Interview, Washington D.C., March 20, 2008
Making Things Happen: Hillary Clinton
Interview with Amber Shipley,
Congressional Staffer in the United States House of Representatives
FES: Ms. Shipley, how vocal are people on Capitol Hill about the elections? Do people talk freely about whom they're supporting?
Shipley: Members of Congress are very vocal because they publicly endorse candidates. They print lists in the newspapers of who supports whom. It's an especially important topic because of the superdelegates, since some Congresspeople have come under pressure to switch their votes. On the staff level, it's like the sports of Washington; people talk about it all the time.
FES: How do you think Hillary Clinton as President would change the relationship between Congress and the White House?
Shipley: Assuming it's a Democratic controlled Congress, the relationship would change completely. The White House would be working with Congress, not against it, like it is now. There would be more collaboration both in passing legislation and in setting the agenda. Right now, any piece of legislation gets a veto threat from the President. With a Democrat in the White House, we'd get things done instead of fighting about everything. With Senator Clinton specifically, things would go well because she has so many connections to people who have already done it and know what to do.
FES: Your background is in public policy. From this perspective, what do you view as Senator Clinton's strengths and weaknesses?
Shipley: She has experience and will come into the job already knowing what she wants to accomplish and how. The policy differences between Obama and Clinton are small; the difference is how they would go about doing it. Her experience will dictate a different method about how to get things done. How to effectively implement policy - that's what her strength is. Not only does she have the right positions, but she also has the ability to make things happen. Her biggest weakness is that people underestimate her ability to get things accomplished.
FES: If Senator Clinton wins the nomination, who would you like to see as her running mate and why?
Shipley: Obama! I think it would be a perfect ticket. It combines everything the Democrats want for 2008. He'll make a great president in 8 years.