Susan Rice Withdraws From Consideration To Be Secretary of State

Had been looked at as Hillary Clinton replacement

Susan Rice has withdrawn from consideration to become secretary of state. Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, had been considered a leading contender to replace Hillary Clinton. But Rice became a target of Republican criticism over her statements about the fatal embassy attack in Benghazi.

Who President Barack Obama will name as secretary of state is unclear. Sen. John Kerry had been considered a leading contender along with Rice. The Massachusetts Democrat, and 2004 presidential candidate, may emerge as the Obama administration's safest choice for Senate confirmation.

NBC News broke the Rice withdrawal story. "If nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly - to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities," Rice wrote in a letter to President Obama, saying she's saddened by the partisan politics surrounding her prospects.

"That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country...Therefore, I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time," she wrote in the letter obtained by NBC News.

Via NBC News.

Are you happy Susan Rice withdrew from consideration to be secretary of state?

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Very respectful and classy move.

[hankf68]

although, you of all people, are gloating, I agree and the same from you, for once, maybe your kindred should take notice...regardless your internal sarcasm, just kidding, nice post, peace :)

[mimi57]

@hankf68 Hey, what about mine?... LOL

[DerivePI]

She did her rounds on the morning talk shows telling us the 9/11 (1st clue) attack on Benghazi killing an American ambassador was a protest to a movie nobody has seen. Meanwhile, our crack journalists had already told us puzzling stories about a coordinated strike (2nd clue) using mortar fire (3rd clue) and RPGs (4th clue) against the ambassador's position. I'd think that in an interview for a position such as Secretary of State, I'd want to be factual, accurate and provide proper descriptions when allowing for personal interpretation. That being said, Obama was re-elected. If he wants Mr. Magoo heading up the department of optometry, let him.

[hankf68]

@mimi57 ...lol, you too mimi :)

[mimi57]

@hankf68 LOL... Gee Thanks. ( :

[jessejaymes]

I don't have anything against Rice particularly. I think she got sandwiched between "intelligence agencies" (is that an oxymoron or what?). But I think this is the best thing. She'll be taken care of and we have bigger fish to fry at the moment rather than giving the far right something to divert attention from the bigger problems they are stonewalling. Good move Ms. Rice.

[Tralee]

First intelligent thing she's done in years. I guess there is no end of women who will throw themselves under the bus for Obama, perhaps it's easier to just do it yourself, he'll throw you under the bus if you don't.

[mimi57]

I agree, I'm surprised. I expected them to have to carry her out kicking and screaming.

[woodtick57]

@mimi57

Some people care more for the country they serve than partisan politics.

[mimi57]

@woodtick57 Maybe... but I don't think that's the case here. She should have either
been silent if she didn't know, or else waited for the truth. She did neither, if it's not
lying, it's certainly a lack of knowledge and I think it's not in the best interest of the
country when you can't trust the Ambassador..not good either way.

[woodtick57]

@mimi57 Do you think she went on those sunday shows on her own accord?

[mimi57]

@woodtick57 Did you see a gun at her head?...(:

[PoliticalSpice]

Couldn't care less. It was silly to blame, her, but I have lttle preference who secretary of state is, I'm far more concerned with what the policies are.

[artjeb]

I,m, not saying MAYBE she got the message .
She just wised up to the rhetoric & new better than to continue the charade

[Denizen_Kate]

That was certainly a classy way of withdrawing from controversy, and I applaud her for that. I wonder if this means that John McCain will now cease his efforts to get on the Senate Foreign Relations committee.

[SavageMazx]

he has to have some where to sleep

[KyleMFb]

I'm not happy about it nor I'm I dissipointed...she probly got tired of the republican witch hunt I wish the democrats would have went on a hugh witch hunt after 9/11 so we knew what really happend instead of being lied to tie and time again from the entire bush administration it was cover up after cover up mabey one day the truth wil come to light and the liers will be delt with most severely

[Mia]

The opposition to her nomination had nothing to do with partisan polutics and everything to do with a cover up surrounding the deaths of 4 americans.

[ACTSmom]

Yes, I'm glad she decided to withdraw. Now I guess John Kerry will be Obama's pick. Oh, well...

[Keyjo]

John Kerry will have no problem getting approved.

