Posted on 10/23/2005 8:42:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - Does U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice want to be president? Even a young girl at a photo opportunity with Rice in her former elementary school wanted the United States' most prominent black Republican to answer the question.
Rice, whose wide smile had been fixed on her face as the 10- and 11-year-olds asked her about growing up in the segregated South and playing the piano, furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes for an uncomfortable moment.
Sitting on a knee-high chair in front of shelves of books and teddy bears -- and next to the Stars-and-Stripes flag brought in for the occasion by her staff -- she shot a nervous look at the media invited to observe a three-day tour of her home state.
Rice recovered her composure, laughed and turned on the charm fit for a campaign trail, telling the pony-tailed, black girls from Brunetta C. Hill school in Birmingham that they could be president in a nation that has had neither a woman nor a black commander-in-chief.
"I don't want to run for office. I like what I'm doing," the highest-ranking black woman in U.S. government history said.
The reply was a variation of a denial -- that she was not testing the waters for a 2008 presidential bid -- which Rice was obliged to make repeatedly on a trip saturated in public relations and politics that ended on Sunday.
Former secretaries of state made no such extensive domestic tours and Rice has usually travels outside Washington only to deliver policy speeches in one-day outings.
Rice's aides said the weekend trip with Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw as her guest helped explain to Americans how diplomacy works.
But voters in Republican Alabama were not buying it: a foreign policy chief with tasks such as stopping Iraq from imploding in civil war did not take time out for a hometown tour unless she was building political capital, they said.
At a University of Alabama football game, where Rice waved and smiled like a rock star in the center of the field to more than 80,000 screaming fans, supporters in the home team's crimson colors debated when, not whether, she would run.
"She's just here driving up votes for office," Evelyn Casey said, noting how the Bush administration needed to improve its reputation in the South after criticism of its response to Hurricane Katrina.
Bobby Cole interrupted his fellow fan as they shared beers and burgers before the game to echo what some political analysts say could be Rice's more realistic ambition in 2008 -- to be vice president.
"She isn't ready for president yet," he said.
Straw was along simply to "help one of his buddies with her political campaign," Bob Thomas added.
DRAFT CONDI
As Rice's motorcade of black SUVs with tinted windows sped past, admirers shouted "2008" and "Tell her to run for president."
That reflected sentiment found not just in Alabama but on the Internet too, where there is a "Draft Condi" campaign offering bumper stickers, T-shirts and baseball caps to "make it happen" in 2008.
Several white men are favorites to win the Republican nomination for 2008.
But Rice often refers to her color and could be a better contender against Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is many Democrats' choice to win back the White House, because of her popularity among blacks and women.
"It's Hillary's candidacy that makes Condi's necessary and, therefore, likely," Dick Morris a political consultant in the Clinton administration said in excerpts of his new book "Condi vs. Hillary."
In Birmingham, speakers at a ceremony to remember the racist killing of four schoolgirls at a segregated church, hailed Alabama's favorite daughter as the girl who out-slugged the boys in street softball and grew up to be the most powerful woman in the world.
Rice ended the day surprisingly ambiguous about her political ambitions.
In an interview with the city's newspaper, The Birmingham News, Rice was again asked about running and she playfully left the door open: "Now there's a novel idea," she said.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice waves to the crowd before the start of the University of Alabama and University of Tennessee game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, October 22, 2005. Does Rice want to be president? Even a young girl at a photo opportunity with Rice in her former elementary school wanted the United States' most prominent black Republican to answer the question. (Kyle Carter/Reuters)
good for the VP slot, not for the top of the ticket.
we need a fella named brown or white as the top slot on the ticket. ;-)
How would the rats go after her? What would happen to the black vote? What would the loony right do if she was prochoice and ran against Hillary? Oh, what fun!
I just don't see that americans, especially independents, have alot of interest in someone whose expertise is foreign policy, as president. and she has never been elected to any position. and I am not buying the idea that Condi for President brings 30% of the african american vote by default - I'd like to see some polls on that.
Don't miss this one, Girl Friend!
How would you characterize Condi's lack of fitness for the top slot?
Keep in mind that the Vice-President is always just a heartbeat away from the White House.
I will believe that Condi is not running when I hear the words from her, "If nominated I will not run. If elected I will not serve."
another 'Cheney is leaving' prediction?
I think there is going to be alot of "Bush fatigue" going into the 2008 election. I don't know that being Bush's VP is going to be some red carpet into the white house. Doing that takes the block of voters who "want change" (whomever they are), and pushes most of them to the Dems.
I disagree re: the Foreign Policy side of the argument.
If I recall my history right, some of our very early presidents were immersed in foreign policy among others things, but the nation was also in turbulent times that required close contact with allies and enemies alike.
I hardly see where voters would think a 'change for the better' would be a return to letting terrorism have its way with us as 8 years of clinton and four of Jimmy did.
From a black lady.....
I don't think any woman should run for the top spots (prez. or vice prez.). Issues that we face today requrie a strong man to get the job done. I am not sexist, I just tell it like it is. I want to see someone who is truly conservative, and who will be strong enough to get things done. I'm kind of tired of limp Republicans not standing up for their beliefs or taking the Dems head on.
Its not a "fitness" question, its a question of what issues she is going to make an appeal to the people over. the further we get from 9-11, the lower on the scale national security issues become. I don't agree with that, but its true. 2008 is going to be a tough election - right now, the two best tickets to me look like Allen/Rudy or Allen/Rice. and who knows what the McCain factor is going to be.
yes, and if only Bush 43 had done more after 9-11 to lay it at the feet of Clinton - then I would agree with you. but the "new tone" prevented that. we understand that here, I am not sure the sheeple do. had the 2004 election been a reagan style landslide, I would have agreed with you - it wasn't.
The largest recorded vote in history, Bush winning by how many million?
heck, landslides ain't what they used to be but it was still a good ass-whuppin.
No matter how much the MSM and foreign interests spent, he/they still won it going away.
You're predicting: 1. Cheney's demise or resignation? 2. Bush's demise or resignation?
The CommieRAT party will be running Hillary. Given that which of the two will you select?
well, I don't see why Rice as VP would sink a ticket. the only caveat to that is if things really go badly in iraq, then having anyone on the ticket who can be linked to that policy - is a mistake.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.