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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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What a embarrasment he was to our military during our Vietnam conflict. Just like Fonda, I'll never forgive him.
Good call. He has really been around. Anyway all you have leftover is General Powell and Condi Rice ....
Oh you mean we can pick a Republican? In that case. I would seriously consider Hukabee.
The guy who picked John Edwards for his VP?
obamas tapping kerry? does michelle know? this aint right
michelle is probably relieved.
He can't do worse then the Hillary Benghazi fiasco and coverup?
Sure he can...
A liar and a traitor. He should fit right in with this crew.
I'm surprised Obama didn't tap Whoopi Goldberg for the SoS position...Whoopi and Hillary are about the same size...both are equally knowledgeable of foreign affairs...Whoopi has a better suntan which might appeal to the middle east countries...Whoopi seems a much better choice than a john in the position...
Congratulations Sen. Kerry
Senator Kerry, do you think the Israeli policy on the Palestine and the Palestinian people as "war crimes"?
Will the democrats demand 10 years of Kerry tax returns?
His money makes Romney look middle-class to poor
Fair is fair - wouldn't you say?
News flash Marcus...the dems do not know fair.
Tweedledee & Tweedledum. ROTFLMAO!
Kerry was veted by the Publicans under Bush as a traitor . They had a big doucmentary film on his service
in Vietnam and after proving his was a traitor . The film was only pulled off by the Publicans after most
of the viewing nation saw it . They the Publicans never denied the facts of the film or allegations of this film . Instead they pulled this as veted correct but too harsh in allegations . The point is that this was either slander or fact . Kerry never took action to sue the Publicans for slander . Now , it is beyond the time allowed to sue , so this is Kerry's out . This is bad policy on the part of the Dems and Obama . The point is that a man in Kerry positon if he wanted to take or go for any office outside of his State would have to clear this situation up . He didn't , and held on to his Senators Seat . This is where he should stay . The point is slander is slander and if a person who is a millionaire wants to approve of slander against himself ,as he had the means to stop this , and didn't , then the slander sticks / Most of us do not have the money to sue for slander when slandered , and this is my case . What is not slander and a big mark against Kerry is and was his large stake in Aig which he got when Clinton pulled allowing AIG two regulators . Kerrys stock positions proved Clinton was behind the Financial Crisis . Kerry should hold no other national office other than Senator which is what the other former Senator from Mass did as well advisedly after the Murder at Capaquitic . named of Blessed memory as the brother of JFK.
I was thinking Obama's second choice for SS might be Snoop Dog - a fan fave - and he's more Middle Class & street wise
Michelle is holding out for Oprha.
Ted Kennedy would be PROUD....
John Kennedy would be pissed!
Kerry 69 has played an important role in advancing Obama's foreign policy. AHHHHH we don't have a foreign policy that works anymore, so that's encouraging !!! Kerry,and his money wife are extremely rich and represent everything the democrats hated about Romney. Kerry hates the military, and as far as I'm concerned Kerry is a traitor to this nation and stands for the same issues as Jane Fonda. YEA, great choice Obama, is really fits your Socialist agenda.
This is a headline from a "competing" media outlet, yeah go figure that an industry supposedly dedicated to informing the public with the truth would have competing facts-huh:
Team Obama's entire Middle East policy has failed and the problem is about to get worse
Imagine walking into that...if nothing else Kerry is gutsy...stupid but gutsy.
Free cell phones and catsup for everybody!! That'll make em wander away happy.
He has the perfect credentials for the job! Just ask him about his Vietnam tour and listen to the lies. He has plenty of that type of experience. I am amazed at the ineptness of this president and his administration. It just gets better and better. What 's next, Hanoi Jane's appointment as Rice's replacement?
Dang Mike, you took away my comment with your last line. :-)
In my previous comment , I am not approving MR. Kerry as anything but a senator for his State , for 2 very good reasons . One , his approval of the slander of himself , and two his part in approval and profit from the financial crisis of the large position he had of AIG stock he acquired after Clinton deliberate de regulated AIg by making in law two regulators .
