Petition against Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State

To: President-Elect Barack Obama

We, the undersigned, hereby recommend against appointing Senator Hillary Clinton to the Cabinet position of Secretary of State.

Though Senator Clinton has many years of experience as a lawyer, First Lady, and U.S. Senator, and although she received 18 million votes during the Primary elections, there are concerns that she is not the appropriate choice to represent the American people as the nation's senior Diplomat.

1. A central appeal of your candidacy was that your election would mark the end of the Bush-Clinton-Clinton-Bush-Bush years. Hillary Clinton in such a senior position, along with all the other Clinton baggage, negates your advertised promises.

2. Bill Clinton would move, once again, to center stage. As an unappointed member of the government, control of his actions would not be possible. It is likely that each of Hillary Clinton's actions will be suspected of being Bill Clinton's. Or, at least influenced by him.

3. Specifically, Bill Clinton's past and future business dealings abroad and donors to his Foundation could be a huge problem and potential source of scandal, thus reducing the effectiveness of Hillary Clinton's strengths.

4. Hillary Clinton proved herself a poor manager during her campaign. Managing the huge foreign policy bureaucracy is a much bigger task.

5. Would she be a team player? maybe not. She campaigned extensively for you, and cannot be criticised for not doing her duty in the general election, but it was her duty as a Democrat, yet it was in her own interests to do so. It doesn't mean she's suddenly lost all her doubts about you.

6. It would create a significant alternative focus of power, not only within the administration, but outside it as well - a dangerous combination.

7. No recent Secretary of State has been a realistic prospect for president. Hillary Clinton clearly harbors presidential ambitions. Everything she does will calculated on her part with that possibility in mind, not necessarily with the best interests of the nation in mind.

8. There will be many former Clinton aides in senior positions in the your administration. The danger of dual loyalties is obvious.

9. Clinton herself made the argument - accepted by many primary voters - that you were not ready to be Commander-in-Chief but that she alone was prepared to answer that 3am phone call. Is there any evidence she's changed her mind? If she believes she knows best, then the chances of her freelancing as Secretary of State become very real.

10. She is strongly disliked by too many people - of all political backgrounds - that she would too likely polarize the nation against her, something that has been done for eight years, thus contrasting the concept of CHANGE for which the majority of the American people voted.

For these reasons, we recommend against appointing Hillary Clinton as your Secretary of State.