Last week, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name for consideration as Secretary of State. I was saddened and disappointed but not surprised to hear her announcement. Once the GOP attacked her and few vigorously supported her, it seemed like just a matter of time before she succumbed to the criticism. Republicans spoke out against her appointment from the beginning based on her handling of statement on the four Americans who died in Benghazi. They also had the audacity to call her unqualified, despite her impeccable credentials.
President Obama forcibly spoke out in support of Susan Rice in the beginning. And members of the Congressional Black Caucus and some women members of the Democratic Caucus supported her along with many minority women’s groups. But the Administration’s support of Rice became silent during the loud thunder of the GOP. And many other women’s groups failed to come to her side.
While many pundits and politicians disagree that the dispute over Rice was never over Rice but about John Kerry’s seat. It was never about the four Americans that died. Ironically Republicans spoke more about the four deaths in Benghazi than they have about the mass murders of children in Newtown, Connecticut. It was always about the GOP wanting to have John Kerry’s seat. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry has now become the front runner for Secretary of State. Some media sources indicate that Kerry will be named as early as Friday. And already, people are lining up to fill his seat until an interim special election is held. Sources also state that Senator Ted Kennedy’s widow, Vicki has also been asked to fill the interim seat. In the end, the Obama administration may have not only lost the opportunity to select a candidate of their choice; the Administration may also possibly lose a Democratic senate seat, should Kerry be nominated.
In the end, if John Kerry is nominated, the Republicans will have their way. Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown lost to Elizabeth Warren. However, should Kerry’s seat become available, Scott Brown can dust off his campaign materials of a month ago and begin anew.
There may be a silver lining in the case of Susan Rice. Everyone knows about Karma. And hopefully Karma will remember the GOP’s attack against Susan Rice. It was not long ago that the Republicans attacked Elizabeth Warren as President Obama’s choice to head the Consumer Financial Bureau—a position that she was eminently qualified for. She also stepped aside. And now she is the newly elected Senator from Massachusetts who will be sitting on the Banking and Finance Committee. So the GOP should be careful what they ask for. Their attack on Susan Rice may come back to haunt them in the future.
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