I voted for Mr Kerry for President , as I thought of him as a hero for Pres. I felt he would do something to stop the war or win the war . I thought he had more experience at this . As to the war , Iraq was a war manufactured by Mr Bush . As to the war in Afghanistan , I was tempted to vote for Mr Bush who was saying the logical thing , but had not done it . Namely , if Mr Bush had attacked the Taliban in Pakistan ,by going into Pakistan , as Mr Bush made a promise to do in his campaign speeches , then I would have voted for Mr Bush . This aside , Mr Kerry would have made a better Pres having actually what I believe the right way to evaluated wars . HIs flip flop as he was know to have were actually correct decsions based upon changing conditions . Vietnam became a no win war because Johnson did not bomb the Capital of NorthVietnam . If you can't win a war , you pull out of the War . It is just that simple , but not for Johnson , or Bush and even for Ike in Korea . Ike did pull out of the war , and this caused the problem we are still paying for today or our troops in S . Korea . Actually we should pull out of Korea , and allow both Koreas to merge as what happened in Germany . We should be trying to make this happen.
Have you forgotten about that mess in Viet Nam where Kerry was never in combact but worked as a typist at Central Command in Saigon then claimed he was in combat and managed to get the silver star awarded to himself?Every one in his platoon laughed at the award when it was given to him and laughed at 30 years later when Kerry's integrity was brought into question regarding his medal!What kind of man lies about his service to get an award,goes home,protests the war,then run for office and uses his medal as an achievment to get himself elected.He fits perfevtly into the presidents regime.Dishonest,lier,two faced coward.
The kind of person who does not say anything bad about anybody, that is John Kerry. Yes, he is wealthy, yes, he is seventy, yes he is in the top 1%....So! The president trusts him and he trusts the president. He opened the door for the then senator in 2004.
The world need people like these two!
the president is totally untrustworthy.....obama the ass is a born liar, a distorter, and a divider......kerry is an arrogant dope just like obama the ass...
He wealthy because his wife gave him close to 200 million dollars.Where all the disgust about having a rich man running a department in Washingtion.Hell,he has more money than Romney! Let's hear from you libturds out there.Let's see some frothing from your rabid lips!
Jane Fonda can be the ambassador to Viet Nam,since she too has a lot fof foreign policy,particularly in the far east.That should amke a great duo!John and Jane!
Ya, she can have the regime kill off a few peasants and oppressed people to make more room for the Kerry motorcade to invade the new Vietnam resort area.
Is he going to keep using his maiden name or go with his married name,Kraft.Maybe,the middle road choice,Kerry-Kraft!They should make Evita the ambassador to Libya.Give her the same protection as the last ambassador got.
it is heinz as in catsup....
hey isn't kerry a millionaire or billionaire..........why didn't the ass obama nominate Ben Ghazi for the position....everyone knows him....
His wife was. He married the ugly rich girl to rise in society. Its ok, Lincoln married the nutty wealthy society girl for the same reason. Kerry is a Kennedy wannabe, but he's a little more on the Lurch side of life.
Another perfect zionist tool. He is zionist all the way. AND he voted to invade Iraq.
Warmonger, zionist just what we need (snark).
Not to get off track here but shouldn't the Hillary have been there to congratulate her replacement and say a few words as she is simply resigning on her own with no contempt for anyone?
Just thinking of that Frankenstein comedy movie a few decades ago. Remember Mrs. Frankenstein with the bugged out eyes and pulled back face and hair? Now, picture Kerry standing next to Paylosi for the WH photo. Sorry, just too funny.
He was nominated-not confirmed. BTW many members of the House have already said not confirmation until hillary testifies........
Hillary needs thr time off to get a new face-lift before going in front of cameras!!
Unless he goes off to war with the outhouse door again, he will be the new SOS.
Kerry's nomination is a twofer. A traitor and a tax cheat. Obama will probably nominate Jane Fonda as Secretary of Defense.
Nah, most likely as Secretary of the Interior.