You called, they asked, she answered.
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Late last week, hundreds of ONE members called to urge Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee to ask questions about global poverty during Hillary Clinton’s Secretary of State confirmation hearing.
Some of those senators didn’t even get a chance, because Secretary-designate Clinton answered their questions before they could be asked. Her opening statement featured a long section on the two billion people worldwide living on less than $2 a day. She emphasized that the plight of the poor is “not marginal to our foreign policy but integral to accomplishing our goals.”
Opening remarks by Senator John Kerry (Massachusetts) also included a strong statement about the ongoing global hunger crisis. “The United States is uniquely situated to help the world feed itself and has the opportunities to recast its image by making the eradication of hunger a centerpiece of United States foreign policy,” he said.
In the subsequent question-and-answer period, ten out of fifteen of the Foreign Relations Committee Senators raised issues related to ONE issues, including these:
- Senator Bob Corker (Tennessee) asked about reforming and modernizing U.S. foreign aid, referring to the “maze of aid efforts that are underway” and the need for the State Department to examine and streamline these efforts.
- Senator Barbara Boxer (California) stated that “HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis — Africa, Asia, Latin America need our attention,” and went on to describe the persecution of women in the developing world.
Clinton responded with this assurance: “I want to pledge to you that as Secretary of State I view these issues as central to our foreign policy, not as adjunct or auxiliary or in any way lesser than all of the other issues that we have to confront.”
- Senator George Voinovich (Ohio) inquired about how “smart power” — which includes foreign assistance — might be used by the new State Department.
- Senator Bill Nelson (Florida) made a statement about the Global Initiative as an accomplishment adding to Hillary Clinton’s resume: “The fact that the Global Initiative has done such good things all over the world, the anti-viral drugs and the dispensing, the working on poverty and hunger, the fact of promoting development in the third world…is a significant accomplishment and that can only lend additional credibility to your coming to the table as the foreign policy representative of the United States government.”
- Senator Benjamin Cardin (Maryland) made a strong point about human rights, particularly in terms of addressing the needs of refugees of “conflict, famine, disease, [and] the economy”.
- Senator Robert Menendez (New Jersey) inquired about ways to elevate foreign assistance and streamline the structure of our foreign aid, and later asked about HIV/AIDS policies as well.
- Senator Johnny Isakson (Georgia) made a strong case for reviving and elevating development assistance to the level of defense and diplomacy as a pillar of U.S. foreign policy, specifically in the areas of capacity and resources and attention to Africa.
- Senator Robert Casey (Pennsylvania) emphasized the importance of increasing resources allocated to development. “To truly harness the full strength of America,” he stated in a quotation from a speech made by Defense Secretary Robert Gates in July, “requires having civilian institutions of diplomacy and development that are adequately staffed and properly funded.”
- Senator John Barrasso (Wyoming) also asked about aid effectiveness, or rather “how to balance allocating foreign aid and making sure that American taxpayers are getting value for their money”.
In addition to these issues raised during the hearing, several of the Senators indicated that Secretary-designate Clinton pre-empted their questions in her opening statement when she covered the importance of U.S. humanitarian and development programs to U.S. foreign policy, her determination to seek adequate resources to realize ambitious development objectives and her intention to review, consolidate and streamline U.S. foreign assistance programs.
Other senators informed us that they submitted more than 20 additional questions, on topics including malaria, global education and agriculture, “for the record” to be answered by the Secretary-designate later.
You can read more about Hillary Clinton’s full answers here.
-Emily K. Stivers
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The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with frequent contributions from volunteers, members and partner organizations.
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January 15, 2009 at 11:24 am
This is exactly how it should work. All of you at ONE did an outstanding job coordinating the questions and issues put before Senator Clinton–and to her credit she answered them.
Thank you.
Patrick
New York City
January 15, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I’m so glad to see that human issues will, again, be a part of the United States’ game plan. Thank you at ONE for all you did to help. I’m glad to see Senator Clinton in this position. I’ve always thought she would be the best, and I’m glad to see President Obama chose her. I think we can make a difference in the world again.
