denegrate our troops. Perhaps you are the draft-dodger in sheeps clothing. This administrations is lie after lie and no accountability.
Linda the protesters who opposed the war rather than go along with the crowd in fighting a useless war were the brave ones.
Prog.1 Traitors you mean. Troops have no choice when called to war. You are nuts and unpatriotic. I am proud of those I know who had to go to war and repulsed by people like you ... brave? I think not. None of you did anything for this country but sit on you couch and smoke weed and run away when called, while some volunteered when asked. You think this country owes you like your 99% buddies.
Yhbua'ba Oh ... Name calling sure gets you where you want to be. I am so impressed. NOT.
Linda you have the right to vote in this country because liberals and progressives fought for many years in this country so that women would have the right to vote. People like Obama, Kerry and Clinton led the fight while others stood by so you might want to consider that the next time you vote.
prog.1 Really???? You are kidding, right? Oh, they saved us poor little people. I do Not think so. I fell out of my chair by laughing so hard ... LOL ... My vote will never, ever be for your kind of people, who care Nothing about Our Country but their vacations and puffing their arrogant selves up, while others suffer due to their deception and lies. Drink some more of ObamaNation ... Remember the so-called rev. Jones and how he lead thousands to their forced deaths? Well, Obama is doing it just slow enough so you do not see it. Like a frog not knowing he is dying in a pot of water slowing coming to a boil. Hope you wake up soon from your ignorance along with the other 99%'ers.
Linda, STFU and go into the kitchen and fix me lunch. Don't you your place woman. On your knees; that's the only way you know how to serve.
This story has it all!!!!!
senator ketchup =POS
chuck hagel = RINO
hilda-beast = DOUBLE-DEALING VIPER
scott brown = JUST HANGING AROUND IN HOPES OF GETTING ANOTHER PHOTO SHOOT
faux-cahontas = PARTY-COMPLIANT PUPPET
What a country.......
Kerry totally disrespected everyone in the Military:
"You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq."
John Kerry
What an arrogant a$$hole!
He forgot the part about marrying an heiress. (Heinz Ketchup queen).
one ass tapping another ass.
Another mistake by Obama,, He is a Navy Veteran and MAYBE understands the military. Wow he even served in Vietnam probably a blue water squid!!!!
250 vets that served with him testified about his misrepresentation (lies) about his military service. Just the type of person the Democrats would chose. No morals and no integrity.You would think they would be embarrassed. Oh that is right, they get their news from Jon Stewart and NBC, that edit the news so they will be ignorant.
Yhbua'ba. Perhaps you fought in Vietnam and you know something that we do not. What I do know is that our Vets were ordered to do a job. Unfortunately some sad things happen, and it is only a few. If you want to begin screaming about war, I suggest you read the history of the world and the many horrible wars too numberous to list them all: Hitler, Serbia/Kosovo, Russia, China and Middle East to name a few. YOU tell me, are those millions/billions/trillion lives and many times murdered not just a casualty of war any less important? And Our Troops murdered and contractors. This administration is anti-military and Kerry is too, and a horrible choice. You need a world history lesson and based on what Obama and Kerry say.
How many hundred years did it take Europe to learn how useless war is and this country has all that history available to us to learn from. We do not have to spend hundreds of years learning how useless most wars are, it is all written down.
As soon as we cut our "police military", they will be back at it again. They are not enlightened, just living off what we have done.
Yes, and you have no clue ...
Another loser for the Obama Administration he goes thru people faster than you can count
i guess at least he's not some thug from Chicago
The really sad thing about the troops in Vietnam is they were drafted. They had no choice but to go to war regardless of their feelings about it and were called baby killers when they returned. Really sad. Our country owes them an apology.
If the soldiers who were sent to Iraq had been draftees there would have been protests aganist that war. It is no accident that politicans found the money to finance an all volunteer army as the Vietnam War was ending. Many Americans said no we are not going. Politicans removed this for future wars by creating the all volunteer force.
I be you are one of those repulsvie protesters ... So Not proud of you.
There were many protestors to both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars during George Bush's term in office. They stopped once Obama came into office. I guess they felt silly protesting their own guy. Remember Cindy Shehan and the women in black?
Kerry is a Draft dodging piece of crap. Another nail in Americas coffin, what jacked up thing are you going to do next Obummer
If John Kerry is qualified to be Secretary of State, may I assumew that "Hanoi" Jane Fonda will be our next Secretary of Defense???
GOD I HOPE HE GETS IT, THE GUYS A JERK. This another crook we will be glad to get rid of in mass. Mr flip floop him self, and just so you know people this guy beat mass out of 600,000 in tax registering his big boat in Rhoda island and keeping it up on the vineyard until he got caught and had to pay up the thief of course the people in mass just love this guy he such a sweet heart JUST SO YOU KNOW I LIVE IN MASS. SO I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
There is no such thing as an experienced politician WITHOUT money.
I find it ironic that Obama, who attacks the rich at every turn, selects one of the richest Senators in our country to be Secretary of State. Irony - or hypocrisy? I think the latter.
International political wonks, all. This empty suit is just that compared with the likes of Mr. Senator Hegel and Madame Senator/Secretary Clinton, even though the politics of the latter aren't to my liking. He makes a big deal of his "combat experience" in the Vietnam conflict, but he was only there for a tiny part of the usual 13 month gig. And he further used this experience to somehow qualify him to toss medals away in protest, the medals rumored not to have been his. Check out his very undistinguished US Senate record. And he apparently tried to dodge taxes on his yacht. Plenty more issues of character, not to mention the nonsense that tends to come out of his mouth. His Main lifetime claim to fame is being a class act gigolo, marrying not one but TWO wealthy women. Not too shabby. But getting Senator Brown back in might be a slightly mitigating issue in this choice of Pres. Obama. We'll see. Aa.
So John: "Why the long face?"
Ha Ha.
So the Prez couldn't come up with even one incompetent, unqualified, minority woman to nominate?
That's just sad!
He is fresh out. Used them up in the first term. Had to resort to rich white guys.The new minority.
Hey Katie,
"Had to resort to rich white guys. The new minority"
Now that's damn funny right there (because it's true)! Wish I'd thought of it!
john kerry is the best choice for secretary of state. he is very intelligent and top negociator. he also has a broad vision of world politics and us relations with other countries. i wish him good luck.
I am sure the antics of his wife will gain America even greater world respect.