U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Ugandan Activists

Hill-Hill gave praise to the Ugandan activists this weekend for their tireless work for gay rights. She presented them with the State Department's 2011 Human Rights Defender Award, sending a very strong message to African nations:

"It is critical for all Ugandans - the government and citizens alike - to speak out against discrimination, harassment, and intimidation of anyone. That's true no matter where they come from, what they believe, or whom they love," Clinton said.

Clinton said she raised the issue in talks on Friday with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, whose government has been accused of allowing political and religious leaders to drum up anti-gay feeling in the deeply conservative East African nation.

"You are a model for others and an inspiration for the world," Clinton said to representatives of the group, formed in 2009 to combat draft legislation which proposed the death penalty for anyone convicted of "aggravated homosexuality".

I'm glad the activists are getting the attention they deserve.

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Texts from Hillary

More Woman Power from SOS Hillary Clinton

The Daily Beast reports that Secretary of State Clinton delivered "the best speech of the Obama administration" Wednesday morning. Tunku Varadarajan writes about her "new American moment" -- and "why she's better than her boss."

Behold the Hillary Doctrine. And heap abundant gratitude—and rose petals if you have them on hand—on the firm, unfussy, deeply reassuring woman who has just offered it up to the world.

In the 20 months since this administration began administering (a verb I use only in the loosest sense), the speech Wednesday morning by Hillary Clinton, delivered at the Council on Foreign Relations, was the first time we have been given an unreserved lift of the heart by any of its members. It was, by far, the best speech of this administration. Whereas her president has frequently wrung his elegant hands, doing the rounds of the world to reassure foreign leaders that America is a cuddly bunny at heart, the secretary of State declared Wednesday that we are all living “a new American moment—a moment when our global leadership is essential.” There was no bowing from her to potentates in robes; there was, instead, a promise that “we will do everything we can to exercise the traditions of American leadership at home and abroad.”

Varadarajan goes on to say:

What is so piquant here is not the fact that Hillary understands that Obama is president. It is the growing sense that Hillary would have made a much, much better president than Obama.

I agree.

Madam Secretary of State - It's Official

Hillary Clinton was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate today as our new secretary of state by a vote of 94 to 2. Diaper boy Vitter was joined by South Carolina's Jim DeMint as the lone "no" votes.

The New York Times reports:

The vote on Senator Clinton was 94 to 2. (She did not vote.) When the result was announced, there was a hearty round of applause in the chamber.

The senator was sworn in as secretary at 5:29 p.m., her office said, and immediately resigned her Senate seat, sending identical one-line letters to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who is president of the Senate; to the office of the secretary of the Senate and to New York Gov. David A. Paterson, who has said he will name a replacement soon. [...]

Senator Clinton’s confirmation, which was never in doubt, was a consolation of sorts for the Obama White House. The action came not long after a Senate committee vote on the nomination of Eric H. Holder Jr. to be attorney general was delayed for a week after Republicans insisted they needed more time to question him.

Clearly, Holder is much too ethical and honest for Republicans.

Following the confirmation vote, Clinton was sworn in as the 67th secretary of state, a post first held by Thomas Jefferson, at 5:29 p.m. Washington time with President Clinton present, according to her Senate office. She resigned from the Senate shortly afterward.

Congratulations Madam Secretary!

Clinton's Farewell Remarks

Sen. Hillary Clinton delivers farewell remarks on the Senate floor today. Sailing through her confirmation hearing, Clinton will be confirmed as our new Secretary of State by the full Senate following the Inauguration.

Hillary Clinton Talks Strategy in Confirmation Hearing

I'm feeling safer already.