Laura
Indialantic, FL
January 15, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I’m disappointed not to see my Senator, Jim Webb, on the list of those who asked the important questions. Guess I need to make a follow-up call and let him know I’m disappointed he didn’t respond to our request!
I also wanted to mention that Senator Lugar also did a good job in his opening remarks speaking about the power of development to positively shape America’s image abroad, as well as about the importance of expanding universal education. It was good to see the bipartisan support for the elevation of development in the Obama Administration.
January 15, 2009 at 1:00 pm
The questions were relevant to the position. Its just a matter of weather she will bring our foreign policy back where it belongs or if she is saying anything to get confirmed. I am skeptical of any politician that says they will change things for the better and I do not approve of all Obama’s choices but will defer any judgement on Obama choices until I see them in action.
January 15, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Yes, this is the right way for OUR Government to operate! Very encouraging, and I look forward to more of this from the new administration. We The People will be watching – very closely, and asking questions, but certainly hoping for the best.
January 15, 2009 at 1:10 pm
One of the responders here is upset with her senator because he is not listed as asking a question. If I understand correctly, that may just mean that planned question/s may have already asked and answered. My senator is not on the list either, so I am eager to have my understanding of what this may mean confirmed. Thank you for any clarity you can provide.
January 15, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I really hope that we can do the things that the questions have been asked about. I am glad that there were so many good questions asked, and believe that the new administration will be able to get the USA back up on it’s feet. I am also glad that Sen. Voinovich of OH is on the list of those who asked them.
I hope that Hillary Clinton is able to do a lot to help this country.
January 15, 2009 at 1:15 pm
While these are all huge steps for our future foreign policies, I think we should all be appreciative of what the outgoing administration has done, setting the groundwork that I hope will continue. Love him or hate him, we all need to thank President Bush for his efforts and hope he continues as an ambassador for change with the Obama administration.
January 15, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Sharyn is correct. Just because your Senator was not on our list, does not necessarily mean he/she didn’t intend to raise an issue related to global poverty. It may mean that the Senator’s question was asked by someone else first. Or your Senator may have submitted poverty-related questions “for the record.” No need to follow up with additional phone calls on this one. We’re actually quite pleased with the attention our issues received from nearly all the Senators who were present at the hearing.
January 15, 2009 at 1:44 pm
CONGRATULATIONS ONE! This is EXACTLY what a grassroots organization should do, make the senators ask the CORRECT questions. And Hillary ABSOLUTELY answered all of them in a great way with her opening statement, SHE definately will be “The people’s secretary of state.” And the “Secretary of state of the entire world.” I already feel change is becoming real!!! BRAVO ONE, you have my highest praise for doing this!!
January 15, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Thank you for providing the successful campaign for change in the global problem – poverty.I would also like to add the human rights and the right for self-determination for the deprived people/occupied/still under colonial rule.
January 15, 2009 at 2:08 pm
It is very encouraging to see that the members of the U.S. Senate are finally beginning to take the time to answer the questions about global poverty that have been on our minds during George W. Bush’s Administration for the past 8 years. It is good to see that the members of the U.S. Congress are finally going to deal with the issues about global poverty that concern us as American citizens, as well as issues that concern other third world countries, such as Nigeria, China, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Mexico, and South Korea. The inauguration of Senator Barack Obama, Senator Joe Biden, and Senator Hillary Clinton as the new President, Vice President, and Secretary of State on January 20, 2009 will signify the end of the Age Of Embarrassment of G.W.B’s failed presidential administration and the beginning of the Age Of Healing and Prosperity for all the democratic, independent, moderate, poor, working class, middle class, oppressed, depressed, suppressed, repressed, underprivileged, disenfranchised, vulnerable, disillusioned, voiceless, outcast, picked-on, and unsung citizens of the United States Of America and citizens of all other third world nations around the globe! Long live the new President Barack Obama, the new Vice President Joe Biden, and the new Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton. “Free At Last, Free At Last, Thank God Almighty, We Are Free At Last” (Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.).
