In the Loop: Did Kissinger endorse Clinton for president? Almost.
Its been a bit of a love fest between former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and Hillary Clinton the past week. They shared a stage at the groundbreaking of the State Departments new Diplomacy Center, Clinton wrote a glowing review of Kissingers new book, and then President Richard Nixons foreign policy adviser on Saturday offered an (almost) endorsement for a Clinton presidency.
Kissinger, a controversial figure in American diplomatic history, was asked during an NPR interview whether Clinton would make a good president.
I know Hillary as a person. And as a personal friend, I would say yes, shed be a good president, Kissinger said. But shed put me under a great conflict of interest if she were a candidate because I intend to support the Republicans.
NPR reporter Scott Simon asked whether, putting partisan politics aside, Kissinger would be comfortable with a Clinton White House.
Yes, Id be comfortable with that president, Kissinger said. But then he added, Youve just lost me I dont know how many friends.
Which begs the question, how many friends would it cost Clinton to have Kissinger, reviled by the antiwar movement during the Vietnam War, as an advocate?
This isnt the first time that Kissinger has heaped praise on Clinton. In 2008, when it was rumored that Barack Obama would pick her as his secretary of state, Kissinger was all in. She is a lady of great intelligence, demonstrated enormous determination and would be an outstanding appointment, he said during a speech in India.
But liberals, who worry that Clinton is too hawkish on foreign policy, have raised an eyebrow at the presumptive Democratic front-runners cuddly relationship with Kissinger. David Corn at Mother Jones described Clintons embrace of Kissinger as evidence of how low she can go to win the White House.
And the former diplomats friendship adds fuel to the other end of the political spectrum occupied by libertarian Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Paul is largely anti-intervention and is eager to run for president against Clinton, whom he has dismissed as a war hawk.
Which leads to another question: If Paul is the GOP nominee against Clinton, will Kissinger still vote Republican?
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In the Loop: Did Kissinger endorse Clinton for president? Almost.