Overshadowed by a global rock star of a president, and a foreign policy-savvy vice president, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is struggling to retake center stage as the administration’s top foreign policy voice. According to the AP, she is beginning to evidence frustration after four low-profile weeks during which a fractured elbow forced her to cancel two overseas trips.
Traditionally, the president is usually accompanied by the Secretary of State on important international policy and diplomatic ventures.
Washington DC, always rife with rumors and juicy tidbits, has exploded into a flurry of speculation about whether her influence is waning inside President Barack Obama’s Cabinet.
“Her role so far has been more in the field of public relations than in policy formation,” said Reginald Dale, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “She is seen as glamorous and in many countries as a valuable symbol of the United States, but it is not at all clear that she has an in-depth influence on foreign policy.”
“She needs to decide if she wants to be the administration’s mascot or have an impact on actual policy,” he said. ”
Somewhat reminiscent of past antics, Clinton’s frustration was exposed Monday when she lashed out at the White House for failing to quickly nominate someone to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Belying her penchant for political correctness, Clinton criticized the White House vetting process as a “nightmare,” “frustrating beyond words” and “ridiculous.”
The stage has become rather small to contain two leading roles.