January 15, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Namaste’
with massive respect and gratitude
for all we are BEING
January 15, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Absolutely PERFECT. Hilliary answered Judiciary, the high court, the need to deal with the enemies, the need to be diplonmatic, and health care, and especially rights for women(equal)
January 15, 2009 at 2:39 pm
CONGRATULATIONS ONE!!! this is a great initiative. I wish we had done this before. I am hoping that the new administration will restore the reputation of the U S and bring much needed peace to the world. Also we definitely need to find a solution to world hunger, especially taking children’s health and education as our first priority.
January 15, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I became involved years ago when I learned about One.org from a community leader who gave us white wrist bands to wear. I wore mine for years.
Shortly after that I heard on the news about One.org when the G8 community was meeting and One.org held concerts all over the world to reach millions and get the word out to the G8 community about a solution to world poverty in 20 years.
Now, here I am years later, reading this email about the senate’s focus and priority on solving world proverty! I believe this awareness to focus on world proverty is a result of One.org’s campaign over the years. The highly visible extent of senate’s focus on world proverty is new. Political action by our national community is hopeful. If just One percent of the G8 budget was allocated towards the solution- in 20 years we would totally eliminate the world’s most extreme hardships – polluted water and poor sewerage systems. Very basic survival requirements – things most of us take for granted. It is hard to phathom the enormous improvement that would be made by providing clean water and proper sewer systems – it would change everything for those who now suffer from the lack of it.
Hope springs eternal. Let’s hear it for always keeping the campaign Large and Alive in the world’s political arena – G8, and at home in Congress and in the Senate. I am so grateful to all those people who tirelessly give themselves to this effort. Thank you.
January 15, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I am indeed grateful that our senators have done their homework. I was very happy with Barbara Boxer’s questions, especially as related to women’s issues. Now, let us hope there are not too many road blocks in the way of implementation.
January 15, 2009 at 4:15 pm
These statements are exactly what we need to occur. Now to turn the words into action…This is what happens when necessity, compassion and the Human Spirits are combined. Blessings shall be delivered.
Thank You to everyONE who contributes time and money into the ONE Foundation. A Foundation based on LOVE.
Peace. Love and (en) Light~~
theRaine
ps~ have you read Bono’s “On the Move”??? Very, very REAL and touching. If you decide not to read anything else in print, please consider this ONE book, it could change a life. If not many. Its our mission.
January 15, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Ok, I guess we’re giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, again? Well don’t pop the cork yet my fellow sheeples. And it might also be a good idea to expand the vistas of our observations as well. Look at the forest as well as the trees. And all that.
When is it going to be time to invoke “shame” on the same politicians whose various past achievements keep “blowbacking” in our faces?
I suppose there is no choice now but to wait and see, but I believe Pete Townsend said it best… “Don’t get fooled again!”
Endeavour to persavere!
January 16, 2009 at 10:03 am
Hearty Congratulations for all that ONE is accomplishing. I am impressed that our senators have emphasized the American commitment to the poor and under privileged. Hats off to the initiative ONE is taking in this task. Thanks for all that you are doing towards ameliorating global poverty and disease.
I am convinced that illiteracy and poverty go together. I would like to see the effort of ONE in this sacred task includes combating global illiteracy.
I wish all success to ONE in this important endeavor.
January 19, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Hello fellow ONE member,
I appreciate Bono speaking out on behalf of the worlds poor and sick. Don’t forget that the number one question asked Obama was “Will you legalize marijuana?”. Think about the benefits that medical cannabis can have on the millions of suffering Africans. I am very disturbed when I hear that UN Police are using international aid money to persecute cannabis growers in Africa and destroy such an important beneficial crop. Bono has enormous influence on UN leaders, and some of the world’s most powerful people. Please don’t think for a moment that by removing cannabis the UN is in any way helping the poor people of Africa or any other continent. This is a grave injustice, and I’m sure the sick and dying Africans effected by such laws would agree. The cannabis plant can help to provide food, clothing, shelter, safe medicine, and eco-friendly fuel. If the One Campaign really wants to help the poor, we should let them grow hemp, and if we must get involved, help them succeed in taking advantage of the many benefits of the hemp industry.
I hope Bono keeps up the good work, and helps to stop the bad work.
Thanx. www.nycamp.org
March 1, 2009 at 10:44 am
I am interested to receive notice for future comments.