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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Hillary Clinton says ‘put me to work’ on Northern Ireland after she steps down - Amazing offer to American Ireland Fund by Secretary of State on Belfast visit

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Hillary Clinton says ‘put me to work’ on Northern Ireland after she steps down - Amazing offer to American Ireland Fund by Secretary of State on Belfast visit

Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2012 at 07:21 AM

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Hillary Clinton

Belfast; Well we now know at least one job Hillary Clinton would like to have after she leaves office.

Here is what she said to a room full of attendees at the American Ireland Fund luncheon in her honor held at the spectacular Titanic Quarter museum here.

“So my offer to you is, as I leave this current position and become a private citizen again, I want to continue working with you.

"I want to support you in what you are doing. And I hope that we’ll have a chance to really come to grips with some of the serious remaining problems that are still plaguing the fulfillment of our aspirations for the people of Northern Ireland.

“Of course I look forward to coming back and having some time just to relax and spend a few hours talking with friends and thinking about things besides public life.

“But I’m very serious about this offer and very serious to the Ireland Funds that I want to remain involved as a friend, an advocate, and a cheerleader for what you have already achieved.”

That last sentence is especially compelling. As far as I know, it is the first time that Hillary has specifically committed to doing work for any group, voluntary or otherwise after she quits office.

What an opportunity for the Ireland Funds to have the best known name in America pulling for their cause!

Hillary has made an offer the organization can hardly refuse however it plays out and what role she might have.

Chairman Loretta Brennan Glucksman and CEO Kieran McLoughlin have done a remarkable job positioning the Fund for the 21st Century but they hardly expected the ‘put me to work for you’ offer by one of America’s most prodigious fundraisers and famous people.

It was a remarkable end to a spectacular trip by Clinton to Ireland, one which I was delighted to tag along on.

Earlier I had witnessed a sad but touching moment when two of the great architects of the historic Good Friday agreement, David Trimble and John Hume met with Secretary Clinton in a private room.

John Hume is not well these days and wife Pat continues to play an heroic role in being by her husband’s side. David Trimble looks hale and hearty but his role in the Good Friday Agreement shortened his political career.

It was great to see their work acknowledged one last time by the Secretary of State.

Other heroes of the peace process were also present, the extraordinary Ian Paisley, still hale and hearty, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and of course the two Northern Ireland overlords, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.

The great and the good turned out to say farewell to Mrs Clinton, but as both Robinson and McGuinness noted, there is every chance they will greet her soon again perhaps in a very different capacity.

Witnessing Hillary in Belfast one last time and listening to her impassioned words about the Irish peace process I have no doubt that her involvement was one of the touchstones of her political life.

It was a fortunate wind that blew the Clintons into Northern ireland on that November/December week in 1995 which seems so long ago now.

But all these years later the fire continues to burn and Hillary wants to continue to kindle the flames. It is an opportunity not to be missed I’d say.

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25 comments

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Portia_O'Neill | Jan 02, 2013, 11:24 PM EST

Then Hillary caught the vomiting bug while in Ireland, flew home and hit her head.

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Smyrnian | Dec 10, 2012, 02:30 PM EST

We 'put her to work' as senator for NY State and she accomplished absolutely nothing.

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seanomelb | Dec 09, 2012, 08:16 PM EST

The bleeding heart pommies are having a field day.What a bunch of morons they are Ephraim and Gobdaw should post on amore friendly site,the British nationalist party site comes to mind. Seig Heil

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Towngate | Dec 09, 2012, 07:30 PM EST

" Those whom the Gods make Great - they first make mad! " This Great woman should let the curtain fall gracefully on the Clinton performance on the World Stage. Thank you and Goodnight!

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Smyrnian | Dec 09, 2012, 04:04 PM EST

ePH - clearly you are a moron.

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Madeliene | Dec 09, 2012, 02:52 PM EST

hil is a LIAR and a TRAITOR and you are welcome to her!

