Clinton’s Accomplishments at State Department Under Scrutiny
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State Department(WASHINGTON) — Faced Tuesday with a question she couldn’t answer about Hillary Clinton’s accomplishments as secretary of state, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki returned Wednesday, armed with some facts about the high points of the former top U.S. envoy’s tenure.
However, it might have been too little, too late.
Psaki was initially put on the spot by Associated Press correspondent Matt Lee’s question, “Can you, off the top of your head, identify one tangible achievement that resulted from the last [audit of the department]?”
The press secretary replied, “I am certain that those who were here at the time, who worked hard on that effort, could point out one.” Clinton retired in February 2013 just before Psaki joined the State Department.
Psaki, who probably caught some heat for her non-answer, was prepared Wednesday, rattling off the following Clinton achievements: a “stronger emphasis was placed on trade promotion investments and leveling the economic playing field;” “a fuller integration of women and girls into our policy framework planning and budgeting, program monitoring and evaluation and management and training;” and “a reorganization of the undersecretary for economic growth, energy and the environment.”
Just the same, Republicans, who believe Clinton will be the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, will probably ignore all that and continue to focus on the deadly 2012 attack against the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, which happened under her watch.
On Wednesday, Clinton reiterated that the Benghazi siege, in which four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed, is the “biggest regret” of her time as secretary of state.
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