Feminist Daily News Wire
January-21-09

Breaking News: Hillary Clinton Confirmed as Secretary of State

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) was just confirmed as Secretary of State by a 94-2 Senate roll call vote. Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Jim DeMint (R-SC) were the sole votes against her confirmation. The Senate delayed a planned vote on the nomination of Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) for Secretary of State yesterday due to Senator John Cornyn's (R-TX) request for a roll call vote.

Last week, Clinton's nomination was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a 16 to 1 vote. Senator Vitter was the sole vote in committee against her nomination. Vitter claimed he voted against the confirmation because of questions concerning donors to the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative. However, Senator Clinton and President Clinton provided more information on donations to the foundation than any other nominee has in confirmation history and more than is legally required.

Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority applauds the confirmation of Clinton: "Hillary Clinton will be a beacon for the women of the world. Her leadership in making women's issues central to US foreign policy will result in historic gains for women and girls in health care, education, and in reducing violence against women worldwide. We are hopeful her confirmation will also result in the US joining the nations of the world in ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women."

Media Resources: Feminist Majority; Feminist Daily Newswire 1/21/09; CNN 1/21/09; Interview with Eleanor Smeal 1/21/09

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