Former Secretary of State stumps in Clear Lake
by Cynthia Findley
for the Mirror-Reporter
Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright stepped briskly into the Surf Ballroom last week and addressed the 100 attendees who had gathered to hear her message in support of Senator Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid.
“I have just returned from India and Israel—and now I’m in another important “I” location—Iowa,” said Albright. “And the leaders of those and many countries are asking what is happening in the U.S.? They are familiar with Ms. Clinton and would be able to work with her.”
Later in her remarks, Albright praised the Iowa caucus process and described the grassroots democracy in Iowa as “remarkable.”
The former Secretary, who served under President Bill Clinton, began her comments with a dogged analysis that “essentially the world is in a mess.” She noted she spent her entire life studying the world political climate and believes the United States’ reputation is “in tatters.”
She outlined five major trends she sees coming and laid them out as significant challenges for the next president.
Those trends, according to Albright, include major escalation in the number of terrorist and extremist organizations, non-effective methods for controlling nuclear weapon development, a swing away from democracy throughout the world, expanding globalization increasing the gap between the richest and poorest nations, and the increasing challenges of global warming and energy security.
Albright responded to Sen. Clinton’s recent statement in which she named Pakistan as the country which “scared her the most.”
Albright called the instability in Pakistan “an international migraine headache” and said she supports the Clinton candidacy because she believes that Clinton brings “unparalleled global experience” to the table.
Albright spoke of the times when they would travel to other countries during her tenure as Secretary of State and remarked that Clinton always made it a point to meet and learn from everyday people, as well as visit refuge camps, poor neighborhoods, and orphanages. And she highlighted the Senator’s bi-partisan work in Washington, as well as her many years of leading the Children’s Defense Fund, traveling worldwide and speaking out on behalf of women’s and children’s rights.
“Senator Clinton has the ability to lead with respect, and will rebuild the reputation of the United States throughout the world,” according to Albright.
When pressed for an explanation on Clinton’s recent affirmative vote for the Kyl-Leiberman amendment designating the Iran Revolutionary Guard a terrorist regime, Albright explained that the amendment tries to “separate the worst people in Iran from the best,” and that there are many diplomatic tools that can be used by America’s leaders.
“Senator Clinton knows how to use those tools, and understands that having a dialog with extremist organizations is not a gift or reward,” said Albright.
The former Secretary also pointed out that it is her opinion that Ms. Clinton has the best knowledge of the National Security Council, Congress, the Armed Services Committee, and the White House. “She knows how to work with others- for others,” said Albright. “She is able to dissect problems and find solutions.”
Albright took several questions from the crowd, including whether she would like to be Secretary of State again. “I loved being the Secretary of State, but it is a job that you don’t have twice. I expect to work hard for the person that I think needs to be our next president.”
Albright’s visit comes on the heels of a stop at the Surf Ballroom by Sen. Clinton a week earlier. Monday, Dec. 17, United States Army Lieutenant General (Ret.) Claudia J. Kennedy also campaigned on behalf of Clinton’s campaign for President. Kennedy, the first woman to be named a three-star general in the U.S. Army, and served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence from 1997 until her retirement in 2000, was at Angelina’s in Clear Lake.