[woodtick57]

People keep tossing his name out. Why would he give up a senate seat for a 4 year gig that in all honesty bites the big one and is basically a thankless freakin' job? Is he getting ready to retire?

[Keyjo]

@woodtick57
I don't know, but word is, he really wants it.

[thejimbo]

@Keyjo reading too much Politico nowadays? ;)

[Keyjo]

@jamesmitchell
Naw, I don't really read Politico. I actually waste too much time here on Politix. I should be at the gym right now.

[thejimbo]

@Keyjo I must be off as well. Cheerio for now. :)

[Sharpshooter]

In a the Amateur Leagues you can forfeit a game without much notice.... Susan Rice may well be a victim in this situation and as capable as anyone of doing the job except for her proclivity for playing her bosses hand.

We'll never know if her Black Sunday was her choice or her following orders but someone in her position should have at least a passing knowledge of Nuremberg and how well "I was just following orders" works out as an excuse.

Her withdrawal was classy until... "... she's saddened by the partisan politics surrounding her prospects."

That's another of those lame excuses..... "It wasn't my fault..."

I'm sure we'll see Suzie again in some capacity, I'm hoping she'll pick up a bit of savvy and class along the way.

[mimi57]

She'll keep her position as Ambassador of the U.N..

[Sharpshooter]

@mimi57 Thanks.... I was actually hoping for a position somewhere that matters. She deserves better than working with the Universally Noneffective den of spies.

[artjeb]

@mimi57 I had the same idea as what you posted.

[mimi57]

@Sharpshooter The U. N. is not a whole lot better... what do they do anyway? Nothing
for us, it's all about Europe. I think they're a waste.

[Sharpshooter]

@mimi57 My point exactly....

[bsking]

there is a very scary skeleton in her closet.

[thejimbo]

That is an understatement!

[bsking]

@jamesmitchell maybe Barry could offer her an ambassadorsbip ..... there's an opening and she seems to know a lot about the region

[woodtick57]

which skeleton is that? being the last straw the parisans looking for a conspiracy grasped at? Seems she should be honored for that...

[thejimbo]

@bsking I wonder if she even gets to keep her current job as our Ambassador to the UN or maybe Barry will shove her off to the region you speak of...

[bsking]

@woodtick57 what do the people of Paris have to do with this

[kathyparsell]

I am sooo happy that we have avoided the fight that would and should have come from her nomination. Many thanks to Susan Rice!

[Souljah]

she was right to do so..with the current political climate and the way the right is trying to spin the dialogue given to her about the Benghazi situation, It's no wonder she doesn't want to accept the position.

[thejimbo]

“Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it's someone else's witch being hunted.”
― Walter Kirn

[SavageMazx]

I think she fell on her sword with the Bengahzi thing and in doing so has shown she knows how to play the game, this is not the last we will see of Mrs. Rice. Loyalty is rewarded.

[woodtick57]

How did she "fall on the sword"?

[SavageMazx]

@woodtick57 she contiuned to stick with the story she was given, knowing full well that it was not true. She had to have known that the intelligence reports would eventually come out. The resons for or against letting on about the attack were not hers to chose. She did her job, nothing more, nothing less.

[DARSB]

@SavageMazx I am continually fascinated by people who speak to the knowledge and motives of public figures they have never met.

[RobertJHarsh]

I don't think she is falling on a sword, but instead avoiding being investigated. She gets up there under oath and says the same thing she fed the press...knowingly LIE...she is going to get in trouble. Without throwing Clinton and Obama under the bus, she cannot explain why Stevens was assassinated by our own govt....or why it was allowed to happen if the govt knew it what was going on and chose not to save him. It has already been PROVEN that there was no mob outside, the video was not involved, there was at least two separate terrorist "teams" and they had intelligence of the embassy and knew the layout and the multiple hiding places for the ambassador.

[Sonny]

I thought that she was treated unfairly about the "Benghazi" thing...But I also just don't think she was the right person for the position of Sec. of State...

[texas_cutie75]

Graceful way to handle that. May she be successful in her future endeavors.

[Ashstop]

I admire her dedication to the WH, to sacrifice her own integrity and ruin her carear and take the fall for the man hiding behind her