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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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I could not think of a better apologist for the country. This guy is a complete joke just like the CinC. I am going to go puke now.
Oh! that's just great, another Billionare Liberal Dem to add to the list of numb nuts in this administration.
When I think of John Kerry, I think of a honorable Vietnam Vet, who fought not just for Americans in battle, but fought for the Soldiers in D.C. after returning, for the plight of the Soldiers and an end to an un-winnable war, that took great honor and courage on his part. He is a lion heart for freedom and democracy, with the fortitude to back it up.
1stFreedom... Exactly and well put. He had the courage to say and act that a lot of us didn't take the time to invest.
I learned a long time ago through experience that "my country right or wrong" is a bunch of BS. Doing nothing to right the wrongs of a country is what real cowardice is about.
There is not much of a way to place a positive spin on the Vietnam War. College students killed the whole thing was just one big mess but L.B.J. did atone some by not running for another term as president.
I bet if you ask the millions of Vietnamese that live here they would say thanks.
How many were killed when North Vietnam took over the entire country and is their life any different today than it would have been without any American involvement? How many innocent people would have been saved without American involvement? "Thanks" for years of bloodshed that did not accomplish anything?
I'm not disputing his military record but his lack of honor for his wife and family are sickening. I have a hard time backing a snake like that. I have trouble supporting anyone that self-centered.
He's a tax dodger and a puke.
Get real, Kerry is another liar, remember when he ran for president?
King Obama might think this is the right move, but how many right moves has he made since becoming our king?
Bill quite a few actually.
Good to see you've snapped out of that 4 year coma...
Hey, I remember when he relocated his yacht to avoid taxes.
I would not trust this lying scumbag to walk my dog. I am willing to gamble that the illiterate morons that re-elected Obama love him. Those same people will be whining plenty when their tax connitmen tis more than they net, and the U,S, Marines kick down their door in order to collect their guns, All Obama needs to do is order Marshall Law into the game. The Marines are tough but there are millions of old men out here who have lived through some really hard times and they are a hell of a lot tougher than a bunch of 21 year olds. The old boys do not mind killing to protect their families and their way of life. So, bring it on and bring your own body bag. I do not want your dead carcass stinking up my neighborhood. Personally, I would rather kill a politician than I would a Marine. I really like their dress blues.
Obama has no authority to declare marshall law and this would be unlawful. A member of the military does not have to folloe an unlawful order.
jOHN, get some help for crying out loud.
Exactky what things are you seeing that would make any thinking person forsee things that you've described?
Get back in the bed, and take you medication, sir. I don't want to have to call the orderlies... Now, Mr. Obama won't be kicking in your door... He doesn't need or want your guns... He won't be calling Marshal Law, and the Marine Corps certainly won't be coming after you... Now just take this and you will be fine... Paranoid Lunatic (muttered under breath as the white coat walks away...)
Keep cutting that education spending, it shows. You type (and think) like cavemen.
I normally don't do the 'spelling police' deal, but, come on, fellows - it's Martial Law!! Marshall Law is a school in Chicago (The John Marshall Law School.) and a tv show in Australia.
Sorry - I just needed to get that out there.
Just another a$$clown...who married into a whole lotta money... which nowadays is all the credentials one apparently needs in politics.
I think if I had a wife that looks like Theresa Heinz I might want to spend a lot of time on the road too.
By the way, did John Kerry go to Vietnam?
The end of America is when the demoncrat/islamist party took over the treasury and laws. Trillions spent on union lovebugs and corporate bailouts that won't be paid back in full...they have got NO room to argue, period.
quit with this every other day putting a story out about Kerry and the State job. You know he is going to get it. Tell him he's in send him way over the water and tell him to come back in 4 years.
Tell him he's in send him way over the water and tell him to come back never.
there I fixed it for you.
So you Kerry haters would put ole' Boener up for nomination??? Yeah! Let's put a GOP dog with his teeth all sharpened to go bite at our neighbors and allies as our Secretary of State. That's diplomacy. It's working great in Washington...
Obama has proven once more that he has no clue....Kerry has proven himself to be radical and a self promoter while unfairly attacking our soldiers with lies and false charges. Obama always seems to admire those qualities...or lack of qualities.
He also trained his yacht to relocate to another State when it heard the word "tax". What a joke.
Avoiding or not paying taxes must be one of Obamas qualifiers for cabinet appointments.
