File photo taken on Oct. 30, 2014 shows U.S. former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gives an opening remark before a discussion on "The Power of Women's Economic Participation" at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., capital of the United States. Hillary announced her bid for 2016 presidential election on Sunday. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan)
Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her second bid for the US presidency on Sunday.
Given her political experience as First Lady, US Senator, and Secretary of State, as well as being a finalist of the Democrat presidential primary in 2008, Ms. Clinton is most effectively poised to run for the White House.
As a woman, Ms. Clinton's political stature and performance is second to none. Ms. Clinton has nursed political ambitions since university, if not earlier. Her long time strategic partnership with Bill Clinton has also prepared her well for the public life. As the First Lady, she was in charge of the reform of the American healthcare system two decades ago. As the president's envoy, she used to represent the US around the world, including at the United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. And as Secretary of State, she has set record mileage of travel to advance American interests.
Like any politician, Ms. Clinton has her opponents. Given her political agenda and personal temperament, she might even meet more challenges. While working on healthcare reform, the Clintons came under fierce fire, which led to her eventual failure. As America's top diplomat, she has been blamed for the loss of the US ambassador in Libya when he was under siege in Benghazi in 2012. In addition, Ms. Clinton is now deeply embroiled in the "Emailgate" scandal for destroying many private emails at her disposal, failing to cooperate fully with a congressional investigation of the Benghazi incident.
It is hard to accept a former high official's use of private email for government work, with the confidentiality issues it brings. It is more unbelievable that she would have destroyed voluminous emails, basing on her own judgment of privacy rather than submitting them all for congressional scrutiny. She could still claim the legality of her actions. However, as the loss of emails is irreversible, she would inevitably invite suspicion about her integrity as a future president.
Such errors of judgment and arrogance have marked Ms. Clinton's career. At the primary debate during her last presidential campaign, she blamed the CIA for "being misled" to vote for the war on Iraq. She didn't think why the CIA would fail to mislead her then-rival Barack Obama. In fact, during the last two presidential elections, all the serving senators who ran for the White House – Hillary Clinton, John McCain and John Kerry – failed on this issue. This has much to do with their past support of the Iraq War as part of the war on terror. But for Ms. Clinton, it also demonstrated her arrogance in not regretting her mistake, in sharp contrast with Barack Obama who has been consistent in opposing the Iraq War, which demonstrated his rightful judgment and leadership.
For Chinese, Ms. Clinton's positions and personality have been controversial to say the least. On the one hand, from time to time she has presented her warmth toward China, especially in co-presiding over the annual bilateral High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange. On the other, she has often shown her tough and even emotional character. She is a strong voice on China's internal affairs on the grounds of defending US values. However, her position on human rights in China looks hypocritical in the face of repeated killings of black people by white American police officers. Her stance on China's position on Syria and the South China Sea seem more confrontational, and short of diplomatic grace.
Thus far, Ms. Clinton has been the most successful female American politician, enjoying tremendous respect and popularity. If elected, she will usher in a new chapter for the US presidency, becoming the first American woman commanding the White House. Nevertheless, her road to the presidency is destined to be bumpy, as she has to clear many hurdles she has set for herself. Moreover, she will also be learning how to avoid creating new barriers ahead.
The winds are changing. At home, Americans are ready for a non-WASP (White Anglo Saxon Protestant)president, but Ms. Clinton needs to be moderate as well as determined. On the international stage, there is no reason why the world would not be positive in welcoming America's first female president, but Ms. Clinton has to understand that US domination is neither welcome nor effective anymore.
The author Shen Dingli is a professor and associate dean of the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University
