I imagine I was not the only Hillary follower who was taken aback to see the very business-like woman pictured here in Lisbon last week with our Mme. Secretary identified as France’s Foreign Minister. It came as a surprise that Bernard Kouchner no longer occupied that post. He had developed a cozy enough relationship with Mme. Secretary as to have wormed his way into my heart. So my first reaction was, I have to admit, disappointment that I would no longer be seeing him in bilaterals with Mme. Secretary.
Every once in awhile, instead of having to call somebody on a slight or attack on Hillary or one of her constitutent populations, we have something pleasant to cheer about or some kind of milestone to celebrate here at DeHoS. So, after I recovered from my initial shock and nostalgia for Bernard, I came to realize that with the face of European diplomacy suddenly including more lipstick , the nature of Mme. Secretary’s diplomacy undergoes an interesting shift from the flirtatious smart power we have seen with the men, to the power of sisterhood we now see with France, Spain, Denmark, and South Africa among others. (Now do not all go jumping all over me for saying she flirts, because she does. It is an established fact, and I find nothing whatsoever wrong with it.)
This morning’s briefs from Foreign Policy Magazine include an interesting profile of France’s new FM Michèle Alliot-Marie, affectionately known as MAM. There appear to be a number of similarities with our Homegirl-in-Chief. She has a rugby background. Hillary’s background is baseball. She plays on her President’s team rather than forging policy herself. And she is the kind of powerhouse who can and has headed up other ministries, as FP puts it, a “ministerial grand slam,” a talent HRC possesses even if it has never been tested. Bill Clinton has been quoted as remarking that she could fill any cabinet post when he first entered the White House, and Bob Gates attested recently that of course she could run the Pentagon, but he likes the way she uses her diplomatic skills.
So, thanks to Foreign Policy, meet HRC’s new French counterpart, MAM, Sarkozy’s Iron Lady!
Update: February 27, 2011: She lasted three months. She resigned this morning. Evidently, only a month or so at this post and she caused a scandal by suggesting the French send riot police while she was vacationing in Tunisia during the revolution there. No, she was not a Hillary Rodham Clinton. Not at all!
Good to see qualified female politician with a proven track record there.
Michèle Alliot-Marie (wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mich%C3%A8le_Alliot-Marie) Before her career in politics, she was a senior lecturer at the University of Paris I, and also spent some time practicing law. She holds a doctorate of law, a doctorate in political science and a Master’s degree in ethnology.
Too bad she is a conservative, but at least seams to be a moderate.
I hope she uses her new role to put more focus on women’s issues across the globe, as our Hillary has.
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I guess I don’t put as much stock in labels as some people. That whole “liberal-conservative” (to me an oxymoron), progressive, moderate debate on the other thread was just words to me. Even Democratic and Republican are just labels. I go for the record. What has the person done. MAM appears to have an impressive resume, like HRC who is getting along swimmingly with the new “conservative” FM of the UK, William Jefferson Hague.
MAM appears to have the gravitas of an HRC and a Michelle Bachelet. Whatever end of the spectrum they come from, these women will make a positive difference for all women.
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The liberal-conservative thing sounded strange to me as well. It is possible to be a conservative democrat, a moderate democrat, a centrist democrat (I keep saying democrat because, as far a I know, Hillary still is one), but I think it’s about as easy to be a “liberal-conservative” as it is to be “kind of pregnant”. This, liberal on the left, conservative on the right, and anything in between is a moderate.
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My point is, it is good to see highly accomplished and qualified women progressing, especially when they are moderates.
As to what France calls conservative, I dont really know. Would be good to find out. I am not much in favor of social conservatism.
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Indeed, sisterhood is gradually expanding in top foreign policy circles, and our girl is THE BIG SIS (you know — like Big Dawg 🙂 ). Now, I wonder if these new sisters will eventually grow their hair long the way Hillary is growing hers. She must have noticed that there are too many copy cats of her old hair-do (not to mention her 3-piece pant suits!).
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If you follow the link in the post to the face of European diplomacy, you will see that Trinidad Jimenez (Spain) and Lene Esperson (Denmark) have longer hair than Hillary’s.
I like your designation of Hillary as “The Big Sis.” Indeed, I think that to these women, that is who she is. How quickly she has transitioned from the “new girl in class” to senior big sister.
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You girl is growing up. 🙂
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Yes. Beautifully!
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The new Foreign Minister does sound like an impressive person. I’m happy to see qualified women earning these kinds of positions in the diplomatic arena. Hillary still has a few gentlemen to flutter her eyelashes at.
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Making me a happy camper. 😉 Lots of fun watching the baby blues at work.
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I find the gentlemen’s reactions quite amusing.
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Me too. For me it’s more fun than reality TV or DWTS or American Idol.
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LOl. Likewise!
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