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Bush Loyalist Karen Hughes Resigns
October 31, 2007 9:26 AM
ABC News' Jonathan Karl and Kirit Radia Report: Karen Hughes resigned Wednesday morning as Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy.
In July, 2005 Bush appointed Hughes as the first Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy to "promote America's values and confront ideological support for terrorism around the world."
Hughes, a former local television reporter in Texas, was a longtime communications advisor to President Bush when he was Governor of Texas. During Bush's presidency she managing the White House Office of Communication, Media Affairs, Speechwriting and Press Secretary.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced Hughes' resignation this morning at the State Department.
Rice called said Hughes would continue to advise the State Department and President Bush on several projects going forward. She called Hughes a "valued counselor" and policy advisor who sat in on her policy meetings every morning.
"You have more than exceeded what I could have hoped for in taking over public diplomacy when you came. And now, as you finish, I hope that you have a sense of the tremendous contributions that you've made," Rice said.
Hughes said she would likely return to Texas in mid-December. Her family had not moved to D.C. with her, something Rice said was a great "strain," and Hughes said she was looking forward to living in the same city as her husband.
Both Rice and Hughes listed advancements in public diplomacy during Hughes' tenure, namely countering terror messages on Arab-language blogs, setting up a larger video production center at the department, creating rapid reaction units to respond to incidents, and reaching out to Muslim women in the Middle East.
Public Diplomacy was one of the central pillars in Rice's transformational diplomacy plan, but Hughes had a rocky start in the new role.
During her first trip to the Middle East after being confirmed in 2005 she struck many as ignorant and naive when she commented how surprised she was to find that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was considered so important in the Arab world.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said Wednesday that Hughes wants to spend more time with her husband. Perino said Hughes will keep in touch with the President and work on a Palestinian initiative through the end of the year.
ABC News' Ann Compton contributed to this report.
October 31, 2007 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (50)
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Ya'll may remember that Hughes "resigned" once before, to "spend time with her family." Then suddenly she pops up at State in a position (surprise!) that she has absolutely no experience or expertise in. Given history, don't count her out yet (although, blessingly, there's not much more time left ...).
Posted by: TM | Oct 31, 2007 11:25:09 AM
She's one of those individuals that you can just read 'crazy' written on her face. John Bolton was another. All you had to do was see his picture to know he was unstable.
Posted by: Bear | Oct 31, 2007 11:25:25 AM
Now...let's see. What are America's values? Seven years ago we lost what values we were working for. Our values now are the threat of mushroom clouds for countries that don't follow our "divine" guidance.
Posted by: Rand2man | Oct 31, 2007 11:41:40 AM
Well, I guess she has kept such a low profile of late since she really didn't get it with the Mid-east gig -- I actually though she left a while back, but as all the cronies she hung around long enough to keep taking a paycheck from the US taxpayers -- I seem to remember that she did resign before so she'll turn up again with George just like a "Bad" penny; unless she has taken a spot on FOX wasn't she a fake news person??
Posted by: Paulet | Oct 31, 2007 11:41:47 AM
yeah Sheryl,
democrats do crazy stuff, like wanting to end the war. republicans do sane things like lie us into a war and talk about wwIII.
Posted by: tomulcak | Oct 31, 2007 11:57:41 AM
Hey daddy, you've already forgotten how many bailed on Clinton during his presidency? Shall I begin the litany of names for you????
Posted by: cbeargal65 | Oct 31, 2007 12:08:23 PM
Apparently, most of you don't get it either with the mid-east "gig" either. Have you noticed how suicide bombings have stopped in Israel? They moved from Israel to Iraq...hmmm...its all much bigger than you can understand. Iran's nukes or potential to acquire them MUST be taken out. They have said they'd use them when obtained and would fire them upon Israel. World War 3? You bet ya! Russia and China are helping Iran right under our noses. If Syria's nuclear factory was taken out, believe me, Israel wouldn't hesitate to strike Iran either. You all need to see the big picture, and by the posts from so many on this website, its scary to see how many people have their heads so deep in the sand.
Posted by: cbeargal65 | Oct 31, 2007 12:15:17 PM
Hey, another bang-up job from another Bush groupie...I hear the Arab world now loves us thanks to Karen, George, Paul (Wolfowitz), Condie and, of course,DICK!!
Posted by: Marc | Oct 31, 2007 12:16:18 PM
Bye, By hack bird!
Posted by: April Campbell | Oct 31, 2007 12:26:28 PM
The rest of the world wonders why N. Korea has been treated diplomatically, while the US spreads its boogeyman theory about the Mideast, and threatens them. Get it through you head:::NO ONE IN THE REST OF THE WORLD WILL EVER BUY THE US' FOREIGN POLICY, WHICH BOTH DEMS AND REPS HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO::: The US BLINDLY supporting Israel is the reason the Mideast hates us... and the rest of the world agrees. What friend in your life would never have the guts to criticize you... EVER? That's not a friend; it's a phony relationship based on influential voting blocs/lobbies. This nonsense about democracy is a lie when you're a witness to the reality that shows the US couldn't give a damn about democracy.
Posted by: TruthBeTold | Oct 31, 2007 12:45:56 PM
What in the world will GWB do now? He lost Rove, his "brain" now he is losing Hughes, his "mouth". Course he still has Rice, his a--. I guess that's pretty important with all the crap he causes.
Posted by: Ron | Oct 31, 2007 12:57:08 PM
You guys....Please STOP voting a Republican in office. Hasn't this country learned from President Bush.
Either people are cheating at the poles...or ignorant/selfish/prejudiced people live in this country...either way whe get what we deserve.
Posted by: PRR | Oct 31, 2007 12:57:27 PM
I am constantly amazed at this administration's lack of depth. How did Karen Hughes get this position in the first place? She has no working knowledge of the Middle Eastern or Islamic culture... What has she accomplished for this country that she should be proud of? If anything she should be embarrassed and just leave quietly. We have to "admire" her sacrifices of splitting time between Washington and Texas? It just goes to show that the administration is incapable of finding qualified people.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 31, 2007 1:09:14 PM
You are the one who needs to see THE BIG PICTURE! Your heroes in Washington, hell bent on creating perpetual war... Armageddon, are right on target! With sheep who actually believe they are acting in your best interest!
ROFLMAO!
Posted by: Allan Krueger | Oct 31, 2007 1:14:25 PM
Karen Hughes is a complete disgrace and should be ashamed of everything she has helped perpetrate. God have mercy on her evil soul.
Posted by: Dave Douglas | Oct 31, 2007 1:16:28 PM
actually, suicide bombings HAVEN'T stopped in Israel. They just don't make the papers the way they used to. . Sorry, but the rest of us are sick and tired of paying the cost for Republican incompetence and ignorance. You clowns just don't have what it takes anymore - sit the next election out and get a clue!
Posted by: Ramalzee | Oct 31, 2007 1:20:15 PM
I wonder if the sycophant finally figured out that the emporer has no clothes.
Posted by: Jordan | Oct 31, 2007 1:28:37 PM
Why did Bush surround himself with these incompetent, inexperienced non-entites like Hughes in the first place? They've made us the laughingstock of the world with their smalltime, smalltown ignorance and cluelessness. This is the worst administration in American history!
Posted by: Carl | Oct 31, 2007 1:53:27 PM
Karen:
Don't forget to empty the TRASH before you leave.
Posted by: Flagship | Oct 31, 2007 3:23:49 PM
Good Job, Mrs Hughes, Thank You for your service to our country.
Posted by: Bill | Oct 31, 2007 4:05:19 PM
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