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ePHraimAg | Dec 09, 2012, 01:32 PM EST

With the recent Trouble in Northern Ireland... Hillary Clinton and other Outsiders Who think they can determine The Sovereignty Of Northern Ireland are only fit for the Burning on the 12th July. sort out Your own facist Nazi Country Clinton and stay the Hell away from The United Kingdom... especially Ulster... for Without Ulster there would Be No U in U.K. Continue on as You desire hiding IRA activists and protecting terrorists in The Borders Of The USA so You can win the Irish Vote... guaranteed Northern Ireland Will Side with the Muslim Knights Of Richard Coer de Lion and Philip la Beau to give You more than justly another 9/11. As Churchill stated... The USA is nothing but a Nation Of Liers and Deceivers...and it remains True to this very Day!

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gobdawpaddy | Dec 09, 2012, 06:52 AM EST

anglo-norman, 'it is clearly evident that outside expertise is needed for Irish Affairs'. Mike Aynsley, an australian was hired to sort out Anglo Irish Bank, David Duffy, with 30 years banking experience in Asia, was brought in to sort out AIB after the natives made such a mess of things. I read and experience on very regular visits the 'quck fix' mentality that permeates the Irish. They viewed the 'Celtic Tiger' as a get rich quick scenario, where anybody with half a brain could see that the whole thing was an illusion, but a majority of the Irish fell for it, hook, line and sinker. At present, there is a school of thought amongst the Irish electorate that if fianna fail, maybe even Bertie, were put back in government, the good times would return. I read a Churchill quote in an Irish newspaper yesterday where he observed 70 years ago that 'the Irish are incapable of governing themselves'. It appears to me to be a very insightful assessment. The present Irish government was elected to sort out Ireland's economic mess, but less than two years into it, the Irish electorate would turf them out in an election tomorrow, returning to fianna fail or possibly Sinn Fein. There is a load of 'hot air' blown up the backsides of the Irish 'diaspora', with claims that our experience garnered abroad, in diverse enviornments etc., have a lot to offer Ireland, but Irish people (as observed by an Irish MD at Goldman recently observed), 'the Irish don't want to change'. They don't want to listen to suggestions as to how to improve the way they do things etc., resenting the 'experience' of those offering advice. The diaspora can be rolled out at Farmleigh or Dublin Castle once a year for a photo op, but that is all it is, they don't want to change. I love them, but they are not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

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Seanmor | Dec 08, 2012, 08:50 PM EST

This article mentions the names of several who contributed to the peace process that led to G.F.A., which voters in both parts of Ireland onerwhelmingly supported. But the name of one man who helped set the peace process in motion in conspicuously absent from the article, Congressman Peter King. King used his influence as a congressman to help bring an end to 3 decades of 'Troubles' in the North of Ireland.

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anglo-norman | Dec 08, 2012, 07:20 PM EST

With the recent madness in Belfast it is clearly evident that outside expertise is needed for Irish Affairs. Europe is sorting out the Economic mess in the South now hopefully the Clintons & co will sort out the Political mess in the North.

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maireadinmelb | Dec 08, 2012, 05:43 PM EST

EXTRAORDINARY - ARE YOU CRAZY!!! Problem responsible for more racist bigotry than any man since HITLER! Surely you were speaking tongue in cheek Niall??

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seanmac50 | Dec 08, 2012, 05:22 PM EST

As a resident of Ireland I fail to see why some of you are so negative about the Clinton's. Bill Clinton had nothing to gain from all the time he spent trying to solve the Northern Irish problem, and it would never have been solved but for him. A high profile person like Hilary can only be good for the American Ireland Fund. We need all the powerful friends we can get now!

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seanomelb | Dec 08, 2012, 04:51 PM EST

Niall!! You need a reality check. Paisley had to be carried kicking and screaming to the negotiating table and when he got there he spent his time sidelining Sinn Fein and his only contribution was his ability in trying to move the goalposts ever closer every time a deal looked close. paisley spent most of his life as a religious bigot. How in all conscience niall could you call him "extraordinary"

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MegK311 | Dec 08, 2012, 03:57 PM EST

Hilary Clinton will do and say anything she can to become President in 2016 even use the Irish people. I for one will never vote for her. When she visits Ireland she will be looking for some good photo ops that she can use to promote herself.

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bunkerisland | Dec 08, 2012, 01:36 PM EST

Hold back on the nonsense about Hillary's sexual preferences, her fondness for Muslims and accusations that she lies! Over 12 Chapters of the Ireland Fund in the States have aided in raising more than $430 million US to aid Ireland. They do it out of love and respect for Ireland. Hillary the same. Don't want her? Just say so, she is sought by many.

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