By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, answered questions for almost four-hours on foreign policy priorities in the Obama administration in a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing today.
Upon entering Clinton was met with protest signs from Code Pink asking the State Department to begin talks with the Palestinian government even if it did include Hamas, as they were democratically elected to their positions. One protester held a sign which read, “It is called the ‘state’ not ‘hate’ department.”
During the hearing Clinton made it clear that talks between the Obama administration and Hamas. She said, “The President’s policy…is very clear, we will not deal with, nor in any way fund, a Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless and until Hamas has renounced violence, recognized Israel and agreed to follow the previous obligations of the Palestinian authority. That is our policy, but we want to leave open the door so that can happen.”
This was Clinton’s first appearance to the House since her confirmation hearings earlier this year. In her opening statement she spoke of the progress she had made nearly 100-days into her new role. Clinton reiterated the Presidents goals in Afghanistan and and Pakistan and stated the administrations “core goal to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda, to prevent their return to safe havens in Afghanistan or Pakistan.”
On Iran Clinton said, “We are deploying new approaches to the threat posed by Iran, and we are doing so with our eyes wide open and with no illusions. We no the imperative of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons after years, during which the United States basically sat on the sidelines, we are now a full partner in the P5+1 talks.”
Before taking questions Clinton told the committee, “We are in this together. We have to row in the same direction for the benefit of our country and our children.”
From the Republican side, Clinton was asked multiple questions on her thoughts relating to abortion around the world. Congressman Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) led the talk by asking whether “the Obama administration would be seeking in any way to weaken or over-turn pro-life laws and policies in African and Latin American countries either directly or through multilateral organizations.” Clinton told the committee, “It is my strongly held view that you are entitled to advocate and everyone who agrees with you should be free to do so anywhere in the world and so are we. We happen to think that family planning is an important part of women’s health and reproductive health includes access to abortion, that I believe should be safe, legal and rare.”
Clinton told the committee that during her time as First Lady helped create the campaign against teen pregnancy which saw the rate of teen pregnancy decrease. She said, “I am sad to report that after an administration of 8-years that undone so much of the good work, the rate of teenage pregnancy is going up”. To which she received applaud from members of the public listening at the hearing.
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) continued on the topic of abortion stating, “I don’t believe we should use American foreign policy to export abortion.” He feared it would “undermine” foreign relations with other countries. Congressman Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) also asked about abortion, asking Clinton her views on forced abortion in China. To which Clinton repeated her stance as First Lady stating this was “absolutely unacceptable.”
The hearing also saw clear partisan disagreement from the members on President Obama’s handshake with President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez. Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said he was “not amused” by these pictures and called Chavez a “Catro wannabe in the region”. Congresswoman Shelley Berkely (D-Nev.) addressed Pence’s during her statement, stating, “as an American I would have been mortified if our President had done anything other than what he did.” Addressing this argument Clinton said, “
Another area of partisan division lay in the decision to investigate some detainee tactics used during the Bush administration. Clinton repeated Obama stating, “No-one will be prosecuted who acted within the four corners of the legal advice that was given, following that advice to perform that function, that, that person believed was legal. However those who formulated those opinions and gave those orders should be reviewed and the President has referred that to the Attorney General.”
Asked by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) whether they she would be in favor of releasing documents that Dick Cheney has requested be released. Clinton responded, “It won’t surprise you that I don’t consider him a particularly reliable source of information.”
Clinton also answered questions relating to safety on the Mexican border, human rights in Cuba, terrorism, and Africa and Iraq amongst other top political issues. –