From MA, I really don't like this guy at all. A story I heard on the local radio several years ago made me sick. It was at the time ofthe Boston Marathon when a man called in and told this story. He and his very young son stood at the curb at the beginning of the race and had been there for an hour in order to get that spot. Just as the race was about to begin, Senator John Kerry and one other man stepped in front of this lettle kid and after being asked to move; he wouldn't move. This act takes the word HUMAN of of his character. I have watched this man over the years and his facial expressions tell the same story and that he thinks he's better than ANYONE... Time to put him out to pasture.
I guess he owes BHO another BJ. What other qualifications does he have other than his sugar mamma donated all those ketchup dollars to Barry's campaign? It's amazing how the idle rich bask in the glory of being political figureheads in the spotlight. He should get a Nobel Peace Prize at least by his second week in, third at the latest.
Hillary may be good at working with other countries but not a leader of our needs ... Benghazi shows it. She has been hiding out since it happened. She will take responsiblity? Right. So where has she been, hiding. She has used every opportunity to not show up and to send out Rice to state inaccurate information is "Offensive", as she would say, which has not back up. She is not even qualified to be president. Oh, wait, unveted Obama is in office due to his lovers of the kind almighty does not wrong. I find this whole administration and lack of responsiblity offensive. Now we have another person, Kerry, up for her job ... Ugh! Really? Has his strips changed? I doubt it. Kerry trashed and demonized our Vietnam Vets along with untruths and brainwashed communistic attitude ... and he is one of the rich people you 99% keep yelling about but he is a liberal/democrate, so that is okay. You want this guy a leader working with other countries? You really think that Kerry is out for America's interest? He scares me as much as any liberal/democrate. I say NO to Kerry!!!
I say NO to Linda. Completely baseless argument; typical of a brainwashed conservative. Kerry has the right to say whatever he wants about the vietnam war, unlike you he served there. Some of us are intelligent enough to know that unneccesary war isn't good for anyone, excluding the Republican backed military industrial complex. Keep spreading your "communistic" nonsense that you heard on Fox News, it will only continue to discredit you and your "values". Kerry is a patriot who is out for the best interests of the general population of america, not just the ignorant few such as yourself. Why am even wasting my time talking to a wall?
Kerry is a great cornerstone to solidify our foreign relations. The comparison between this and the Bush regime is laughable. It makes me feel safe knowing that Republicans are completely against this; they can't even get their own nation behind them, let alone the world.
"Kerry is a great cornerstone to solidify our foreign relations" Oh???? How so?
Bush regime is laughable <~~~Boy that's for sure. But maybe Bush didn't have any tax dodgers to come up with.
Ha! Did I just hear a Republican call someone out for dodging taxes? I'm hoping I just interpreted you wrong.
I think Kerry should spend some time in Benghazi soaking up the local ambience.
Yeah....about 20 years.
Oh good. With Kerry we not only get a traitor to troops but also a tax dodger. I guess that's the best Obama has. If he fails Obama can always replace him with Jane Fonda or Bill Ayers.
Apparently those are two qualities that Obama admires.
Republicans calling people tax dodgers. Hypocrisy at it's best. Wow.
Eric...you can talk, but do you have to keep proving that you cannot think?
John Kerry's efforts in exposing the Viet Nam carnage of our youth saved thousands of lives by putting pressure on people like you nuts who get off on war. He NEVER degraded his comrades in arms..shame on you! You are probaly draft evaders yourself or ignorant ideologues who became 18 after the draft ended. I think we need to bring it back to make all of you think twice before you are forced to send your chidren and grand children off to war.
The man exhibited courage that is rare in today's politics. He knew he would have to deal with the powerful industrial military mercenaries like yourselves as well as the John E Hoover spy and slander machine. Great choice Mr. President. Hagel is next. YES WE CAN! .......and we did, losers.
Good pick, we get him out of Senate.
Exactly. That's why Republicans do want him. He's still a turd.
just what we need. another rich liberal son of a bitch.
pardon me! i get a little excited at times! but i meant every word!
You prissy gun lovers need to see Michael Moore's interview of Charlton Heston, who was at the time of the Columbine massacre, the head of the NRA....LMAOF!
The documentary is called "Bowling for Columbine" a must watch for every parent!
You need to google "Dr. Susan Gratia (Suzanna Gratia Hupp) What the Second Amendment is Really For" ...a must watch for every head in the mud liberal..
Another fox in the hen house!
The Swift Boat Veterans proved that John Kerry was a liar when he bragged about his Viet Nam exploits. He was a failed candidate for president and he'll be a failure as Sec. State. of course, his predecessor, Hilarious Clinton, is a fraud as well. I'm anxious for her part in the Benghazi incident to come to light. Thanks to our past and present service men and women for getting the truth out about these people.
And I was so hoping that Kerry would have been selected as ambassador to Libya...